By necessity, Whiskey Cove proprietor Wendy Gordon is a night person, and when she closes up her business, she finds "all kinds of kids" hanging out in the parking lot. "They hide behind the cars and climb up on the Hammond Lumber building roofs," Gordon says. "There is no good reason for them to be out there at that time of night." Generally, Gordon closes the bar well after midnight. "What could they possibly be up to?" she asks, then answers her own question with "unless they are trying to find someone who will buy them alcohol".

There is nothing for teenagers to do in Greenville at night, Gordon points out - legally, that is. "What they do is go to pit parties," she says. A pit party is when kids congregate in a gravel pit, build a bonfire and consume illegally-obtained alcohol and illicit substances. Most are held in pits outside of Greenville town limits, reducing the chance of interference by local law enforcement officials, sources say.

Time was when many Maine towns routinely rolled up their sidewalks by 9 p.m., marking the hour by the braying of a fire alarm. The custom of curfews has faded in recent decades, but appears to be making a comeback of sorts in the last few years.

For example, Bridgton established a curfew in 1995 and Lewiston adopted its ordinance in 1996. Both apply to all juveniles age 17 and under. Bridgton keeps its minors off the street between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., seven days a week. Lewiston's curfew is 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Madison residents will face a referendum question on Nov. 5 on whether or not to establish a curfew for juveniles under age 18 after 10 p.m. every night.

Gordon's idea is to create a two-pronged curfew, perhaps taking kids under age 14 off the streets by 10 p.m. and those under 16 by 11 p.m. Originally she wanted to start a petition to demonstrate support for the concept as was done in Madison. However, Town Manager John Simko thought she should bring her suggestion to the selectmen first. "I've gotten nothing but support for it," Gordon said of discussion with fellow Greenville business owners. Her colleagues' response is not surprising, given the rash of vandalism and criminal mischief that has plagued the village area in recent months.

On July 25, a group of 20-25 youths destroyed flower boxes, signs, and vandalized a motor vehicle in and around Thoreau Park. Two juvenile girls were ultimately charged with criminal mischief related to the spree.

On Oct. 3-4, vandals struck the Moosehead Marine Museum area, destroying, defacing and stealing property. Just last week, Corey Taylor, 20, and Nathaniel Walden, 18, both Greenville natives, were charged in connection to the event. In fact, a review of the Greenville police log shows vandalism and theft were up during the month of October. Reported incidences were also high in July, with the school, the skateboard park, the tennis courts and the train among the targets. Whiskey Cove has suffered no specific incidence of vandalism, Gordon said.

Juvenile crime and increased juvenile "gang" activity appear to be common drivers for the establishment of curfew ordinances in towns across the state. In Madison, some complain that "children", sometimes armed with baseball bats, "were roaming the streets," according to an Oct. 24 article in the Kennebec Journal.

Penalties for disobeying a curfew can be weighty and extend to the parents of an offending juvenile. Although Madison proposes to give a warning before taking specific action, other towns impose up to $50 fine and five hours community service for a first offense, doubling both for the second. Parents would be levied fine amounts as well.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."