WEARING RED URGED FOR ATLANTICARE’S THIRD RED DRESS LUNCHEON TODAY

When former heart surgery and heart patients and AtlantiCare cardiac physicians and officials of the two-division ARMC get together today (Feb.19) for the scheduled Red Dress luncheon, the room at Historic Smithville Inn will “glow with red.” It’s the third annual such event when those attending will eat heart healthy “and learn about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease,” stated Dr. Howard Levite (MD) director of the ARMC Heart Institute, who will deliver a lecture as well. Channel 40’s health reporter Robin Stoloff will emcee the luncheon. Levite says “This event is one way AtlantiCare is promoting awareness during American Heart Month, celebrated annually in February.” Levite will also discuss what women and their loved ones need to know about the risk of heart disease, the number one killer of women and men, with some comments from Stoloff. Levite also stated, “Women ranging in age from childhood to 94 will share their experiences and star in a fashion show featuring red attire.”

FUNDING FOR STOCKTON PAC/NOYES MUSEUM URGED BY NJ ARTS COUNCIL’S ALISA COOPER

Right after her appointment last year to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Alisa Cooper of Linwood, a music teacher in the Egg Harbor Township schools, wasted little time in becoming a strong advocate for the performing and visual arts in South Jersey. Although new Governor Chris Christie is reducing state funding to meet a deep fiscal crisis, the Stockton Performing Arts Center and the Noyes Museum – with some funding help from the college and other arts venues – were slated for funding promised last year for 2010 – 2011. That is unless the governor reverses the allocation with applications due by March 17. The arts-loving public is urged to contact the governor’s office and urge him not to lessen the arts funding as the various venues promote tourism, which generates needed state revenues. “We need this funding to keep our arts venues in business,” states Cooper, with strong backing by Stockton PAC Executive Director Mike Cool and his counterpart at the Noyes Museum, Michael Cagno.

BEN AISCOWITZ OPENS BETH EL’S PASSOVER STORE FEB. 28; SHUL READY FOR PURIM FOOD DRIVE

A reminder to Beth El members and the area’s Jewish community that “Mr. Grocer,”

Ben Aiscowitz, will open the synagogue’s Passover Store, Sunday, Feb. 28, at 9 a.m., with a full stock of Pesach products and delicacies. Something new to the food inventory is a full line of frozen products including cooked potato kugel, Meal Mart beef, buffalo chicken wings, braised veal-rib roast, roast chicken, roast turkey, roast Salisbury steak dinner and lots more, says Aiskowitz adding,” If we don’t have what you would like let us know and we’ll try our best to get it for you.” The list is mouth watering. Another reminder says, the shul and Rabbi Aaron Krauss, the day before on Shabbat, Feb.27, “We begin our Purim food drive at 10:30 a.m., which is one of the four Mitzvot of Purim – Matanot L’Evyonim – gifts to the poor.” Call the synagogue – 823-2725 – and Joyce Bank will tell you what type of food to bring.

COMMUNAL SERVICE AWARD FOR HM’S GRANDAUGHTER ARIANA AND HUSBAND DAVID MARCH 9

Charlotte and I are proud of our grand_ daughter Ariana Gordon Stecker and her husband, David Stecker, who tied the knot January 17 at a festive wedding in Lawrence, Long Island, but we also are proud of their recognition as Communal Service Awardees. They will receive the honor Sunday, March 9, from their orthodox synagogue at a gala dinner in a Glatt kosher restaurant in Lower Manhattan. The honor will be conferred by their spiritual leader, Rabbi Mark Wildes (who married them), at the Manhattan Jewish Experience synagogue (west 86th street in Manhattan). Other synagogue honorees will be recognized for different accomplishments. Wildes founded the mainstream orthodox congregation in1998. “We are excited about our honor more so because MJE has turned our lives around.” Other family members including Ariana’s mother, Arlene Gordon, and stepfather, Ron Bernthal, and his mother, Joan Bernthal and Ariana’s younger sister, Marissa, are equally excited as are Charlotte and myself.

MUSIC LINKS BETH ISRAEL AND NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHOIRS SAYS BI CANTOR LARISA AVERBAKH

We all know “music hath charm, even spiritual charm” with the magic of bringing together Northfield’s Temple Beth Israel and Atlantic City’s African-American New Hope Baptist Church. The choirs of both sanctuaries performed together last year during Martin Luther King observance and again last month on the BI bimah. “I am happy that the January 29th service and the one last year laid a foundation for a lasting relationship and friendship between the two choirs and congregations,” said Beth Israel Cantor Larisa Averbakh. What they did was firm up the belief and goal of “brotherhood” between the two faiths. Joining the two choirs was the male choir of Faith Church in Pleasantville.