The Wandering Disciple

Arrr Matey, grab your bucaneers and set a course to take Fisherman’s Wharf during the annual Pirate Invasion. Each year a flotilla of pirated invade Punta Gorda during the Fisherman’s Village Pirate Fest. (Photo: August 27, 2011)

Down by the bay, there swims some dolphins. On a clear day you can see dolphins jumping, fish swimming and tourists playing in the clear waters of Sarasota Bay. The bay is the main body of water that seperates downtown Sarasota from the barrier islands of Lido Key and Longboat Key. (Photo: July 19, 2011)

Forget about Winter Wonderland, the coastal wonderland is where its at. Miles of white sand, not snow lines the coast of the Sunshine State making it the go to place to escape the winter weather. (Photo: July 16, 2011)

During World War I, inventor Thomas Edison partnered with his winter neighbor Henry Ford and friend Harvey Firestone to create the Edison Botanic Research Corporation. This partnership provided testing to determine a plant to make domestic rubber that could aid the US during the war.  They determined Goldenrod to be a successful plant to produce rubber and a patent was applied for to manufacture rubber.  (Photo: June 26, 2011)

Nestled in downtown Bradenton is a historic baseball gem. The oldest spring training stadium, McKechnie Field has been hosting baseball since 1923. It is the oldest stadium in the league to host spring training and the third oldest stadium to host a major league team trailing behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. McKechnie Field, now known as LECOM Park is home to the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training and they Florida State League Bradenton Marauders during the minor league season. (Photo: June 22, 2011)

North Port, Florida: The SWFL Yard Dawgs saw their late rally fall short as they dropped an exciting contest against the Hitmen 7-5 in the opening round of Sunday’s SWFL Champions Cup tournament at Atwater Park in North Port. The Dawgs trailed by seven before throwing five runs on the board in the fifth before having their bases loaded rally ended on a questionable call by the field umpire on a play at third. The Hitmen controlled the tempo early jumping out to an early lead in the first inning. Evan Hermanson drove home a run with an RBI single and then a two run double by Braden Reites gave them a 3-0 lead. The Hitmen added four more to their tally in the bottom of the third. Dawgs starter Michael Paolillo struggled with control, hitting two batters and giving up a single before hitting his third batter with the bases loaded to push across a run. Three more runs came on a double by Joseph Adames to put the Hitmen ahead 7-0. The Yard Dawgs game to life in the bottom of th...

A clown entertains the crowd during a performance of Circus Hollywood. Clowns have been a long standing tradition with the circus used to entertain the crowds during changes in props between acts. The origin of the modern circus clown dates back to the 19th century and European circuses. Today the clowns are a favorite or a fear to many people worldwide. Some love them for they side stitching comedy routines, others fear them for their creepy looks or because of cult classics like the movie IT. (Photo: May 29, 2011)