BIDDEFORD — A few of the same young people who were responsible for defacing buildings at the Lincoln Mill with graffiti went to the site Saturday to clean it up. For eight hours in the sweltering heat, a group of more than 15 youth voluntarily pressure-washed brick walls, picked up trash and painted.
In the process of turning the area around, members of the group said they were taking a small step in turning their own lives around.
“People who knew what the site looked like before can’t believe it,” said Tammy Cole, one of the adults supervising the group.
Cole is the mother of the two Biddeford men, brothers Derek Greene, 21, and Gage Greene, 19, who were shot to death on South Street on June 30.
Biddeford resident Rory Holland, 55, has been charged with murdering both men. He is being held at York County Jail in Alfred, awaiting court proceedings.
It is this tragedy, one of the most significant in Biddeford’s recent history, that is in part responsible for the attempt by this group of young people to transform their lives and help the community in the process.
For the Greene brothers’ friends, the murders “opened their eyes,” said Cole. Her sons’ deaths also turned her life around. Cole said she decided the night of the shooting that she didn’t want to lose any more young people to the streets.
Since that night, Cole and her friend Laura Kimball have been working with as many as 30 people, from the ages of 16 to 25, to help them live more constructive lives.
The group which was once known as the “Ride or Die” crew has changed their motto to “Ready on Demand,” said Elijah Copeland, one of the Greenes’ friends who participated in Saturday’s clean-up.
They all sported tee-shirts that say “Go Greene” on the front and “Do Work” on the back.
Saturday’s clean-up, which was coordinated with the help of the Downtown Development Committee, was one of the first community events the group has taken on.
“Hopefully it’s a positive change in the lives of these young people,” said Greg Bennett, a principal of Odyssey Properties, LLC, Greg Bennett, which owns the Lincoln Mill.
Bennett said Laura Kimball approached him and his partner Chris Betjemann and explained the group wanted to “make something good out of a tragic event.”
Bennett and Betjemann were happy to oblige.
In the future, the group has more clean-ups planned as well as other events, from a car wash and bottle drive in Old Orchard Beach to a pool tournament in Sanford.
In addition they are helping with clean-up and haying at the Ever After Mustang Rescue in Biddeford and are looking for donations of wood so they can build ramps for some disabled people in the area.
This group of young people know they have a lot to do to get the community to change their minds about who they are.
“I have been in trouble,” said Copeland.
“We all have,” said Brittany Paradise.
But the reason Copeland, Paradise and their friends are participating in clean-ups and other events is “to make the community better and to show the community we’re not trouble makers,” said Copeland.
Casey Goldthwait, who has many tattoos on her face and arms, said she’d like to tell the community, “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Read the stories,” said Dana Beaulieu.
Despite their troubled past, each has goals and aspirations for their futures.
Copeland wants to finish college. Paradise wants to finish high school and one day be a small business owner. Isaac Taylor, who works part-time, would like a full-time job in construction. Beaulieu hopes to move to Florida.
Goldthwait plans to graduate from Biddeford High School this year, go to college and eventually work with Biddeford youth to help them stay out of trouble.
Kimball and Cole said they would like more young people to join their Go Greene group. They are working to form a non-profit that will offer youth services.
Those interested in more information can contact the group by e-mail at: gogreene-dowork@live.com or by phone at 636-6005.
The group meets every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church on 18 Crescent St.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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