“It could be anything. It could be...

“It could be anything. It could be a motel. It could be a commercial

building. We could put signs on it that say ‘Lenny’s Pool Company’

and we’d know to look for chemicals inside.”

-- Lenny Goodsir, Costa Mesa fire captain, on the department’s new

fire training structure that can be configured to resemble any type

of building.

“You get enough time to get a sense of what the bill is and how

you’re going to vote on it, but never enough time to understand all

the details. As a legislator you have to be a quick study and always

be prepared for what’s coming at you.”

-- Van Tran, Costa Mesa assemblyman, on the quick voting that

takes place in Sacramento.

“I marvel at the fact that I get paid to do this, even when I’m

running from one place to the other, even when things don’t go the

way I want them to go. I’m still in love with the job.”

-- Chuck DeVore, Newport Beach assemblyman, on his first few

months in office.

“I think when students go to school, it’s the school’s

responsibility to keep them in class. I drop my son off at school

every morning on time, 10 minutes early.”

-- Brooke Tierno, the mother of a freshman at Newport Harbor High

School, at a meeting called by the Orange County district attorney’s

office to address truancy.

“I can’t remember the first quotes out of their mouths, but I know

they’re telling all their friends at school like crazy,”

-- Gretchen Schreiber, a Newport Beach resident whose backyard

contains a fossilized whale skull, on her two sons’ reaction to the

find.

“That’s good news for Costa Mesa.”

-- Allan Mansoor, Costa Mesa mayor, on the Orange County

Transportation Authority’s decision to kill a proposal to look at

extending the 57 freeway to Coast Highway.