Members of the Orono High School Service Learning Advisory Council are planning a trip to a New York City high school, and they need your help.

The four sophomores, four juniors and four seniors leave at noon on Thursday, May 24, for the Bronx, where they will spend three days visiting and interacting with students at Walton High School.

To help raise the nearly $4,000 it will take to pay for the trip, which includes transportation, lodging, meals, museum fees and a Broadway show, the group has been hard at work for some time.

However, if you decide to visit the Chocolate Grille between 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 19, along the Penobscot River in Old Town, 25 percent of the cost of your dessert will go toward this experience, which the students hope to make an annual one.

Connie Carter, SLAC coordinator for OHS, said the mission of the Service Learning Advisory Council “is to be a student advisory board, giving feedback about the program in areas where adults’ visions, for example, don’t match what kids believe is important.”

Carter said the advisory board members “speak to other organizations, help with major school events such as Make-A-Difference Day,” and that they are “a very passionate group” who believe in service to the community. The council “came up with the idea of this trip by themselves,” she added.

“They wanted to go some place very different from Orono, some place with a more diverse environment.”

The students view this experience as “the beginning of a connection, breaking down of stereotypes based on race and ethnicity and urban versus rural” cultures. Carter said the hope is the program will continue with WHS students visiting OHS in the fall.

Besides shadowing a WHS student for a day, the students will hear a presentation by nationally known motivational speaker John Artis.

According to the Internet, with Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Artis was wrongly convicted in 1966 of a triple murder. After 15 years in prison, he and Carter were exonerated.

Artis, who was an excellent 19-year-old high school student with college in his future before being sent to prison, completed college while there and now works with at-risk youth. Besides addressing the students, he will meet with them in small group discussions.

“Although he is speaking to us for a nominal honorarium,” Carter said of Artis, “one of the things we want to be sure to be able to do is to pay his expenses.”

The OHS students will attend services at All Saint’s Church in Harlem, visit the Studio Museum of Harlem and the Museum del Bario, among other sightseeing opportunities while in New York City.

If you are unable to get to the Chocolate Grille on Saturday, you can help this new student exchange get off the ground by sending a donation to Orono High School, 14 Goodridge Dr., 0rono 04473.

In the memo line of your check, indicate the donation is for the Service Learning Program.

Everyone who can’t wait for spring seeks out places where plants are sold and one event you won’t want to miss is the Bangor Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to noon today, May 19, at the Paul Bunyan Park and Bandstand in Bangor.

Perennials, herbs and houseplants from the gardens of club members will be on sale.

Doris Phillips is chairwoman of the sale, which also offers garden treasures and tasty treats.

Several master gardeners will be available to answer questions.

Proceeds will benefit community projects and help fund a youth camper awards program, a garden therapy program and youth activities.

People who love yard sales won’t want to miss the Abnaki Girl Scout multifamily yard sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, May 19, at 156 North Main Street in Brewer.

Proceeds from this one-day-only sale will be used by the Scouts for national and local opportunities to enhance their lives.

As a musical tribute to our country, those who served it and gave their lives in the cause of freedom, students of Greater Lincoln Christian Academy will honor our military men and women beginning at 6 p.m. tonight, May 19, at Mattanawcook Academy cafeteria in Lincoln.

Attired in shirts and hats representing different military services, youngsters from age 5 to 14 will appear in concert in “This is My America.”

There is no admission charge, but donations to benefit Greater Lincoln Christian Academy will be graciously accepted.

According to Verna Boyington, the young people have been learning military drills, which they will perform as part of the program.

The concert is also their way of saying “thank you” not only to all veterans, but to the local veterans who came to the school to speak about service to our country.

The New Renaissance Singers invite you to join them in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex Street in Bangor.

The suggested donation is $5.

The New Renaissance Singers are directed by Sandra Blanchette and accompanied by Stephanie Bennett.

The choral group of men and women from several area communities will be singing songs of war and patriotism in the concert titled “Songs of Freedom.”

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.