The Year in Quotes

Crimes and misdemeanors

“This is the scariest of all rapes. It’s the boogeyman lurking in the

shadows, dragging them into the bushes and raping them.”

-- Ron Smith, of the Costa Mesa Police Department, describing the methods

of suspected rapist Calvin William Cunningham III, who police said later

committed suicide in jail.

“It’s not the first time, and I don’t think it’s going to be the last,

unfortunately.”

-- Martha Fluor, school board member, on the disappearance of PTA and

booster club money that had come to light recently.

“I’m stunned ... there are no words to describe this.”

-- Lillian Kazarian, mother of Deputy Dist. Atty. Bryan Kazarian, after

he was charged with providing inside information to a friend.

“I heard this scuffling, and I could just picture [the officer] like

this. The cop is pleading with him ... and [the suspected robber] says,

‘So what are you going to do to me?”’

-- Nicole Williams, a witness to a bank robbery, describing what she

heard when she woke up.

Hearts of gold

“This is a very remarkable situation. For someone to give this much money

for an altruistic reason says a lot about that person.”

-- Ron Smith, of the Costa Mesa Police Department, on an anonymous

$25,000 reward that was offered in the hunt for a person who raped a

woman in Fairview Park.

“The greatest reward in the world is to watch these people, who were on a

path to become the dregs of society, rise up and become valuable

citizens.”

-- Thom Thomas, on a program for residents of a drug and alcohol

treatment facility in Newport Beach that allows them to take classes at

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

“We have been turning away chronic care patients for many months now. We

would love to expand our clinics to Saturdays so we can serve more

people, but unfortunately the more people we serve the more resources we

need.”

-- Jean Forbath, founder of Share Our Selves, on the difficulties the

group has helping people on a limited budget.

“It feels good to help other people. It’s just something we like to do.”

-- Chelsea Svir, a fifth-grader at Victoria Elementary School, who is one

of three young candy stripers at the Beverly Manor Convalescent Hospital.

“If the police officer had not come, we absolutely wouldn’t have gone. It

is pure luck she came out and helped us.”

-- Daryle Palmer, principal of Kaiser Elementary School, after Costa Mesa

Officer Kris Cover got Knott’s Berry Farm to issue new tickets for a

field trip after the school’s were stolen.

“Show me the size of your heart.”

-- Leigh Steinberg, Newport Beach resident and sports agent, on what he

tells his clients about giving to charity.

“I was literally trying to save someone’s life. It’s one of those calls

that will stick with me forever.”

-- Dave Burnell, who helped save a victim of a freeway car accident.

“You really can’t speak against deporting undocumented criminals, but are

they really criminals?”

-- Jean Forbath, founder of Share Our Selves, on the INS plan.

“You can’t just sweep them under the carpet ... You must help them out.

They are annoying the rest of us, but you have to find a solution -- at

least give them an alternative.”

-- Jim Schabarum, who lives near Talbert Park, speaking of the homeless.

“My heart cries for these people because I know firsthand how these

people feel.”

-- Sheryl Hawkinson, director of Southcoast Early Childhood Learning

Center, on a shooting at a Los Angeles Jewish Center.

Not the brightest bulbs

“He stood on the edge of the cliff and did a swan dive. He went headfirst

into some brush that broke his fall.”

-- Mike McDermott, of the Newport Beach Police Department, describing a

chase that ended in a 17-year-old burglary suspect being caught.

“They needed the money and it was [Silvia} Caballero’s last day of work

at the store. These weren’t the best-laid plans.”

-- John FitzPatrick, of the Costa Mesa Police Department, after officers

said they solved a robbery by realizing the report was false.

Famous last words

“We’re going to have a balanced budget.”

-- Robert Barbot, Newport-Mesa school superintendent, during the first

discussion of the district’s 1999-2000 budget. The 1998-99 budget had a

$4.8-million deficit.

“This is the beginning of what should be a great addition to the

library.”

-- Jim Wood, president of the Newport Beach Public Library board of

directors, on a proposal to build a $12-million cultural arts center.

“In pure form, there is no deficit. But when those other things move in

... they will inflate expenditures ... and it will look like a deficit.”

-- Mike Fine, assistant superintendent of business services, on the

district’s budget.

“But they all know I’ve got 30 IQ points on Dana.”

-- Bob Dornan, a former congressman, while he was considering a run

against Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach).

“It’s much more hectic here in Newport Beach -- more complex, more

sophisticated, on a much larger scale. There’s such a wide range of

things to know, about the issues and about the history of the issues.”

-- Homer Bludau, Newport Beach’s city manager, after his first week on

the job.

You can fight in City Hall...

“I do not dispute your story that appeared in the newspaper.”

-- John Noyes, then Newport Beach city councilman, on initial reports he

passed a note to Councilman Tod Ridgeway detailing a possible conflict of

interest Ridgeway had when voting to award money to pro-El Toro airport

groups.

“I don’t understand it. I’m going to insist on detailed information.”

-- Mike Kransley, chairman of the Newport Beach Planning Commission, on

the complicated traffic study tied to a proposedresort at the Newport

Dunes.

“I haven’t thought about it. We’ll have to see how the politics gel.”

-- John Noyes, on reports that he would become the next Newport Beach

mayor. He did.

“I’m not a schemer and a back-room guy.”

-- Tom Thomson, Newport Beach city councilman, on why his collegues

should have elected him mayor.

... but can you move City Hall?

“As farfetched as it sounds, I think the idea has its merits. If the

money’s right, who knows?”

-- Gary Monahan, Costa Mesa mayor, on the barely alive idea of moving

City Hall to the Pacific Savings Plaza.

Finding the silver lining

“Maybe it was too easy. It was easier than a workout in the gym.”

-- Francis Botha, after losing a fight with Mike Tyson. A Newport Beach

resident, Botha’s son attends Andersen Elementary School.

Sad sign of the times

“I just think it’s sad that it has a negative connotation. It’s a

legitimate internship. But you always get comments like, ‘I don’t want to

see your name in the newspaper.”’

-- Beth Ferryman, daughter of school board member Jim Ferryman, on how

Monica Lewinsky affected views of White House internships.

The opposite sex

“It’s always a surprise to see who my man will be.”

-- Diane Coltrane, Newport Beach resident, on her Christmas cards in

which she poses with strange, but famous, men.

“She also pinched a lot of men -- that was her thing. She was one of the

best flirts in Newport Beach.”

-- David Dolan, on former employee Teri Beno, who retired as a checker at

Pavilions on the peninsula.

“Everyone else has a valentine, and I thought I’d be more proactive about

it. I tend to be more of the shy type. It’s kind of a way to extremely

break the ice, I guess.”

-- Scott Sandin, who spent Valentine’s Day afternoon at the corner of

Dover Drive and Coast Highway advertising himself as a “Valentine-less

Guy.” He didn’t get any takers.

Less than zero

“I don’t get where that helps the student. There’s other ways you can

deal with it that can be more meaningful and still be very severe.”

-- Jim Ferryman, school board member, calling for a review of the

district’s zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy.

“I think when we suspect kids and send them to other schools, they fall

through the cracks if you’re not careful. So for board members it is

extremely frustrating. We want to make suggestions and intervene.”

-- Dana Black, school board member, on reconsidering the district’s

zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy.

“Pressuring someone to drink is messed up.”

-- Chris Lim, then a senior at Costa Mesa High School, on alcohol

consumption among students.

No kidding

“The facility in the worse condition is Ensign, by far.”

-- Mike Fine, assistant superintendent, when telling the school board

that it might make more sense to bulldozer and rebuild than repair the

intermediate school.

“I had asked a lot of people if it was painful and now I know -- it is.”

-- Marcella Roberson, on giving birth to Paris Reina, the first baby born

at Hoag Hospital in 1999.

“I haven’t had a drink of hard liquor in my life -- I’m Southern

Baptist.”

-- Norma Glover, Newport Beach city councilwoman, refering to a

restaurant’s request to serve hard alcohol, which the council granted.

“Any time you mix fireworks with people drinking alcohol, it’s never a

good thing.”

-- Jan Debay, Newport Beach councilwoman, on Costa Mesa’s decision to

allow fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

“This is a very serious figure.”

-- Jim Ferryman, Newport-Mesa school board member, on the district’s

$4.8-million deficit.

“From the outside looking in, it looks like we’re incompetent. I hope

that the record we have assembled is complete.”

-- Tom Mathews, director of county planning, on misplaced documents for a

Newport Coast development.

Every day heroes

“I can’t swim fast enough.”

-- Peter Finch, who helped pull an injured bodysurfer out of the Wedge,

on why he didn’t become a lifeguard.

“With everything, if it takes you one hour, it takes me three.”

-- Richard Barone, a disabled resident of Newport Beach, on the

difficulties he faces each day.

“I’m not some kind of idiot. I don’t come from outer space.”

-- Delina Garcia, 14, who is blind, on the way her classmates treat her.

She was one of several blind students who went sailing in Newport Harbor.

Not an every day shake

“It sounded like a stampede or a freight train barreling through the

area.”

-- Scott Smith, Newport Harbor High School biology teacher, on a 7.1

magnitude earthquake that shook the desert where he was cmaping with

students.

From the mouths of babes

“Isn’t he cute?”

-- Kendall Bradley, 4, who was among a group of blind and partially

sighted children who toured the Bay Bay, describing a stuffed coyote.

“I don’t know yet.”

-- Grant Garrett, asked what he likes best about school after his first

day of kindergarten.

“You just wrap them up fast so that you can’t see them.”

-- Jazmin Gardner, a 7-year-old Newport Beach resident, on how she parts

with toys for needy children.

Starving for perfection

“Eating disorders are a really big problem. I really hope the school

district wants to help with it ... and won’t let it go. People die every

day from this, and we need to work to stop it.”

-- Galel Fajardo, who represented Costa Mesa High School on the school

board.

“I’ve talked to other girls from Orange County, and they think we’re

crazy. We always think we’re fat.”

-- Alexandra Robinson, a student at Newport Harbor High School, on the

extent of eating disorders at Newport-Mesa schools.

Remembrances

“He was always here for the blessing of the animals. He blessed our

mouse, our cat, our bird and our turtle. He’s really nice. This is kind

of sad.”

-- Gabe Carcamo, 11, on the Rev. Kenneth Krause, when it was learned he

was battling pancreatic cancer, a fight he would lose in June.

“I am amazed at the love that surrounds Sierra and myself, and I am

eternally grateful for all the love and support from the community. It

has given me strength I did not know I had.”

-- Cindy Soto, mother of 4-year-old Sierra, who died in an accident at a

Costa Mesa preschool.

“I just feel in my heart that a wall is going to protect the children.”

-- Pam Weiner, mother of 3-year-old Brandon Weiner, one of the two

children killed in May on a Costa Mesa playground, at a meeting about

removing a protective wall built around the school.

“He’s not going to walk through the front door again. He’s not going to

hold my hand anymore. This has really left us black and blue.”

-- Isabella Wiener, speaking about her 3-year-old grandson Brandon, who

died along with Sierra Soto.

“Every time we set foot on the water we have to respect it. It’s a

powerful force. We can replace a boat, but we can’t replace a human

being.”

-- Don Brockman, friend of missing fisherman Ken Phillips, during a

memorial service for his lost business partner.

“She was beautiful. She had a wonderful personality. She was great.”

-- Omar Garcia, on his fiancee, 15-year-old Yuridia Balbuena, who was

shot and killed along with her unborn baby.

“She wasn’t just someone who came to school and worked hard. We have a

whole school full of those teachers. She went beyond that.”

-- Pam Coughlin, principal of Wilson Elementary School, on Edwina

Dattler, who died from a brain tumor.

Getting an education

“Strong nations, strong societies are not multicultural. They are

monocultural ... Multiculturalism is making us weak.”

-- Bruce Crawford, while asking the school board to reject

multiculturalism in the classroom.

“My classroom is not one culture. To deny them their place in history is

to tell them they don’t count. And I will not do that to my students. ...

I am giving them the tools to live in the world.”

-- Angela Newman, who teaches a multicultural history class at Newport

Harbor High School.

“The kids we deal with now, they have it so hard and so difficult because

they’re unaware of the diversity.”

-- Oscar Santoya, director of Save Our Youth gang intervention center, at

a recent meeting on race relations in Costa Mesa.

“I challenge you today, as these textbooks come up for review, to come

down to the district office and review [the books] and take notes.”

-- Wendy Leece, Newport-Mesa Unified District board member, during a

debate on multiculturalism in high school history classes.

“It’s definitely on top of the list.”

-- Ralph Opacic, principal of the Orange County High School of the Arts,

on possibly moving the nationally recognized school to the Newport-Mesa

district.

“Those who know how to read aren’t being challenged in other areas.”

-- Debbie England, a parent of former College Park Elementary School

students, on concerns about the education being provided at the school.

Senior skirmishes

“Now it’s like a competitive thing and there’s no sense in that. It’s

like a cold war.”

-- Anna-Jean Sweet, Friends of OASIS president, on a clash between the

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa senior centers.

A moving moment

“The last Property Advisory Committee meeting was like the Jerry Springer

Show.”

-- Barbara Venezia, a Santa Ana Heights resident, on a meeting concerning

annexation of the land, which got highly emotional.

West Side stories

“We have a world-class shopping center and a performing arts center, but

there’s no world-class residential area. I think it could be the next

Newport Coast. There’s no reason to have machine shops within one mile of

the beach.”

-- Dan Smith, on the West Side, which is still in the process of being

revitalized.

“Slow it down. Let people see what the West Side has to offer.”

-- Wally Gerlach, a West Side resident, offering his support for making

the area pedestrian-friendly.

“I was furious. I specifically wanted to go to this meeting to voice my

opinion and concerns -- and I feel I’ve been excluded.”

-- Howard House, a West Side business owner, on the city’s oversight in

inviting business owners to a meeting on the area’s revitalization.

“I really believe we are a bridge, and each one of us is a link in that

bridge.”

-- Maria Elena Avila, on meetings of Latino leaders to discuss

improvement plans for the West Side.

“I think they listened to us. Their moratorium won’t be a problem.”

-- Paul Frech, on Costa Mesa’s limited, and temporary, moratorium on new

liquor stores on the West Side.

Show me the money

“Does that mean I get a bonus?”

-- Ken Killian, on being the last male elementary school principal in the

district.

“It’s a good day to make money. And it’s only going to get busier.”

-- Charles Goolsby, a SkyCab at John Wayne Airport, on the day before

Thanksgiving.

Where’s Oliver Stone?

“I’m highly skeptical that [Newport Beach] needs $1.2 million more. It

conveniently matches the Dunes’ projected revenue stream.

-- Bob Caustin, Back Bay environmentalist speaking about the city’s need

for $1.2 million in the next five years to offset an anticipated economic

downturn.

Toro Toro Toro

“We have to recognize that the purpose of this initiative is to destroy

El Toro and create a mechanism to expand John Wayne -- pure and simple.”

-- Tom Edwards, former Newport Beach mayor, on the Safe and Healthy

Communities Initiative.

“We do not have an official position, but I’m here, so you can figure out

where I stand.”

-- Gary Monahan, Costa Mesa mayor, at a meeting to support the proposed

El Toro airport.

“This is a very constructive step, and it’s something that is just as

important for Newport as for South County. It makes good sense.”

-- Christopher Cox, Newport Beach’s congressman, on a plan to propose

federal legislation to give the proposed El Toro airport the same flight

restrictions as John Wayne.

The wonder years

“Cheating is a huge problem throughout the campus. There’s a lot of

pressure to get good grades and be involved in all kinds of

extracurricular activities. I can see why people do it.”

-- Valerie Terrell, then a junior at Newport Harbor High School.

“I’m in hell. It’s very stressful.”

-- Valerie Terrell, then a junior at Newport Harbor High School, on

Advanced Placement and SAT tests.

“If you think you’re important, stand up.”

- Pepe Serna, a local actor, addressing students at a Latino Youth

Conference.

“We’d be more than happy to accommodate their prom. However, in keeping

with the city of Newport Beach, we have no music after 10 p.m.”

-- Erica Schmidt, advertising manager at Newport Dunes resort, on a city

ordinance that limits Newport Harbor High students from holding their

prom in their hometown.

“Vandalism is a problem only in the bathrooms, in the stalls where people

write things about other people’s girlfriends, or sometimes its racial.”

-- Galel Fajardo, Costa Mesa High School student, on vandalism problems

in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

“Will this stop kids from smoking? I don’t think it will. Will the

ordinance send a message to your kids? Yeah, it will. It’ll say, ‘You

kids can’t be trusted and your parents don’t know what they’re doing.”’

-- Doug Scribner, a Costa Mesa resident who works with youths, on a city

ordinance to regulate tobacco sales.

“I graduated here by the skin of my teeth. There are 12 people here

tonight on the guest list that I need to talk to because they helped me

graduate.”

-- Kevin Costner, actor and Cal State Fullerton alumnus, at the opening

of the Clubhouse restaurant in South Coast Plaza.

The debutante bails

“Tina Schafnitz won’t be seen at any social gatherings on the weekends.

She will be back when the time is right.”

-- Robert Newman, attorney for the Newport Beach resident, on her early

release from jail into a drug treatment program.

Know a good attorney?

“I think you won’t see any more split decisions with the other lawsuits

like this case. We look at this as a victory. It isn’t gold-plated, but

we’ll take it.”

-- Bruce Jennings, founder of Bryco Arms, after a New York jury found his

gun-manufacturing company and 14 others negligent in a shooting. He

didn’t have to pay any damages.

“I know some of them were at fault. I’m not mad at them, but if things

were wrong, I do deserve something.”

-- Sara F. Hougard, on her decision to file lawsuits against the city of

Costa Mesa and two drivers involved in an accident that severed her leg

and left her with a number of other serious injuries.

“This bully is at it again. She made a defamatory statement and has

turned around and sued the person she has victimized with this

statement.”

-- Andrew Guilford, attorney for Beach Access owner Tom Moore, on radio

personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger.

“We will continue with our lawsuit. My client wants to get his day in

court for the damage to his business.”

-- Paul Rafferty, attorney for Beach Access owner Tom Moore, after a

lawsuit against his client filed by radio personality Dr. Laura

Schlessinger was thrown out of court.

Uphill battles

“Right now we’re grappling with how we can possibly pay for it.”

-- Mark Schultheis, a member of the school district’s budget advisory

committee, on needed improvements at area schools.

“By not addressing this, by being silent, it will just signify our tacit

consent. I just want to raise the debate so that we truly examine the

changes the bill would make and why it’s unnecessary.”

-- Wendy Leece, school board member, arguing against a California

Assembly bill that would add students’ sexual orientation to the list of

protected civil rights.

Inferiority complex

“Linda Dixon and I have said that it’s insulting. It’s a very emotional

issue.”

-- Libby Cowan, Costa Mesa city councilwoman, on Santa Ana Heights

residents who want to be annexed by Newport Beach and not Costa Mesa.

“Moses told the Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go.’ I don’t think he said,

‘Please fill out this paperwork.”’

-- James D. Daily, a resident of unincorporated land that Costa Mesa is

considering annexing.

Rival thoughts

“We just play more aggressively when we play them.”

-- Sean Johnson, Newport Harbor High student, on the school’s rivalry

with Corona del Mar High.

But is it a crime?

“I know it’s a big issue. But our children deserve a place to go ... and

they shouldn’t be destroying our schools.”

-- Martha Fluor, school board member, proposing the district consider

opening a skateboard park.

“I don’t think the Charle Street location was that well thought out.

Skaters are isolated. It’s not as safe [as other options], not as open,

and there’s not much else there.”

-- Gary Monahan, Costa Mesa mayor, on the location of the city’s first

skate park.

Cat lover or criminal?

“I couldn’t just walk away and leave animals to be abandoned. I know a

lot of things can happen to cats.”

-- Patricia Hotz, who faced fines for violating Costa Mesa animal control

laws for having 51 cats in her house.

The name is bond, school bond

“We’re getting a message from the voters that’s loud and clear. Education

is the No. 1 issue.”

-- John Moorlach, Orange County’s treasurer, on why 1999 looked like a

good time to try to pass a bond for money to repair schools.

“It really means that it is something we need to look at. How can we make

sure the public understands what we’re trying to do?”

-- Serene Stokes, president of the Newport-Mesa school board, on the

failure of a school bond in Huntington Beach.

On the day they were born

“When I was born, I had to learn how to walk, then I got polio and had to

learn how to walk, and then I was in this accident and had to learn all

over again.”

-- Dennis O’Neil, Newport Beach councilman, on obstacles he’s overcome.

“I can’t think of a better birthday present than to be hired as your city

manager.”

-- Homer Bludau, after being named Newport Beach’s city manager on his

birthday.

Where ends meet

“Today we exit high school, and in many ways we take the final steps of

our childhood.”

-- Samantha Gaiber, Newport Harbor High’s valedictorian, in her

graduation speech.

“I’m trying to prepare myself for the end of a career. For the first time

in my life I won’t have a heavy responsibility.”

-- Bill Hamilton, former owner of The Cannery, on his retirement.

“People will drive a hundred miles to see this bridge.”

-- David Wilson, of C.J. Segerstrom and Sons, on the bridge that will

connect South Coast Plaza and the revamped Crystal Court.

“It’s always great to leave at the top of your game.”

-- Dennis O’Neil, after finishing his one-year term as mayor of Newport

Beach.

Lights, camera, action!

“My feeling is that we’ve brought together really the brightest and best

of the community. Our initial board of directors is a reflection of

that.”

-- Gregg Schwenk, who is leading a group of residents in saving the

Newport Beach International Film Festival.

“We were just thinking, ‘What if this was on C-SPAN?”’

-- Christopher Cox, Newport Beach’s congressman, on meetings of his

committee on Chinese espionage of U.S. military technology.

Water works

“We think our exhibit will be so enticing they wouldn’t want to go to

Little Corona.”

-- Dennis Kelly, OCC professor, on a proposal to build an artificial tide

pool at Big Corona.

“Obviously we’re concerned about this situation.”

-- Dave Kiff, Newport Beach deputy city manager, on the possibility that

the contaminated water that closed Huntington Beach during the summer

might make its way to Newport.

“We don’t know how high the chlorine levels were, if there was any there

at all.”

-- Larry Honeybourne, of the Orange County Health Department, on an

accidental spill into Los Trancos Creek by the Irvine Co.

“There were unbearable odors there. Frankly, it was a priority getting

people out of there.”

-- Claudine Leath, Nike spokeswoman, on a sewage leak at the Niketown

store in Triangle Square.

Sad ending

“The children should be told about the truth at some point.”

-- John Fry, a Costa Mesa child psychologist, on whether the grandparents

of Eric Bechler should tell his children that he has been charged with

their mother’s murder.

Happy endings

“It’s like going on a trip and not knowing your way, and then getting the

best tour director in the whole area.”

-- Dayna Pettit, president of the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre

Foundation, after Birtcher Construction Services offered to manage

renovations of the Balboa Theater.

“I just think it’s wonderful that the district is listening to us, that

our opinion is valued and that we seem to help make some decisions.”

-- Jill Money, Andersen Elementary PTA member, on the district’s rezoning

process.

“It came out gorgeous. It looks like a ’96 instead of an old ’86.”

-- Gary Gray, owner of Orange Coast Jeep/Isuzu, on a van donated to

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen.

“I think it’s wonderful. I like the small feel to it. You feel like you

know everybody.”

-- Diane Wysopal, whose son attends kindergarten at Eastbluff Elementary,

which opened in August but had it’s official opening in December.

“We’ve felt like everything we have tried to do has met with resistance.

It’s been one thing after another. The whole year has been a struggle.”

-- Sheryl Hawkinson, director of Southcoast Early Learning Childhood

Center.

“He’s like the father of Corona del Mar.”

-- Debra Allen, on her friend Phil Sansone, who moved to Hawaii at the

end of the year.