FLORHAM PARK – The Halos for Angels Junior Board will host a gingerbread house decorating contest starting at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 2 the Madison Elks Lodge, 192 Main Street, Madison.
In addition to the contest, the fundraiser will include photos with Santa, holiday sales, and more family fun.
All proceeds benefit Halos for Angels in its mission to support local families dealing with a sudden tragedy or adversity.
The Halos for Angels Junior Board is an exciting new initiative led by local teenagers who are eager to make a positive impact in our community. Committed to fostering connections within the Halos for Angels family, the Junior Board’s primary goal is to support the organization’s mission by creating additional opportunities for fundraising and community service.
Halos for Angels is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of our community by providing vital assistance to families when unexpected tragedies strike. We offer temporary relief, comfort, and support during challenging times, ensuring that families can navigate through difficult circumstances with the help they need. From transportation services and shopping trips to child care and daily meals, Halos for Angels steps in to fulfill various needs until families regain their strength and stability.
If you’d like to learn more about their mission and how you can get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact them at (973) 216-5202. “Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those facing adversity in our community.”
North Stars Gymnastics Academy’s owners and members of its current coaching and academic staff are pictured at the gym’s 50th-anniversary event, where more than 125 people celebrated on November 24 at the Knoll Country Club West.
By ROSA CIRIANNI, Morris Focus Contributor
What began as a recreational gymnastics program in the basement of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church’s auxiliary building on Valley Road in Wayne in 1973, has morphed over the past five decades into a 15,500-square-foot center in Boonton to become the biggest — and arguably, the most successful USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program in the Garden State.
From 1973 to 2023: North Stars Gymnastics Academy began in 1973 as a recreational program in the basement of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church auxiliary building in Wayne. Today, it is a 15,500-square-foot facility ten miles away in Boonton.
The now-deceased Paul Bohrer, a former Marine with basic knowledge about gymnastics techniques, began the North Jersey School of Gymnastics in 1973 with his wife, Edith, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, before launching their first North Stars competitive team.
In January 1979, the Bohrers hired Tony Gehman, fresh out of college as a graduate of the then East Stroudsburg State College in Pennsylvania. Gehman, who competed in the NCAA Division 2 men’s gymnastics program under Bruno Klaus, owner of the famed International Gymnastics Camp (IGC), stepped up to the challenge. He helped develop the gym’s first elite athlete, Joyce Wilborn, who went on to become the first Black female gymnast to medal at a major international competition for the U.S., according to Gehman.
He and his then newly-married wife, Paula, a former Towson University, Maryland women’s gymnastics team member, whom he met at IGC, purchased their first gymnastics center from the Bohrers and renamed it North Stars Gymnastics Academy. Their first gym was a 5,600 square-foot facility in Fairfield.
By 1987, the Gehmans purchased a second, larger facility in Parsippany and moved their competitive teams there. Tony Gehman quickly made his mark on the state, national and global gymnastics scenes by earning the New Jersey State Coach of the Year Award, USAG International Coach of the Year, United States Elite Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and the spot as head coach for the U.S. Pan American team.
A decade later, the Gehmans merged their Parsippany and Fairfield locations into one gym in Montville. After a five-year stint, they built their dream facility in 2002 in Boonton, which still serves as North Stars’ home today.
Fast forward to 2018, the Gehmans moved to Delaware to semi-retire. While Tony Gehman continues to offer gymnastics consults throughout the country, the Gehmans turned over the reins of their beloved program to one of their former star athletes. Ashley Umberger was named head team coach and CEO charged with ushering in the next era of North Stars. She knows what it takes to win big and move the gym forward in an ultra-competitive environment by building on its proven record and widening its appeal to welcome children of all ages and abilities, starting with recreational programs, summer camps, birthday parties and various competitive leagues.
As a two-time U.S. National Gymnastics Team member, who trained under the Gehmans, Umberger has competed nationally and internationally in Marseille, France, and the University of Georgia on a full athletic scholarship. She took her love for gymnastics back to her stomping ground as a coach working with the Gehmans, until taking over operations as a part owner six years ago.
The Pennsylvania native has been entrusted to carry on North Stars’ traditions and forge a new road ahead for the gym and its more than 375 athletes, representing 285 families. She said the next generations of North Stars will draw on the gym’s extraordinary past successes and will continue to blaze their magnificent trail.
The legacy continues
This year, North Stars celebrated its 50th anniversary with a banquet at the Knoll Country Club West in Boonton on Nov. 24, where more than 125 people attended including current athletes and their families, coaches, academic members and staff, and many of its renowned alumni, professional affiliates and former trainers.
Ashley Umberger, North Stars Gymnastics Academy’s head team coach, CEO and part owner, is ushering in the next era of the club. She is pictured with long-time North Stars’ owners, Tony and Paula Gehman, who have handed over daily operations of the gym to Umberger, one of their former star athletes, in 2018. They are pictured at North Stars’ 50th Anniversary Celebration held November 24 at Knoll Country Club West in Boonton. Photo credit: Audrey McGowan
Several alumni, who could not be present, sent congratulatory video messages to the group including Li Li Leung, president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body. She and other high-profile alumni delivered heartfelt and inspiring speeches about their experiences training and competing on behalf of North Stars and how it positively impacted them as developing young women, college athletes, adults and even now in their professional careers.
North Stars still shines in the gymnastics world with state, regional and national medalists, NCAA recruits earning scholarships, and two current athletes who have competed on the international stage. The USAG state chapter awarded Tony and Paula Gehman with the New Jersey Gymnastics Hall of Fame award earlier this year, and the club’s USAG Women’s Development Program Level 10 team defended its state championship title for the twelfth consecutive time.
“Paula and I are thrilled to be celebrating 50 years of excellence at North Stars Gymnastics. We are grateful to have been able to combine our love of teaching with our passion for gymnastics and actually call it our livelihood,” said Tony Gehman. “We are also thankful for the dedicated work of all our staff members, past and present. Of course, without the talented athletes, none of this would have occurred.
“The most important contribution we feel the gym has made is that children get to develop tools that will absolutely help them grow into strong adult women who can deal with adversity and be successful.”
North Stars’ 10 full-time and eight part-time coaches are committed and passionate about what they do. They work year-round as a cohesive team to implement a carefully planned and time-tested training regimen designed to boost each athlete’s ability so they can reach —- and in most cases, surpass their performance goals.
To date, North Stars has had 36 athletes qualify elite, including two members of the upcoming Class of 2024, Olivia Kelly and Alana Walker, who represent the nations of Barbados and Jamaica, respectively. Their names were added to an elite wall of fame of red stars at the gym. In 2021, Walker took first place for her age group at the U.S. Women’s Development Program Level 10 national meet and earned the all-around Bronze medal at the Junior Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. She is verbally committed to Stanford University. Team Barbados’ Kelly, who became the first North Stars gymnast to compete at the World Gymnastics Championships in 2022 and 2023, is set to compete for the University of Missouri.
“North Stars Gymnastics Academy’s history is extraordinary and its future is incredibly promising. I attribute the club’s storied success to the Bohrers, who started this gym, and the vision of the Gehmans, who undeniably shaped it into what it is today. I am honored to continue its great legacy as its leader,” said Umberger. “Our top-notch coaches, staff, athletes, and the support of their families, makes North Stars truly an outstanding place. We are all working to make North Stars’ next chapter just as bright.”
All-star alumni
North Stars Gymnastics has had athletes medal at the USA Championships, Goodwill Games, Pan American Games, and Pacific Alliance Championships as well as competitions in France, South Korea, England, Russia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Brazil, Jamaica, China, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Cuba, U.S. Olympic Trials and more. Over the past half-century, more than 100 North Stars also have secured NCAA athletic scholarships and spots on Ivy League university teams including:
Alicia Boren, University of Florida Gators’ 2016-2019 alumni, who earned the 2019 NCAA Division 1 National Floor Exercise title. Boren also became the first North Stars gymnast to win four consecutive all-around champion U.S. Women’s Development Program Level 10 titles, among other accolades.
Rachel Lukacs won three all-around USAG Level 10 national titles and became the Nastia Cup champion in 2016. She accepted a full scholarship to compete for the University of Georgia from 2019-2022.
U.S.A. Women’s Gymnastics National Team members
North Stars Gymnastics Academy has qualified nine athletes onto the U.S. National Women’s Gymnastics Team, many with notable accomplishments — some of which include:
• Alyssa Beckerman– World Team Trials third place all-around in Kansas City in 1999, third all-around at the 2000 U.S. Classic in Oklahoma. She later went on to compete on full scholarship for UCLA.
• Lisa (Gianni) Aaron Came in 15th all-around beam at the 1993 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. She later went on to compete on full scholarship for the University of Alabama.
• Nicole Kilpatrick -Gold medalist at the Pan American Championships in Colombia. She finished her gymnastics career on full scholarship at Utah State University, where she scored a 9.925 on vault at the Western Gymnastics Conference, marking the school’s second-best score in its history at the time.
• Li Li Leung -Perhaps, one of the most prominent alumni, Leung, a former University of Michigan gymnastics team member, went on to serve as the vice president of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In 2019, she became president and CEO of USA Gymnastics.
• Michelle Manzolillo– Member of the U.S.A. national gold medal team at the Junior Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 1988 in Puerto Rico. She later competed on full scholarship for Penn State.
• Ashley (Miller) Umberger-North Stars Head Coach, CEO and part owner since 2018, was a two-time U.S.A. National Gymnastics Team member and gold medalist on floor exercise at the U.S. Classic in 1997. Her international experience includes competing in Marseille, France. Later, she went on to compete on full athletic scholarship at the University of Georgia.
• Traci (Sommer) Stanard -Won the American Classic and qualified for the 1992 U.S. Olympic trials and medaled in both the Golden Sands, Bulgaria, and the Pacific Alliance, South Korea meet before accepting a full athletic scholarship at the University of Utah. Traci now works with the North Stars athletes, coaches parents and other athletes of all ages throughout the nation, concerning wellness, mental health, performance, and sports nutrition through her company, Aspire Performance.
• Joyce Wilborn– North Stars’ first elite who won bronze on vault at the 1986 Goodwill Games. She was the only medalist from a non-Soviet or Eastern Bloc country to medal in the Pacific Alliance Championship in China. She also medaled in Moscow News, a former major international invitational in Russia. She scored three perfect 10s at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1987.
• Anne (Woynerowski) Meade-First U.S. female gymnast to ever perform a layout 1-1/2 twist Yurchenko vault and all-around USA Gymnastics Jr. International champion, Pan American Games gold medalist, and Junior Pacific Alliance gold medalist. She went on to compete on full athletic scholarship at the University of New Hampshire and later served as assistant coach at Pittsburgh and Rutgers universities.
North Stars’ homeschool program
One of the most sophisticated of its kind, North Stars consulted with coaches throughout the nation and designed an in-house, invitation-only homeschool training program in 2009 to maximize its athletic talent in the best overall atmosphere. It began with just nine students and today has grown to more than 25 athletes, ranging from third to 12th grade.
Keeping education a priority for its athletes, North Stars maintains a dedicated space and time for athletes so they can focus on their studies every weekday during the school year, with an abbreviated summer schedule. The program is led by the same homeschool director/administrator since its inception, including an experienced math teacher. The administrator oversees education plans, communicates with parents, supports students academically and proctors exams.
This modern-day homeschool training program offers a comprehensive approach to provide balance and ensure athletes stay well-rounded and in the best physical condition possible while keeping their studies on point. Their training also incorporates yoga/Pilates, meditation, team-bonding activities, outdoor training in the summer, and dance/ballet basics.
Special annual events
The public is invited to attend one of North Stars’ upcoming home meets for a close-up view of entertaining and high-spirited competitions at 91 Fulton Street, Boonton.
• The Garden State Classic – This annual meet kicks off every New Year since 1986 at North Stars. It is slated for January 5-7. Level 10s open the weekend on Friday night.
• March Madness – Held annually since 2015, it is scheduled March 8-10.
For more information, follow North Stars Gymnastics Academy’s social media pages via Facebook and Instagram , and visit its website for training program and event details.
Wawa's cherished mascot, Wally Goose, engages with customers while they patiently await the opening in the brisk 34-degree weather. Photo by Dave Blinder
MOUNTAIN LAKES – The long-awaited moment has arrived! The brand-new Wawa store, situated at 70 Route 46 in Mountain Lakes, officially opened its doors this morning. The grand opening commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where Wawa’s beloved mascot, Wally Goose, presided over the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and a delightful coffee toast at 8:30 a.m.
The brand-new Wawa store, situated at 70 Route 46 in Mountain Lakes, officially opened its doors. Photo by Dave Blinder
The first 100 customers to step inside were rewarded with limited-edition “Wawa Coffee, Hoagies & Kindness” t-shirts, available while supplies last. Additionally, all customers visiting on December 1 can savor complimentary coffee.
Taylan Foraker has been appointed as the general manager of the new Wawa store in Mountain Lakes. Taylan will be at the helm of a team comprising roughly 50 associates, all of whom have been hired to fill new positions generated by the store’s development in the area.
The first 100 customers to step inside were rewarded with limited-edition “Wawa Coffee, Hoagies & Kindness” t-shirts, available while supplies last. Additionally, all customers visiting on December 1 can savor complimentary coffee. Photo by Dave Blinder
Hanover Township Police Department Welcomes Graduates of Morris County 101st Basic Police Class
HANOVER – The Hanover Township Police Department has two new additions to the force: Officer Jake Crane and Officer Shane Hine. They have successfully graduated from the Morris County 101st Basic Police Class. Both officers will commence their Field Training Program in the patrol division.
The Hanover Township Police Department, comprising both sworn officers and civilian staff, is unwavering in its commitment to serving the entire Hanover Township community. The core values of respect, fairness, and sensitivity guide them as they work diligently to safeguard the constitutional rights of every individual we encounter.
Their team members are highly educated and extensively trained, equipped to handle a wide range of situations while actively seeking solutions to build and maintain public trust. Accountability is paramount to them, and their primary focus is on crime prevention and the protection of life and property.
They owe much of our success to the support and respect of the community partners, which enables us to make Hanover Township an attractive place to live, work, and visit.
The visual arts exhibition will be on display at County College of Morris until Tuesday, December 12
MORRIS COUNTY – County College of Morris (CCM) will host an exhibition featuring artwork from students in the Fall 2023 Visual Arts and Animation Portfolio class.
The exhibition will be on display from through Tuesday, December 12, in the CCM Art & Design Gallery.
The exhibit will feature both traditional and digital artwork, with each student having three to four pieces on display. Additionally, a reception that is free and open to the public will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 7. During the reception, students will showcase 20 to 25 pieces of artwork and will display other writings, resumes, and business cards as well.
The CCM Art Gallery is located in the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center on the college’s campus, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph. Gallery hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parking is available in Lot 6.
To learn about CCM’s Art and Design programs click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — An attorney in Florham Park, Angelo Bagnara, has faced censure due to multiple breaches of the Rules of Professional Conduct. One specific violation involved him directing 19 clients to use his employer, All-Pro Title Group, for real estate closings without obtaining written consent to waive the conflict of interest or offering them the choice to engage another title company.
Angelo Bagnara consented to the disciplinary action brought forth by the Office of Attorney Ethics. According to the Disciplinary Review Board’s letter, the stipulated facts indicate that between January 1, 2019, and April 30, 2020, Bagnara was employed by All-Pro Title Group when he guided his clients toward using the company for real estate closings. As he failed to secure their written consent to waive the conflict of interest or provide them with the option to select a different title company, he was found in violation of RPC 1.7(a) on 19 separate occasions. The case number associated with this matter is 086297.
According to the website (bagnaralaw.com), Mr. Bagnara’s office is situated at 65 Madison Avenue, Morristown, and you can find more information about him on his LinkedIn profile. He completed his legal education at Seton Hall University School of Law, graduating in the year 2001. According to his LinkedIn profile, Bagnara practices law in Florham Park, New Jersey, holding license number #12402001.
Also listed at the Morristown address is All-Pro Title Group.
File Photo. Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.
MORRIS COUNTY — A Morris County resident, Michael Godoy, 32, Morristown, finds himself in legal trouble after an incident in Denville Township. On November 25, around 12:03 a.m., police were called to the Denville Train Station on Estling Lake Road in response to a report of an intoxicated man behaving suspiciously around parked cars, with possible attempts to enter them.
Upon arrival, officers located and detained the individual in question. Regrettably, the suspect proved uncooperative and escalated the situation by becoming physically aggressive, according to law enforcement sources.
As a result, Michael Godoy was taken into custody and is now facing charges of obstruction of the administration of law and resisting arrest. He has been confined to the Morris County Correctional Facility, awaiting a forthcoming court appearance.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Marotta Controls earned Lockheed’s Program Management Excellence and President’s Awards for its performance as a key supplier to Lockheed’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program. The Marotta team provides a complex control system for this critical Lockheed program, which is the company’s next-generation, long-range precision-strike missile designed for the U.S. Army.
MORRIS COUNTY – Marotta Controls, a rapidly growing aerospace and defense supplier, today announced that its Power & Actuation Systems business unit recently received several accolades from Lockheed Martin at the aerospace leader’s 2023 Supplier Summit. Marotta Controls earned Lockheed’s Program Management Excellence and President’sAwards for its performance as a key supplier to Lockheed’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program. Marotta provides a complex control system for this critical Lockheed program, which is the company’s next-generation, long-range precision-strike missile designed for the U.S. Army. In addition to the two summit awards, Marotta Program Manager, Antony Haines, was recognized with the Quality of Leadership Award for the same program.
“Lockheed Martin works with top suppliers in the industry to ensure our customers always stay ahead of ready. Marotta Controls has been eager to collaborate and deliver,” said Jay Price, vice president of Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin. “With these awards, we acknowledge their outstanding commitment, products, and services that contribute to the success of our PrSM program and future endeavors.”
With 15 suppliers under consideration, two of the five summit awards went to the team at Marotta. The summit’s Program Management Excellence Awardfocuses on the Program Management Team’s adherence to best practices (tools and techniques), encouraging development, and documenting and tracking performance such as budget, schedule, resources, and quality. The summit’s President’s Award is a special recognition of Marotta Controls’ superior performance and dedication to the PrSM Program. TheseparateQuality of Leadership Award recognizes the team lead who embodies what good leadership looks like and drives performance excellence amongst their team to align with mission goals.
“We worked hard to demonstrate our talent and tenacity with Lockheed, designing and qualifying our hardware in record time,” said Antony Haines, Program Manager, Marotta Controls, and recipient of Lockheed’s Quality of Leadership Award. “Working side-by-side with its Missiles & Fire Control division, we’ve taken our long-established team approach that puts transparency front and center. This level of communication has served us well. With six successful PrSM test flights and counting under our collective belt, these awards further demonstrate Marotta’s ability to connect and deliver on our promises.”
PARSIPPANY – Edward J. Wall passed away peacefully on November 27, 2023. Ed was born in Richmond Hill, New York on July 17, 1933, and moved to Elmwood Park, as a young boy.
He was the son of Edward and Bella Wall, predeceased. He attended St. Leo’s Grammar School in Elmwood Park and graduated from Pope Pius High School in Passaic.
He married his High School Sweetheart, Jane Elwood on September 17, 1955, in Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Jane predeceased him in 2021. They lived in Parsippany and attended St. Christopher Catholic Church. Ed was a teacher in Garfield School System 1962-1965. He taught at Wayne Hills High School from 1968-1997.
He was Chairman of the Business Education and Home Economics Departments. He was also Head Track Coach at Wayne Hills from 1968 to 1977. When he retired, he was asked to teach at St. Christopher’s School for two years. He formed the Parsippany Recreation Track Team in 1987 for students grades 4 to 8. The team won the League’s “B” Division championships in 1987 and 1988.
Wall served as a Parsippany Councilman from 1993 to 1997.
He was on the Morris County Park Commission for seventeen years and was acting president for three years. He was chairman of the Republican Club in Parsippany and a member of the Lake Parsippany Board of Directors.
He is the proud father of Ellen Jane Gasco (Joseph), Edward (Kathy), William (Tammy), Richard (Denise), Michael (Karen) and Thomas (Stacey). He was totally devoted to his grandchildren: Melissa (Kris), Jill, Amanda Rianne (Brooks), Joseph, Kelly (Kyle) Klaire, Justin, Kyle (Leslie), Sydney Jane, Brendan, Hayden, Michael Steven (Cooper), Rachel, Adrienne (Mike), Olivia, Ileana and Eagan. He had a special love for his great-grandchildren, twins, Dale Joseph & Kade Ryan, Everett, Merritt, Hadley, Lincoln, and Mack with many more expected.
He was predeceased by his sister Teresa, leaving behind a brother Peter, and many nieces and nephews.
Ed and Jane were snowbirds for nine years in Vero Beach. In 2011, they became owners of a home in The Villages, Central Florida. He became a member of the Community of Buttonwood Heights, taking up golf actively and joining St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church. He became a 4th-degree Knight and a member of the Color Guard. He also was a member of the YesterYear Club and enjoyed with much pleasure his golf cart.
To sum up his life: he was a true believer in his Catholic religion, a great teacher, a good husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He formed many friendships in New Jersey and Florida. He will be sadly and greatly missed.
A memorial mass will be held in the Villages, Florida on December 5 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church. 5323 E CR 462, Wildwood, Fl 34785.
In lew of flowers a donation to charities: Morris County Park Commission, Morris County. St. Vincent de Paul Knights of Columbus Council 13300 Wildwood Florida, 32162.
BOONTON – Mayor Richard Corcoran, acting on behalf of the Town Council and the entire Boonton community, proudly proclaims Joseph Whritenour as the distinguished recipient of the 2023 Citizen of the Year award. This prestigious honor recognizes Joe’s exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication to the betterment of Boonton and its residents.
Joseph Whritenour, a dedicated and longstanding member of the Boonton community, has been bestowed with the prestigious title of Boonton Citizen of the Year. Joe’s unwavering commitment to serving his community spans several decades.
His journey began in 1979 when he joined the Junior Fire Department, and in 1982, he became a valued member of the Boonton Fire Department. Throughout the years, Joe has displayed remarkable dedication and bravery in his service. Notably, he assumed the role of Fire Chief from 2000 to 2001, showcasing his exceptional leadership, intelligence, and skill in ensuring the safety and well-being of Boonton’s residents.
Beyond his firefighting duties, Joe’s community involvement extended to coaching baseball and softball Little League teams from 2002 to 2012 and Grayhawk football teams from 2006 to 2013. Since 2013, he has served as the BHS Booster President and actively supported BHS football as a dedicated parent. Joe’s enduring commitment to the youth of Boonton is truly commendable.
Moreover, Joe has brought boundless joy to the community during the holiday season. His natural sparkle and infectious charm have enriched the lives of Boonton’s residents since 1994, creating magical moments cherished by children and adults alike.
Joseph Whritenour’s roots are deeply embedded in Boonton, growing up in the Birch Street home of his loving parents, Bob and Theresa Venito Whritenour. He and his beloved wife, Robin, have chosen to call Boonton home, where they have raised their children, Kelly and Joe Bob, further solidifying their connection to this vibrant community.
