Say Again

“Some of these parents were driving on the grass -- these cars would

basically go onto the playground. I’ve seen a couple incidents where

teachers had to grab students out of harm’s way from a car.”-- Denamarie

Arellanes, mother of Davis Education Center fifth-grader Matt, on why she

began dropping him off behind the Costa Mesa school instead of at the

front entrance.

“It’s almost like apples and oranges: Our campaign is about repairing 40-

and 50-year-old buildings, basic health and safety issues -- not teacher

salaries, other perks and music programs.”

Wendy Leece, school board member, on why last week’s failure of Irvine

Unified School District’s parcel tax does not have any bearing on the

upcoming $110-million school bond.

“We’ve been standing here for 15 years and have seen a lot of changes in

the neighborhood. But times have changed and it’s time for us to move

on.”

-- Paul Odanaka, Chili’s area director, on the upcoming closure of the

Newport Beach restaurant along Mariner’s Mile.

“We scream because it’s pain and excitement mixed together.”

-- Brooke Moore, 14, of Newport Beach, referring to the pushing and

shoving that she endured to see pop band No Doubt perform Thursday at

Triangle Square.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen, but the minute that phone rings,

you have to get into emergency mode.”

-- Costa Mesa emergency dispatcher Susan Larimore, on how she handles her

high-stress job. The city on Wednesday honored its 911 operators for their service to the community.

“We have a tendency to focus on the victim. But no -- we need to tell

them they have survived and are on the right track now.”

-- Amanda Combs, a prevention education specialist for Sexual Assault

Victim Services, at Orange Coast College’s Wednesday night candlelight

vigil for survivors of abuse.