“I loved watching their faces as we turned into Times Square and they just kept looking up and up and up.”

— Renee Cunningham, curriculum coordinator at Knollwood Elementary School, on a school-sponsored trip to New York City that gave 20 students a taste of the big city

“It’s a great way for all of us to meet one another and sit down and talk.”

— Officer Rebecca Sexton of the Salisbury Police Department, on National Night Out observances scheduled for Aug. 6 that will bring police officers and neighborhood residents together to talk about crime and safety issues

“The recruiting process was a long ride, but there’s nothing like home. There are a lot of advantages to staying home.”

— Derrick Page, a recent graduate of North Rowan High School, who after talking with colleges far and wide decided on Catawba College to pursue his basketball career

“If you go in and fix up a neighborhood, it keeps pushing the bad away and people feel safe. Our goal is to work toward more safe and affordable housing.”

— Barbara Perry, chairwoman of the city’s Housing Advocacy Commission, during a tour of neighborhoods Tuesday to identify potential areas for the annual BlockWork cleanup initiative

“The books don’t do us any good sitting here. We’re helping from within.”

— Susan Heaggans, director of initial licensure for Rowan-Salisbury Schools, on the distribution of books and other classroom materials to help newly hired teachers stock their classrooms

“Eventful game, just like almost all the rest of them have been. These guys are making me old.”

— Grayson Miller, coach of the South Rowan Junior American Legion baseball team, after a 7-5 win Monday in the semifinals of the state tournament and before a 4-3 loss to Rutherford County in Wednesday’s finals