Tuesday, February 26, 2013

UPPER KEYS

Key West-bound plane crashes

Four people escaped with minor injuries after their twin-engine Cessna airplane crashed into Biscayne Bay Sunday while en route from Hollywood, Fla. to Key West.

The plane crashed about five miles northwest of the Ocean Reef Club airstrip, said Bob Gretz, spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board.

The passengers had only cuts and bruises, Coast Guard Petty Officer Jon Paul Rios said.

According to Gretz, the crash occurred when the plane's rear engine failed, leaving the pilot no choice but to take it into the water.

As of press time, Gretz said he didn't have the names of the pilot or the three passengers.

KEY WEST

Author Hendrickson speaks

Writer Paul Hendrickson will discuss his most recent book, Hemingway's Boat, at the next Friends of the Key West Library lecture at 6 p.m. Monday at the Studios of Key West, 600 White St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Hemingway's Boat is a national bestseller and winner of the Chicago Tribune's Heartland Prize. Hendrickson's Sons of Mississippi, the most recent of four earlier books, won the National Book Critics Circle Award for general non-fiction. The Friends of the Key West Library weekly lecture series is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. This year's series runs consecutive Mondays through March 18. The March 11 lecture will feature Lou Harris. For information, visit friendsofthekeywestlibrary.org.

MARATHON

Bridge run set for April 13

The 32nd Annual Seven-Mile Bridge Run is set for April 13. It will close the bridge from 6:45 to 9 a.m. that day.

Racers begin running at the east end of the span at 7:30 a.m. and have roughly 80 minutes to cross the bridge before shag buses pick up any stragglers. Finishers are bused back to the starting line at Knight's Key.

Registration is full for the popular event, which this year gave Florida Keys residents an advantage.

Students in the Monroe County school system will be allowed to participate for free, but must have registered for the run, organizers said.

The proceeds of the event benefit Middle Keys youth, with an emphasis on athletics.