NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“I figured it’s better to give than to receive. I guess my mom and dad

taught me that.”

-- Alyssa Paine, 11, of Newport Beach, on why she organized a

gingerbread house party that raised more than $1,000 for the Orangewood

Children’s Home in Orange.

“In the past years, people have been extremely generous. This year,

things are probably tight and emotions are running high. But we’re hoping

people find the time to drop off at least one toy. Everything counts.”

-- Kymbra Fleming, spokeswoman for the Orange County Fire Authority,

on the need for more toys for the Spark of Life toy drive. Donations are

down 50% this year.

“It’s been a poorly managed mall for years now. There’s no foot

traffic, and that’s what we feed off of.”

-- Eric Lambiase, Johnny Rockets’ director of real estate, on why the

restaurant closed Dec. 16 at Triangle Square. Johnny Rockets’

announcement follows news that Whole Foods at the mall will close in

April.

“We’re concerned as any owner would be about losing a tenant, but we

are confident for the future.”

-- Tom Estes, property manager at Triangle Square, on what Johnny

Rockets’ leaving means for the mall.

“The kids reacting to some of the songs we were singing in those days

-- it was kind of getting a little hysterical and yelling, tearing at

clothes. It was a very exciting time in my life.”

-- Frankie Avalon, teen idol of the 1950s and ‘60s, on what it was

like at the zenith of his career. Avalon performed Saturday at Orange

Coast College in Costa Mesa.

“It is not right to form negative opinions based on appearance.

Character is what counts, and that’s what I’ve always tried to teach my

kids.”

-- Bill Folsom, a Costa Mesa city mechanic and RV owner, on why he

thinks the city is sending out the wrong message by passing a law Monday

that bans recreational and commercial vehicles from parking on

residential streets in part for aesthetic concerns.

“We tried to get a real reindeer, but when that didn’t happen we had

to think about plan B.”

-- Monique VanZeeBroeck, principal of Newport Coast Elementary, on how

she ended up kissing an antler-decked mastiff named Maggie on Thursday to

reward her students for reaching their reading goal. The students read

more than 300,000 pages in 2 1/2 months.

“It was almost magical for me to see boats navigating on the water at

Christmas time. Every year, it never gets old. It gets better.”

-- Steve Simon, Balboa Island resident and business owner, on the 93rd

annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, which began Monday.