Members of the Portsmouth Criterium Race Committee will appear before the City Council on Monday, Feb. 14 to discuss plans to resurrect the downtown race in September.

"Basically, we're lining all our ducks in a row and making sure we're providing all the information necessary to have this event approved," said committee chairwoman Susanne Delaney.

The last time cyclists raced through downtown was Sept. 16, 2000, though races were common in the 1980s. The criterium, a multi-lap race on a course usually less than a mile long, drew almost 100 racers and a crowd of spectators to Portsmouth. Some local businesses complained because street closures for the Saturday afternoon race decreased consumer traffic.

Delaney said this year's race committee has considered all the feedback from the 2000 race.

"We have all that to our advantage," she said. "To look at what happened in the past...and avoid repeating certain steps."

This year, the committee is notifying local merchants months in advance about plans for the race.

"There were a couple (businesses) not in favor of the event ... but it's a minority," Delaney said. "Any event that brings businesses to downtown, people and visitors to downtown ... should be looked at as a positive thing."

The race is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 from 1 to 6 p.m., although Delaney said much of the planning has been delayed while the committee awaits approval from the City Council. Portsmouth City Manager John Bohenko said the council will listen to the presentation but will not vote on the race on Monday night.

There are four other N.H. criteriums scheduled for 2005. The Exeter Criterium will take place on June 28, while Claremont and Concord have criteriums slated for June and August, respectively. Dover will host a criterium on May 1 as part of the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Championships.

"Penguin Plunge" raises more than $400,000

More than 700 swimmers braved near-freezing water temperatures last Sunday to raise $415,000 for Special Olympics New Hampshire during the organization's annual "Penguin Plunge." The 735 plungers and 35 "chickens" (those too afraid to jump in the 36-degree waters) gathered behind the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Feb. 6 for the event. WMUR Channel 9 chief meteorologist Mike Haddad led the plungers, and awards were presented to plungers who raised the most money or had the best costume. Participants had to raise a minimum of $300 to jump in the water; since the first Penguin Plunge in 2000, more than $1,590,000 has been raised for SONH, which provides a year-round program of sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with mental challenges.

public meetings

power plant pollution

New Hampshire Clean Water Action, the New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group and the NH Sierra Club will hold a public forum on "Power Plant Pollution Solutions" on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Osprey Landing Information Center in Portsmouth. The forum will address clean-up solutions for the state's coal and oil power plants, including Schiller Station in Portsmouth and Newington Station. Mercury and carbon pollution from the plants pose particular danger to surrounding communities, according to Doug Bogan of NH Clean Water Action. The forum is free. For more information, call 603-430-9565.

give feedback to WSCA-LP

Portsmouth Community Radio, WSCA-LP 106.1 FM, will hold its first "town hall meeting" on Saturday, Feb. 12, 8:30-10 a.m. at the South Church Parish Hall, 292 State St., Portsmouth. The station is looking for input from members as well as the general public on how to better serve the community. For more information, visit www.wscafm.org.

speak out on radio

Portsmouth Community Radio, WSCA-LP 106.1 FM, will hold its first "town hall meeting" on Saturday, Feb. 12, 8:30-10 a.m. at the South Church Parish Hall, 292 State St., Portsmouth. The station is looking for input from members as well as the general public on how to better serve the community. For more information, visit www.portsmouthcommunityradio.org.