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Hilliker is asking friends, family members, businesses and random victims to donate $10 toward his trip in exchange for flamingo removal.

Last week, Hilliker called to warn staff members at The Leader that we were soon to be "flamingoed." According to the flyer he left behind with the birds, "If you would like for me to remove the flamingos, the donation is your choice. "If you would like for me to remove the flamingos and then, in turn, put them in another yard of your choice, it will be a donation of an extra $10 to do that."

Last week, Hilliker had raised $500 via the flamingo fund raiser. He'll add that to the $1,600 of the $4,500 he had raised as of the end of February.ÊÊ

According to Andrew's father, Dan, local businesses and groups have been generous. Andrew was the Scarecrow in the recent Crosstrails Community Theatre production of the Wizard of Oz, held in both Forest Area and Kalkaska high schools. He also is in the Traverse City Youth Orchestra. He has been going to Blue Lake for four years.

Andrew, who sings tenor, will head to camp on June 8 for a week of intense training and then leave for Europe with the choir, part of the Blue Lake International Exchange Program. Upon his return home, he will stay with the choir and do a Michigan tour.Ê

Andrew said the group will be performing to an assortment of audiences during the trip.

"It's a variety," he said. "We're going to villages and smaller places. We'll perform in churches and in town squares." He said he will be singing with the choir in seven different locations, in two different countries.

The countries that groups from Blue Lake will visit and present concerts during June and July include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy.