They've been coaching us along.

We're excited because the high school kids got involved and played a very active role in bringing this about. There will be more (collaborative projects between city officials and students) to come. I love working with the students. They have such energy and enthusiasm. It's been a great first project.

We were brainstorming ideas about the downtown and asking them how we could get our youth involved. That's kind of how it came to be.

It's happened so many times to us, I don't want to say we're used to (being down), but we don't quit. We're fighters. It's just the attitude we have. We're not going to back down.

I think all of us are inspired. We made it through this year and were so much more successful than we ever thought we'd be considering the challenges we faced.

I knew once we stared hauling this stuff out and getting the place clean, she'd be happy.