INSIDE SCOOP

--Compiled by Eron Ben-Yehuda, Angelique Flores and Andrew Wainer

ENOUGH SAID

Mayor Dave Garofalo quickly grew tired of what he called the “best part”

of City Council meetings -- the time allotted for the public to express

its views.

“I encourage you to speak up and be heard,” he said at first.

But after hearing the public for more than half an hour during last

week’s meeting, his patience had worn thin.

“Madam Clerk, how many more speakers are left?” he asked.

The clerk said 11.

By the end, Garofalo had heard enough.

“Thank you to most of the speakers tonight,” he said.

THE WRONG VOTE

Before Fountain Valley City Council members cast their vote last week to

deny plans for a drive-through window at a new Starbucks coffee shop, the

company’s architects were allowed to say a few final words on the matter.

So he thanked City Manager Ray Kromer for his “brilliant idea” to use

removable cones to direct traffic at the proposed shop.

“You’re sucking up to the wrong guy,” said Kromer, who doesn’t get a

vote.

A LOT OF LOVE

Last week’s Fountain Valley School District student recognition awards

presentation was the best Susan Grantham had ever seen.

“The teachers were just glowing about their students,” said Grantham, the

district’s executive assistant.

The awards, which are given out at district board meetings, honored six

students from Robert Gisler school. Two students who received the most

lavish praise were immigrants.

“She has an eagerness to learn that takes my breath away,” teacher Bobbie

Heffner said of Alina Caranahan of Denmark.

Second-grade teacher Penny Lopez said her student, Russian-born Natalie

Manwarren, was “one of the happiest, brightest and sweetest children I

have ever worked with.”