NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“This is really my dream job. I have wanted to be a kindergarten

teacher since I was three years old and I used to play school with my

dolls.”

-- Amy Ball, kindergarten teacher at Eastbluff Elementary School, on

being named Eastbluff Teacher of the Year by the Newport-Mesa Federation

of Teachers and The Irvine Co.

“I’m just delirious -- delirious from the wild ride.”

-- Kevin Donahue, crew member on America’s Challenge, after crossing

the finish line in the 54th annual Newport to Ensenada International

Yacht Race.

“Hey, if they won’t participate, then we just make them feel guilty.”

-- Marshall Steele, chairman of the Clean Harbor Day event organized

by the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, on people who stopped by because

they felt bad after seeing teens cleaning up the harbor.

“It took me three years to do those two paintings. I was shocked, and

I was in tears. I want my paintings back.”

-- Claire Kohne, 11, whose work was among the 10 paintings and two

ceramic sculptures stolen from Sher’s Art Gallery last week.

“A guy getting $8,800 an hour is insane. The public perceives lawyers

as greedy. But when lawyers do something like asking for $8,800 an hour,

that perception is justified.”

-- Tim Cook, a Corona del Mar lawyer, on why he helped Assemblyman

John Campbell (R-Irvine) craft a bill that would have imposed limits on

what lawyers can charge in class-action suits. The legislation, Assembly

Bill 456, died in committee Wednesday.

“Whoever shot it gave it a death sentence. And her babies, probably

two or three of them . . . are probably starving somewhere.”

-- Debbie McGuire, All Creatures Care Cottage administrator, on the

great blue heron that was shot last week in Newport Harbor. The bird,

with its wing shattered, had to be put to sleep.

“I don’t have that weight on my shoulders anymore. I don’t have that

stress at the back of my neck. But our lives have been changed forever.

Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Brandon.”

-- Pam Weiner, mother of Brandon Weiner, on the two year anniversary

of the day her son and Sierra Soto were killed by Steven Allen Abrams,

who plowed through their preschool playground in his car. Abrams has been

sentenced to spend life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“Our history is valuable as an inspiration that women can do anything

that men can do.”

-- Violet “Vi” Thurn Cowden, who flew fighter planes as a member of

the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II. Cowden spoke to

the California Federation of Women’s Clubs convention in Costa Mesa.