Anyone deserving of an 'Honorable Menschen,' can contact Howard Berger via

his e-mail: Howardberger9798@aol.com or by fax: 822-3670.

TOP ROLES IN "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" AND "GYPSY" FEATURE BROOKE ERIN FELDMAN

One of the all-time childhood favorites has been "Alice in Wonderland," and even at my mature age and those of my contemporaries, we can still hum the key song of this always popular story. The coveted and lead role in the current production of "Alice" at the Margate Performing Arts Center,which opened this week (July 31) and continues today, tomorrow and Sunday, is performed by talented 11-year-old

Brooke Erin Feldman. Her loudest applause in the audience will come from her friends and proud parents and cheer leaders, Dr. Barbara Steinberg (dentist and professor of dentistry at the Drexel University School of Medicine) and

Dr. Alan Feldman (ob/gyn specialist), and their many friends and family members. That's not all, when it comes to another performance, the key role of Baby June in "Gypsy" at Dante Hall in Atlantic City, Aug. 7 and 8. If she keeps up the pace we may see a future star in the making. Brooke will attend Margate's Tighe School next month. What does she do when not acting or studying? Naturally she likes to sing, dance and and play squash, basketball and snowboard. She has studied voice with Susan Neustadter Schneider and is currently studying with Sal Dupree. She indeed has a bright acting future.

SOME HEALTH ADVICE FROM DR. IRA STEIN - MORE MEN SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR

In a recent column for Atlantic County's Gannett weeklies, I penned an article emphasizing that fewer men see a doctor yearly than women. We asked for and received a logical explanation on this critical health issue from Dr. Ira Stein. Dr. Stein, one of Atlantic County's few board certified geriatricians: "Life expectancy for men is consistently less than for women and some of that may be genetic, but failure to have regular checkups and health screenings (for ailments) such as cardiac problems, cholesterol, diabetes, prostate and colon cancer may play a role." And added Stein, "Ignoring or minimizing symptoms as part of a 'macho' attitude, can also compromise men's health status, and the older a man gets the more important these exams are."

VENTNOR ART CENTER'S GIFTED JEWISH ARTISTS HELP STUDENTS PLACE WELL IN ART SHOWS

The roster of artists at the Ventnor Art Center reflects a group of talented people who in turn are helping their students do well in art shows. The Center is one of the area's leading cultural facilities and attracts a sizable number of residents from our Downbeach area and even some from our Mainland communities. And there is a definite Jewish tie since many of the accomplished artists are active in the cultural life of our community. They include Marion Reinheimer (watercolor), Linda Kaufman (pastels), Gil Lenett (stained glass), Shirley Rab (was sculpture ) and of course our reporter from the Center - Charlotte Carney (oil and acrylics). "The beauty and adventure of a trip to Israel is being painted in the wonderful light of the Center by one of my students - Linda Kolman. She and Shirley Belinsky went to Israel a while ago. Linda is a Center board member. And added Carney, "The amazing thing is that many of the students have placed well in local art shows and that's cool, isn't it? Overall, our artists and students are just awesome and very talented."

STOCKTON'S PAC SEEKS NEW 'FRIENDS ASSN.' MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEER USHERS

Stating they have a great time and get to see at no cost to them the leading Broadway shows and many concerts, Joyce and Jerry Stein of Cherry Hill and Margate, should spur area theater devotees to become volunteers at the Stockton College Performing Arts Center. PAC executive director Michael Cool and ticketing sales director, Dana Roberts, are seeking PAC volunteers for what is shaping up as a spectacular 2008-09 season. To become a volunteer call the PAC office 652-4607 and the same number to sign up as a member of the "Friends Association," and to get all the details. "The 'Friends Association,' has been supporting the PAC for over 30 years by providing ushers, Green Room hospitality as well as monies to help defray the costs of operating the Center," says Cool. "We are fortunate to have in this area one of New Jersey's leading cultural centers." The late N.J. Council on the Arts chairperson Lillian Levy (Ventnor) admitted many times, "We turned Southern New Jersey from a cultural wilderness into a cultural oasis and the Stockton PAC into one of the centers for this renaisance."

MUSICAL SPOTLIGHT . . .

It could be the Judaic musical event of the year - the Cantor's Assembly Concert Aug. 24 at Beth El Synagogue, predicts BE's Cantor Ralph Goren who knows a great choral concert when he books one. Featured will be one of the nation's outstanding voices, that of

Alberto Mizrahi, and as Goren points out, cantors from all over including our area synagogue hazzans. Mizrahi made a memorable presentation several years ago at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center. Among those in the audience Aug. 24 and joining in the singing will be the officers of the Assembly, here for their annual regional retreat. For additional details call the Beth El office, 823- 2725.