“It’s an insidious process. I didn’t feel...

“It’s an insidious process. I didn’t feel comfortable continuing to

be involved with that.”

-- Eric Bever, a candidate for a Costa Mesa City Council

appointment, on why he resigned from the Community Redevelopment

Action Committee designed to redevelop the city’s Westside

“It’s really nice but ... I just want to get better and get back

to it.”

-- Aaron Wintterle, an injured U.S. Marine sergeant returned from

the War in Iraq, on feeling uncomfortable being treated like a hero

all the time

“Do you think I got where I am today by listening to the U.S.

State Department?”

-- Scott Day, a Costa Mesa comedian, on going to Beijing despite

health advisories about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

“Having the capacity to give students access to education is [a

goal] throughout the state, not just simply at Vanguard.”

-- Murray Dempster, Vanguard University president, on the

college’s seven-year expansion -- eight new buildings, including the

Heath Academic Center, which got underway last week

“One of the fellows must have misunderstood the directions.”

-- Dave Niederhaus, Newport Beach’s general services director, on

how 29 trees in the city were pruned so closely they many never

recover

“If we don’t make it by June and get it approved, then the project

probably will be subject to prevailing-wage laws.”

-- Sharon Wood, Newport Beach’s assistant city manager, on a new

affordable housing project that will cost $1 million more if it

doesn’t land on a state Coastal Commission agenda by June;

last-minute environmental studies are holding up the application