“I don’t have a secret. I just lived a long life.”

— Celia Summitt, who celebrated her 105th birthday Tuesday with a party for family, friends and fellow residents of The Laurels of Salisbury retirement center

“We are still kicking the can down the street. We need to stop looking at what we want and start looking at the children.”

— Jean Kennedy, a member of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, after approval of a $26 million plan to renovate Knox Middle School, a project that’s been years in the making

“Ninety-five percent of dog training is de-training the people. The other 5% is the dog.”

— Theresa Pitner, owner of Understanding Your Dog training service

“This is where my new life will start. This is where I can tell my kids to ‘Go to your room.’”

— Tywanda Heilig, at last weekend’s dedication of her new Habitat for Humanity-built house on Union Heights Boulevard, where she will live with her two young children

“Mr. Speaker, how dare you, Mr. Speaker.”

— State Rep. Deb Butler, a Democrat from New Hanover County, objecting to an unscheduled vote in the state House Wednesday to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the state budget while most Democrats were not in the chamber

“It was really hard to find a Hallmark card that said everything we wanted to say.”

— Jane Creech, president of the women’s auxiliary at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, during a surprise party Tuesday for Sandy Morrison celebrating her 35th year working at the gift shop and hospitality room at the hospital