Week 3 (part 1)

Monday





Southside Homes Site Manager Vivian Stafford stands in front of one of the homes that will eventually be renovated with the help of city bonds. The development is currently undergoing $22 million in renovations, $7 million of which are raised from city bond issues. Stafford said that the renovations have been in progress for over a year, with two of the five phases completed.

Tuesday


7-year-old Austin Smith gets his chance to toss the football back at his friends in the Highland Creek Sports Club swimming pool. Although Smith and his friends had been taking turns throwing, he snagged the ball when it came loose.


16-year-old Justin Matis careens down the water slide at the Highland Creek Sports Club swimming pool on Tuesday Afternoon. Terri Montgomery of the Sports Club Information Center said that crowds have been large since opening two weekends prior to Memorial Day. Montgomery, a nine-year-resident of Highland Creek, said that "the community has grown so much with close to 3800 homes," and the pool acts as a hub for these families.


10-month-old Sydney Sanders leads her mom Kara by the water at the Highland Creek Sports Club swimming pool on Tuesday afternoon. Sanders said of the Sports Club in relation to the three other Highland Creek pools, "we only ever come to this one because of the baby pool."

Wednesday


20-year-old Zack Ewing of Charlotte plunges down one of the ramps at the Methodist Home Park and Recreation Center skate park on the corner of Shamrock Drive and Eastway Drive Wednesday afternoon. Ewing said that he usually goes skating every day, but he comes to the Methodist Home Park sometimes because it's so empty. "All the people go to the new one," he said. Ewing said a benefit of skating here is that you "don't even have to watch out for people."

Thursday


President of Waypoint Solutions Group, Dan Wilson, in his home office in south Charlotte. Wilson's company monitors Dubai Ports World's I.T. systems in Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere from his home. He said that to operate out of home, one must have the ability to multitask and that "you can't do it without your family's support." Four employees in Charlotte, Jacksonville, FL and Englishtown, N.J. assist him. Over the past two years, Waypoint Solutions Group has doubled its revenue.


Part of a series of 10 photos for a food centerpiece next week on eating ribs.








(Lane 6) Brooke Bennett begins her Women 800 LC Meter Freestyle competition at the 22nd Charlotte Ultraswim on Thursday. Thursday was the first day of the 22nd Charlotte UltraSwim, which will feature 14 Olympians from 2004 and 22 U.S. National team members.


Mason Brunnick of the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club competes in the Men's 1500 LC Meter Freestyle competition at the 22nd Charlotte Ultraswim on Thursday.


Left, Laurabeth Guenthner and Caroline Burckle of Gainesville, FL chat while waiting for their heat to begin at the 22nd Charlotte Ultraswim on Thursday. Both Guenthner and Burckle raced in the Women 800 LC Meter Freestyle competition.