According to its Web site, The Close Up Foundation is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan citizenship education organization.

Founded in 1970, Close Up works to promote responsible and informed participation in the democratic process through a variety of educational programs.

Each year, more than 20,000 students, teachers and other adults participate in Close Up programs in Washington, D.C., and 10 Machias Memorial High School students hope to be doing just that in April.

The Close Up Foundation, explained MMHS Close Up adviser Susan Albee, “offers a one-week, in-depth look at Washington.

“Students participate in workshops and spend a day on Capitol Hill, meeting representatives and touring national monuments.”

This is the 14th year that Machias students have participated in the program and this year each participant must raise $1,500 to attend.

The funds are used to cover transportation, lodging and meals, as well as an evening at the theater.

To help these young people reach their individual and collective goals, the MMHS Close Up Club is hosting a spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School gymnasium in Machias.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children, and free for children under 3.

Lending his assistance to this fundraiser is Gov. John Baldacci, who has supplied the spaghetti sauce.

This is a marvelous educational opportunity for these Washington County students, and I hope all of them are able to participate.

If you are unable to attend, but want to help the students make this trip, call Albee at MMHS, 255-3812. She will provide you with the Close Up Foundation’s nonprofit, tax identification number, and tell you where to send your donation.

Members of Chadbourne-Merrill American Legion Post No. 29 and the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department are sponsoring a benefit spaghetti supper for the family of Alex Atkinson of Dover-Foxcroft. Atkinson is suffering from a catastrophic illness.

The supper is 4:30-7 p.m., Saturday, Jan 21, at 112 Park Street in Dover-Foxcroft.

Admission is by donation, and the fundraiser will include a 50-50 drawing and a raffle for a piece of furniture donated by DoveTail Fine Furniture and Cabinetry.

Proceeds will be used to help the family through this difficult time.

If you cannot attend, but would like to make a donation, you can mail a check to Finance Officer, c/o Atkinson Benefit, P.O. Box 262, Dover-Foxcroft 04426.

For more information, call Ed Conroy at 717-6473.

On behalf of the Hampden Academy Dollars for Scholars program, Beth Woods invites members of the public to attend a Fresh Ginger Fundraiser, with two sittings, one at 5 and the other at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at Fresh Ginger in Hampden.

Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children under 8, for a delicious buffet.

For ticket information, call Woods at 862-2712.

Students participating in Dollars for Scholars programs must donate their time for fundraisers to earn work hours that translate into scholarship dollars at graduation.

PETS, Prevent Euthanasia Through Sterilization, is a nonprofit organization founded by a group of women in the Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter-Milo and Guilford areas to assist qualifying families and individuals who wish to have their pets spayed or neutered.

Cathy O’Connor of Winslow believes this organization does “wonderful things,” and she wants to help them continue their work.

That is why O’Connor is sponsoring a raffle in which the first prize is 100 gallons of No. 2 fuel oil, donated by Webber Energy Fuels and valued at $240.

The second prize is a $100 gas card from Irving Oil, valid at any location, and the third prize is a $100 Hannaford Supermarkets gift card, also valid at any location.

The raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and the drawing is Sunday, Jan. 22.

Anyone interested in purchasing raffle tickets can call PETS volunteer Sue Slate at 379-2809, or O’Connor at 873-4661.

If you are unable to obtain raffle tickets, but would like to help with the programs of this organization, which is currently working with feral cats in the area, you can mail donations to PETS, P.O. Box 912, Guilford 04443.

Carl Grant of Island Falls wrote the BDN to express his public thanks to “Dr. McKay, Dr. Khasani and the staff in the critical care unit, for the excellent care I received” when he was hospitalized, during a recent illness, at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

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