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Donation tells story of survival, family and memory BY BARBARA FIGGE FOX
Six large cartons of clothing buttons had special meaning to long-time West Windsor resident Aron Arias. His father, Larry (Leb) Arias, a Holocaust survivor, had collected them over many years of working in the garment industry. Some of the buttons from the Arias Collection will be featured at the New Jersey State Button Society show set to be held on Saturday, May 11, in Titusville. See NewJerseyStateButtonSociety. com for more details. Originally Arias’ were meant to be part of a larger collection to be used for a mural commemorating the Holocaust victims of World War II at a planned Jewish Community Center in West Windsor. Unfortunately plans fell through sue to financing issues, and the Jewish Community Center was never finished. The property and the structures that had been constructed were sold off and it eventually became the Windsor Athletic Club, located on Clarksville Road. When the Arias family made plans to move out of New Jersey (Arias recently moved to Port St. Lucie Florida), it was time to find a
new home for the buttons. According to Lucille Dawson, a Stonebridge Button Club member, the thrilling acquisition of the Arias buttons began with an excited call from her daughter, Sally O’Grady. “Mom does your button club want 15,000 buttons?” she asked. Sally was at the Arias family’s garage sale. After learning about the worthy nature of what would be in store for the buttons, the family was happy to make the donation to the club, which is based at Stonebridge at Montgomery, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Montgomery Township. It offers different levels of care, ranging from those who live independently to those in the assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care sections. The next thing Dawson knew, her daughter was at the Stonebridge door, unloading the cartons onto a cart, eager to see what, exactly, was in those boxes. “We felt like we were opening a Treasure of the Sierra Madre or King Tut’s tomb,” Dawson said. The trove had all kinds of buttons: leather, plastic, synthetic polymer, metal and glass—the lifelong collection of Aron Arias’ father, Leb. The Stonebridge Button Club belongs to the New Jersey State Button Society and the National Button Society. “Our slogan is ‘Create! Connect! Collect!’ said See ARIAS, Page 4
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Senior Jahan Kulkarni on the mound during a recent High School North baseball game.
Versatile Kulkarni is a jack of all trades for North Softball BY JUSTIN FEIL
When Tom Cruder surveyed the WW-P High School North baseball players about their preferred positions, the new Knights head coach appreciated Jahan Kulkarni’s response.
“His answer was, ‘Wherever you need me, Coach,’” said Cruder of the senior’s reply. Kulkarni wasn’t just being a good soldier or tr ying needlessly to impress Cruder. Over the previous three seasons as a varsity starter, he has played ever y position
except catcher and center field for the Knights. “I just play wherever they need me to play and I think I can just play well and help the team as best as I can anywhere,” said Kulkarni. “As long as I’m on the baseball See KULKARNI, Page 7
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