Davis Islands Today

SS AMERICAN VICTORY SALUTES MARINERS, VETERANS and ACTIVE MILITARY DURING NOVEMBER 8 CRUISE. FREE ADMISSION TO VETS ON NOVEMBER 9.

The SS American Victory is the only restored merchant cargo vessel of its class on the East Coast and the only museum ship in the Southeast U.S. able to steam under her own power.

And steam she will on her ‘Salute to Veterans’ Cruise on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Special ceremonies during the cruise on Tampa Bay will recognize America’s past and present merchant mariners and honor veterans and active duty military of all services.

A ship of the famous Victory Class of cargo vessel built in 1945, the American Victory is herself a veteran of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, carrying ‘guns, gear, grub and gas’ to GIs. Since 2000, restoration tours, cruises, youth maritime education and other programs have allowed thousands of visitors to view the restoration of the vessel into a mariners’ museum and cruising ship.

The American Victory is one of only three of 534 Victory Class cargo vessels built between 1944 and mid-1946 that have been restored or under restoration. Victory Class vessels replaced the venerable Liberty ships and were significantly faster (17 knots vs. 11), allowing Victorys to sail on their own instead of in convoys and were fitted with improved navigation equipment.

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Support RMHC while enjoying your favorite McDonald’s foods. On November 20, McDonald’s will donate $1 for every Beef or Chicken Extra Value Meal© and Chicken McNuggets sold.

In addition, from November 10-20 customers can donate $1 towards RMHC by purchasing a helping “Hand” that will be displayed in-store during the event.

Take the night off from cooking and support RMHC this November.

Our annual two-day golf tournament at the prestigious Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Tarpon Springs raises operational funds for our local Ronald McDonald Houses while offering some of the best golf on the west coast, not to mention a lot of fun! To download our 2008 Golf Brochure containing Registration and sponsorship information, please visit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay website at www.rmhctampabay.com.

The employees at International Plaza’s Banana Republic have been making meals and doing pantry drives for the Davis Islands Ronald McDonald House, but wanted to do something on a larger scale. They decided to hold a yard sale as a fundraiser, and just needed the right location. The Davis Islands Ronald McDonald House has a beautiful large yard, perfect for their yard sale, now scheduled for Saturday, November 8 from 9am – noon.

Store employees and house volunteers will clean out their closets and bring their treasures to the sale, and along with leftover items from the House and a few surprises. A good crowd is expected with some great deals for everyone. The public is invited to join us and find some bargains while raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House program.

For more information, contact Tampa RMH House Manager Betsy Wilkinson at (813) 254-2398, ext. 316 or email bwrmh[at]tampabay.rr.com.

City Marina Earns Clean Marina Designation

The City of Tampa’s Marjorie Park Marina has been awarded the Clean Marina designation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The city hoisted the Clean Marina flag in a brief ceremony on October 15.

Majorie Park Marina, located at 115 Columbia Drive on Davis Islands, is the fourth marina in Hillsborough County to earn this distinctive honor. The Clean Marina designation means that Majorie Park Marina has instituted sound environmental practices, encouraged proper boating habits and promoted clean waterways. It means that the facility has demonstrated a commitment to environmentally friendly policies that go above and beyond standard regulatory requirements which places the City’s marina among only 10% of Florida’s 2,000 marinas that have been certified as Clean Marinas.

Marjorie Park was donated to the City of Tampa and named by Davis Islands founder D.P. Davis after his wife Marjorie Merritt Davis. Marjorie Park Marina is open 365 days a year and offers fuel sales, showers, restrooms, weather station, pump out station, and monthly and transient slips. The marina is only a block from the Davis Islands business district, which includes convenience stores, banks, laundry mat and several restaurants.

For more information, please contact the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department Dock Master at 813-259-1604 or VHF Channel 16.

For more information about the Florida Clean Marina Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina.

For more information about the programs and services offered by the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.tampagov.net/parksandrec or call (813)274-8615.