NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“There’s nothing going on in the city that you are not involved in.

It’s thrilling.”

-- Paul Starn, on working as a Costa Mesa dispatcher since 1967.

Starn, who retired last month, has dealt with everything from burglaries

to drug busts in his 35-year career.

“I don’t see the crane. I’m seeing the top of the steeple, the

lighting. . . . It’ll add such an ethereal, spiritual feeling here.”

-- Weatherford Clayton, president of the Newport-Mesa chapter of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, looking at a crane Monday at

2300 Bonita Canyon Drive, where the church plans to build a temple. The

124-foot crane was erected to show nearby residents how high the temple’s

proposed steeple will be when built.

“One of the things with students with severe challenges is that it’s

important for them to know they make a difference. No matter how

challenged they are, they can change the world.”

-- Suzy Thatcher, Corona del Mar High School special education

teacher, on why she had her students help build a koi pond Monday in the

garden outside her classroom.

“I want you to challenge me. I want you to get in my face. I don’t

care what you call me. It doesn’t bother me.”

-- Kenneth Hearlson, Orange Coast College professor, speaking to his

Political Science 180 class Tuesday. It was Hearlson’s first class since

being placed on leave after four Muslim students accused him of making

inflammatory statements days after Sept. 11. Hearlson was cleared by the

college.

“It’s thrilling for someone like me to work with bodies at such a high

level of fitness.”

-- Kathy Flippin, Newport Beach massage therapist, on being a member

of the 2002 Winter Sports Massage Team, which will help athletes at the

Winter Olympics in Utah.

“We are a prudent city, and we like to get the most bang for our buck.

Why spend money on real estate when the Internet offers more and more

information that is getting to be pretty good.”

-- Tom Egan, president of the Costa Mesa Library Foundation, on the

2,400-square-foot Costa Mesa Technology Brach Library, which opened

Wednesday. The new branch, located in a strip mall, offers 27 computer

stations with Internet access and minimal print material.

“She has been a great cheerleader for the foundation and has done

great things for the theater. We wish her well.”

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

Foundation, on the termination last week of Michele Roberge as the

foundation’s executive director. Roberge had held the position since July

1, 1999.

“Wouldn’t they know if she robbed a bank in the past 13 years?”

-- Darla Mize, parent of a Newport Harbor High School cheerleader, on

a memo from the Newport Mesa school district letting Cheer Coach Lisa

Callahan go in part because she has not had a proper background

screening. Callahan, who has been teaching cheerleaders at the school for

13 years, apparently was not properly hired and has now been barred from

campus. Mize said she plans to file an appeal to the state to get

Callahan reinstated.