"It's hard to find enough space for both my Cadillac and my helicopter."

Gov. Deval Patrick, shown at left getting into his controversial new state vehicle, joking about the parking crunch in Salem during state Rep. John Keenan's St. Patrick's Day breakfast a week ago Friday.

"If they let this guy out, the people who made the decision are just as guilty as he is. And they can all rot in hell."

Angelo Puglisi Sr., the father of Angelo "Andy" Puglisi, who disappeared from the state swimming pool in South Lawrence 30 years ago at the age of 10, arguing against the release from prison of convicted child rapist Wayne Chapman. Police suspect Chapman was involved in Puglisi's disappearance, but he has never been charged.

"There's a couple of (buyers) who came in, looked out the door and left."

Jim Besemer of Methuen on trying to sell his three-bedroom home. Its back yard is dominated by an elaborate model train layout that Besemer and two friends spent 15 years and $45,000 constructing.

"We went through so much as young guys. There was a closeness among us that is unparalleled to anything else in my life. That's the pains of sorrow, that they can't experience this along with me."

Luther McIlwain, 85, of Methuen on his fellow Tuskegee Airmen, the famed black aviators from World War II. McIlwain will travel to Washington next week to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, along with surviving members of the unit.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to bring back to the city what rightfully belongs to it."

Lawrence Superintendent of Schools Wilfredo Laboy on the return of the Lawrence High graduation ceremony to the city. The graduation will be held at the refurbished Veterans Memorial Stadium after being held for years at Lowell's Tsongas Arena.

"You've got to remember that we're in a tight fiscal situation, so it is difficult to take care of any one area."

Sen. Steve Panagiotakos, D-Lowell, dampening expectations that his appointment this week as Ways and Means chairman will bring a flood of state money to the North of Boston region.

"It still looks like a bomb hit it."

Danversport resident Jim Tobin, who is still waiting to get back into his home on Bates Street, on the neighborhood's appearance four months after the Thanksgiving Eve chemical factory explosion.

"We're not really looking to be a bar of any sort, we're just looking for people to have dinner and a nice glass of wine."

Emma Roberts of the Wenham Tea House which was authorized by selectmen this week to begin serving alcohol, thus ending the town's status as the last "dry" community on the North Shore.

"You can cower in the corner and hide or you can be tough and go out there and stand up for what you believe in."

John Edwards announcing that his wife's cancer was back, but that his run for the presidency would go forward.

"It changes the trajectory of my career."

Philip de Vellis, 33, creator of a video parody targeting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton that became an Internet sensation. Blue State Digital, a company that advises Democratic candidates, said it has fired de Vellis.