HARMONY — The woman who succeeded in having two bridges renamed to honor domestic violence victims now wants to add memorial gardens at the bridges and to plant perennial flowers by the roadside — all the way to Dexter.
Sandra Mitchell said she was was a friend of Amy Bagley Lake of Harmony, who along with her children Monica, 12, and Coty, 13, were shot to death by Lake’s estranged husband in Dexter on June 13.
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Mitchell also was a friend and classmate of Connie Porter Barrett of Oakland, who was shot and killed by her husband in a hospital parking lot in Waterville in 1986.
“Pretty much Connie’s scenario is the same scenario that Amy went through — bail and restraining orders that were no good and kept getting broken — that’s what I’m hoping to change,” Mitchell said.
Beginning June 2, Mitchell will hold fundraisers in Harmony to generate money for a park and for perennial flowers. One day, she said, she would love to see perennials planted from the bridge on Route 150 in Harmony along the entire 17-mile route to the Ridgeview School in Dexter, where Amy was a teacher.
Mitchell already has been successful in getting that bridge over Higgins Stream renamed by the state as the Amy, Coty, Monica Bridge.
Another bridge on nearby Route 154 in Harmony also was renamed the Remember Me Bridge for all victims of domestic violence.
“I want to create two memorial gardens — one for Amy and her children, near the Amy, Coty, Monica Bridge; and one near the Remember Me Bridge and that one was inspired by Connie Porter,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said she plans to hold a fundraiser each weekend in June. The idea is for people to bring their own perennial plant and donate $6 for each one they plant.
Mitchell said in the spirit of Remember Me, plants can be dedicated to the memory of victims of domestic violence, cancer or military combat.
“It’s three different fundraisers operating on all four weekends in June,” she said. “All four weekends will be the perennial plants and Saturday/Sunday car washes by students and I’ll be selling raffle tickets of the things I get donated.”
The car wash at C&R Store in Harmony village has been donated for use each of the weekends in June, and will be the headquarters for all future fund-raising events.
Mitchell said the proceeds of her fundraisers will be split evenly among two domestic violence prevention groups, a veterans’ group and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and American Cancer Society.
On the opening weekend, June 2, at 11 a.m., the bridge will be officially dedicated to Amy, Cody and Monica. Gov. Paul LePage and other officials have been invited to attend.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com
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