THAT’S A COMPLIMENT? It’s not often that...

THAT’S A COMPLIMENT? It’s not often that former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown gets to Orange County. But the outspoken Democrat is never short on opinions about the place. Before Thursday’s legislative session, reporters asked him about a possible voter recall of new Assembly Speaker Doris Allen, a Cypress Republican. Some GOP locals think she sold out to the Democrats to get the post. . . . Brown’s response about a recall: “It would be the ultimate in stupidity and I don’t think even Orange County is that stupid.”

SMOKE SCREEN: Cigar aficionados who also love the crumbling Mission San Juan Capistrano can puff away tonight during a fund-raiser at Cafe Mozart. For $100 you get an elegant, six-course dinner, fine wines and a taste of world-famous cigars (chocolate truffles for nonsmokers). Says Gerald Miller, the mission’s administrator: “It won’t be obnoxious because it will be outdoors on the patio.”

AUDIO AUDIE: The voice of Audie Contreras, 19, of La Habra should be familiar to many high school sports fans. Before graduating from Sonora High School in January, he was the school’s field announcer for most of its sporting events. But Contreras also has been active in Boys and Girls Club work. . . . For those efforts, he’s winner of its Youth of the Year award for all of Southern California, and goes to the Western finals in two weeks. Says Contreras: “I want to do the best I can; there aren’t enough role models for kids to look up to.”

FLAG TOWN: Come Fourth of July, La Palma will sport its first avenue of the flags, along Walker Street, the main thoroughfare that runs past the Civic Center. It’s a longtime dream of Mayor Wally D. Linn. . . . Private interests--the local Kiwanis Club and the firm that hauls trash for the city--have donated 20 tall-staffed American flags to be unfurled the first time on the Fourth. Says the mayor, “We’ll be decorating diligently with red, white and blue.”