Despite the chilly, wet weather that gripped the region this past weekend, Amesbury's First Annual Run4Fun 5K forged on through the drizzle, with more than 120 runners taking part in yesterday morning's maiden run across Woodsom Farm. Organized by Latitudes sports trainer Pam Houck and high school junior Stephanie Menezes, the race was an idea born from the duo's recently launched summer running club, designed to promote running as a habit in young people's lives. According to Houck, the event was a success even if the rain proved a deterrent to some of the sport's faithful.

"A lot of the people thought it was going to be canceled, but it wasn't," said Houck. "It was a successful race and the race will be run again next year after the Run4Fun program completes in the summer."

The 5K trail began at 9:30 a.m. at Amesbury High School, meandering through the picturesque rolling trails of Woodsom Farm and finishing back at Amesbury High. The top male finishers were Dave Dunham, 45, of Bradford (17.17), Bill Solimine, 49, (17.27), and Jeff Kelly, 41, of Byfield (17.29). The top female runners were Emily Block, 25, of Stratham (20.28), Sarah Hill, 31 (20.33), and Krisztina Dearborn, 17, of Wolfboro (21.23).

For Houck, the race was a great finish to the four-week, not-for-profit running program she and Menezes began this past summer, which was aimed at promoting healthier children and families.

"The top priority is to help the kids have fun and create a running habit for their whole lives," said Houck yesterday afternoon on the heels of wrapping up the race event.

The idea, she said, is to use the 5K as a means of capping off the summer running camp, which will be expanded next year to all for a higher degree of participation.

"We did it a couple weeks last year, but we're going to expand it," said Houck. "We're going to probably do (the 5K) at the end of September."

The Run4Fun 5K was sponsored by the Winner's Circle Running Club, Merrimack Tools, Active Life Chiropractors and Latitudes Sports Clubs.

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Police Chief Michael Cronin and Public Works Director Robert Desmarais are reminding residents that Amesbury's annual winter parking ban will take effect starting Tuesday, Dec. 1. The ban requires all vehicles to be parked off the street between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. regardless of weather conditions, to allow Public Works personnel to conduct plowing and clear roads in the event of a storm.

Any vehicle left unattended on the street will be subject to a parking violation and/or towing at the owner's expense, per the town ban, and violators will be forced to pay a $50 fine. Overnight parking is also prohibited in public school and municipal parking lots, including the Friend Street, Main Street, Water Street, Public Library and School Street parking lots. Residents living within the central business district may obtain a parking permit at the town clerk's office in Town Hall, 62 Friend St., which allows vehicle owners to park in designated sections of the Water Street deck and Friend Street municipal lot. To obtain a parking permit, residents must appear in person at the clerk's office with a valid driver's license and vehicle registration that shows an address in the central business district. The permit is free and must be affixed to the lower left corner of their vehicle's back window.

During a snow emergency public service announcements will be broadcast over local radio and television stations, including WNBP 1450 AM, requiring all vehicles to be removed from town streets regardless of the hour. Questions concerning the winter ban may be directed to Desmarais at 978-388-8116 or to the on-duty shift supervisor at the Amesbury Police Department, 978-388-1217. The ban will be in effect until April 1.

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Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury will be holding joint H1N1 clinics on Wednesday, Nov. 18 for pregnant women, immune-compromised children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years of age, and primary caregivers to infants aged 6 months old or younger. The injection vaccine will be administered at the following locations:

Newburyport Emergency Operations Center, 59 Low St., 9-11 a.m.

Amesbury Town Hall, 62 Friend St., 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Salisbury Fire Station, 37 Lafayette Road, 5-7 p.m.

Residents of the three communities may attend any of the available clinics, but must reserve a vaccine by calling the Newburyport Health Department at 978-465-8562. Additional H1N1 clinics are being planned for the end of November.

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On Wednesday at approximately 12:30 p.m. a demonstration of Seabrook nuclear power plant sirens in New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities will take place in hopes of familiarizing residents with the sound of the sirens, and reminding them of emergency protocol in the event of a safety breach at the plant. For more information on the siren or drill, residents can contact Don Swenson at 978-388-8155.

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The Amesbury Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Foundation will be holding its 12th Annual Meeting on Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The keynote speaker will be a representative from Hands On Disaster Response, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing disaster relief. Admission is $30 members and $35 non-members. For more information call the Chamber at 978-388-3178.

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Meetings this week include the following:

Monday

Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Hall

Tuesday

Ordinance Committee, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall

Wednesday

Design Review, 5:15 p.m., Cultural Center

Thursday

Zoning Board, 7 p.m., Town Hall

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Lynne Hendricks covers Amesbury for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666,ext. 3254, or at lhendricks@newburyportnews.com.