September is “Recovery Awareness Month” and during that month there will numerous activities held throughout the Shiretown.
Monday, Sept. 16: Temple Theater will be showing the movie “When a Man Loves a Woman” free of charge.
Sunday, Sept. 22: There will be a Human Prayer Chain in Market Square from 12:15–12:30 p.m. Anyone who would like to pray for the health of our community is welcome to attend.
Monday, Sept. 30: The month-long series of events will wrap up at 6:30 p.m. at Houlton High School with a public forum. The keynote speaker will be retired Judge John McElwee and his daughter, Darcie who is currently a federal prosecutor.
Judge McElwee was born and raised in Houlton. After law school, he and his wife resided in Caribou where he served as Aroostook County’s District Attorney. It was during that time period that Judge McElwee was convicted for OUI.
Their presentation will be followed by a panel of recovering individuals who will offer their stories along with hope and evidence of a life without substances. Each one found recovery in a different manner.
Peter McCorison from Aroostook Mental Health Center will emcee this event.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you may find the help you are looking for at the following websites or call the phone numbers: http://csoaamaine.org/ Alcoholics Anonymous 1-800-737-6237; http://www.celebraterecovery .com/cr-groups/group-locator, Houlton, 532-2783 and Presque Isle 764-5187; www.al-anon.alateen.org/al-anon-in-maine or call Al-Anon 1-800-498-1844; and http://www.na.org/ Narcotics Anonymous 1-800-974-0062.