the goalie for Belvidere North and for the Rockford Raptors' Elite Clubs National League team has just returned from a soccer trip of a lifetime National Select Team of the Olympic Development Program for the first time this year and he just returned from a tournament in Turin Moore started in goal in four of the team's six games More soccer: Led by Freeport's Natalie Namio, Rockford-area passers take over girls soccer spotlight Football over there ― or soccer ― is just huge," Moore said this week after returning from his eight-day trip overseas "There were like 1,000 people there to watch one of our games.. Moore and his team took part in the Italy Pro Cup Tournament They also played in a pre-tournament exhibition game in Lugano they did plenty of sightseeing along the way "The game is so fast paced over there," said Moore who had played in soccer tournaments in Florida and around the United States "And I know I got a lot out of it in my soccer game." tore his meniscus and his MCL at the end of last year and missed four months of action He now returns to the middle of the Raptors' season where his Boys' 2008 Team is undefeated and on a roll He will join the Blue Thunder high school team for his senior season in the fall "And I hope to get to play in some tournaments in different countries like Italy again," he added Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and sign up for the Rockford High School Sports Newsletter here at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a variety of sports from the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks to local youth sports since the turn of the century at the Register Star When people think of New Jersey sprawling highways and city skylines might come to mind first but tucked between urban communities are scenic small towns just waiting to be explored and Kearny offer unexpected natural discoveries No matter what type of nature lover you are, these destinations will make you want to admire the splendor of famous rivers such as the Hudson River stroll through picturesque parks adorned with cherry blossom trees or explore wetlands with prime wildlife viewing opportunities you'll also find an abundance of recreation from kayaking and boating to hiking and camping The next time you travel to this Northeastern state you'll quickly discover that New Jersey’s landscape is much more diverse than you realize Dover isn't just a New Jersey town full of rich history—it’s also home to an abundance of nature An ideal destination for nature lovers is Hedden County Park The park features various walking and hiking trails a pond that's suitable for fishing and paddling and a playground—all of which are perfect amenities for an enjoyable day outdoors another historic park named after a prominent Dover figure and is notable for its spectacular cherry blossom trees stroll through JFK Park in the heart of downtown Dover hike the trails within Mountain Park to reach a scenic lookout point or play sports while taking in the greenery of Crescent Field Known for its scenic beauty and recreational activities like hiking situated on the rolling terrain of the Jenny Jump Mountain Range offers picturesque views and plenty of outdoor fun which are suitable for everything from hiking to cross-country skiing Additional features include a car-top boat launch for canoes and small sailboats with easy access to Ghost Lake and Mountain Lake After discovering Belvidere's natural surroundings relax and enjoy a glass of wine at Four Sisters Winery the 9th smallest municipality in land area in New Jersey a few square blocks in the New York City Metro Area Nearby spots for nature lovers to explore include James J discover the variety of tree species while taking in the peace and beauty of its arboretum In addition, on an island in the center of the park's Woodcliff Lake is a natural wildlife refuge that supports breeding. Just minutes away, Guttenberg/North Bergen Waterfront Park offers scenic pathways, a waterfront amphitheater, and stunning views of the New York City skyline Liberty State Park also provides adventurous hiking In addition to being near top-notch sports and entertainment venues Secaucus is a welcome change of pace for outdoor adventure seekers a local organization committed to maintaining the safety of the Hackensack River Watershed one of the most popular attractions in the area situated behind a rock quarry on the Hackensack River is another must-see destination in Secaucus spend time kayaking down the river or strolling along the riverbank Just outside of town is the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center a peaceful place to connect with nature through its native habitat garden and hiking trails that pass through meadows Conveniently located on the western border of Hudson County, Harrison is a small New Jersey town along the Passaic River, close to Newark The town offers opportunities for recreation in local parks as well as access to the river and surrounding areas for a variety of outdoor activities it has sports fields and courts for baseball fall in love with Branch Brook Park’s cherry blossom trees a highlight of the annual Bloomfest event that’s part of the Cherry Blossom Festival Harrison is also not too far from Newark Riverfront Park a beautiful waterfront space with lush greenery spending time outdoors at Kearny Riverbank Park Multiple sections of the park are dedicated to honoring historical figures and local dignitaries The park also has a convenient marina for boating enthusiasts a visit to the Kearny Marsh is a must for a tranquil afternoon of birdwatching the Meadowlands Environment Center offers educational programs and exhibits for those interested in the local wetlands a New Jersey town on the South Branch of the Raritan River offers plenty of outdoor and nature-focused adventures the Red Mill Museum Village is a picturesque location with riverfront access and stunning photo opportunities of the historic Red Mill and more—a must-see when visiting Clinton Spruce Run is the third-largest reservoir in the state and draws in outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy fishing it's a popular spot for ice fishing and cross-country skiing connect with nature at the Hunterdon County Arboretum Compared to New Jersey's more crowded tourist destinations these scenic small towns offer a welcome change of pace for those seeking a laid-back visit focused on nature and outdoor activity these New Jersey towns are hidden gems just waiting to be explored photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Leer en español The mayoral hopefuls chatted with voters after taking part in a candidate forum held at Belvidere North High School It’s one of many that League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford have hosted throughout this election season The Student Voice Club sponsored the event Here are the candidates and their positions on federal issues that may affect Belvidere He's held a seat on the city council for two years He’s a retired machine and maintenance supervisor “I don't feel that the people are being properly represented,” Albertini said I'd like to get riverfront apartments or condos.” "I feel that people need better representation than the people that have lived here all their lives They're kind of tunnel vision to who they can help their neighbors or their friends He's semi-retired from the insurance business “I am running because I think the Belvidere city council needs to work more closely together,” he said They also have to be able to reach out to the community and solicit input It can't just come from the administration and then the administration has to listen to what the aldermen bring back for consideration." I don't see enough discussion taking place on the council floor And if it's taking place behind the scenes but the community needs to know what's being considered.” “And I want to see Belvidere succeed and we have succeeded every one of those projects have come across my desk - either I went and got them or they've come through my desk at the start I've actually went out and got Johnny Pamcakes to come to Belvidere even though it didn't look like they were probably going to come.” The Trump Administration is issuing cuts to federal jobs and programs When asked whether they foresee those actions impacting Belvidere He said federal funding helps pay for large infrastructure projects such as improvement to the wastewater treatment plant and bridge over Appleton Road Brereton said it's likely Belvidere like other cities will be impacted by federal cuts “I think we're all going to probably feel the effects of some financial cuts,” Brereton said But if you have a sound budget and a working plan when something happens in Washington or something happens in Springfield how's that going to impact next year and the year after that Here’s Albertini’s outlook: “I’m always hopeful that money will come to us,” he said or I'll be applying for more grants from the state Probably do better with the state than I will from the federal government But I do not despair that they won't give us any money.” Trump’s deportation plan has stirred fear in the Latino and immigrant community. That’s includes citizens who in some cases have also been picked up as part of Trump’s mass deportation operation WNIJ asked the candidates what their response would be to residents who are concerned about ICE activity happening in the community Brereton: “I would say Belvidere has always been a welcoming community The importance of the ward meetings is addressing ‘what are your concerns?’ Now we can try to guess what they are but if we can sit down and hear it firsthand we will encourage people to share those concerns just because you get elected doesn't mean you have all the answers.” Morris: “I don't control what the federal law does or state and I will just say that the city of Belvidere does not get involved at least we have not gotten involved in any Albertini: "[As] far as the deportation plan I understand that there's people who don't belong here And I believe that they should be properly vetted for whether they belong here or not not just picked up and gone because 'Trump said so.'" "I'm a firm believer in people wanting to come to this country Everybody started out that way at some point My grandparents came here from other countries and everybody deserves a chance to come to America." 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changed,” Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson said in a statement “We’ll honor the timing indicated in the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement The reopening of the idle Belvidere plant was announced in January alongside plans to build a new Dodge Durango at its Detroit Assembly Complex But the economic landscape has drastically changed in recent months with Stellantis temporarily halting operations at assembly plants in Canada and Mexico It also temporarily laid off 900 workers at five U.S The production pauses came after Trump in early April announced 25% tariffs on auto imports and an additional 25% on certain car parts Tinson said the Windsor assembly plant in Ontario is resuming operations this week on two shifts more than half of the employees from Sterling Stamping Kokomo Transmission and Kokomo Casting who were put on temporary layoff when production was paused the week of April 7 also will return to work to support the Windsor operations,” she said is still “down through next week,” Tinson said Stellantis had previously said the Toluca plant would be down until April 30 Trump’s tariffs have some auto companies scrambling since shifting production can be a difficult and long process The president said last week he’s considering a pause on auto tariffs to give carmakers time to adjust their supply chains Chairman John Elkann was bullish on the year ahead He said the automaker has been supportive of Trump’s efforts to boost domestic manufacturing and create new jobs the challenges and the industry forces remain the same but we have full confidence at Stellantis that what is ahead is probably among the most exciting periods for our industries very much like the one the pioneers of our industry lived through,” Elkann said on the call The Belvidere plant, where the Jeep Cherokee was produced, shuttered in February 2023 and laid off 1,350 workers. But as part of Stellantis’ contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers the company said it would reopen the plant It’s expected about 1,500 UAW-represented employees will go back to work at the plant In July, the Energy Department announced Stellantis was awarded $335 million in federal funds to help fuel the reopening of the Belvidere plant supplementing the nearly $5 billion investment the company agreed to in its terms with the UAW It’s unclear if the funds are in jeopardy under the new Trump administration UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen said it’s likely tariff talks have “lit a fire” under Stellantis to progress on the Belvidere plant “They’re moving in the direction that seems to be consistent with what they agreed to There’s been no major overhaul or anything started yet,” Frantzen said “We have no reason to believe that it’s not going to happen.” Trump has said that his tariff policy is meant to bolster American manufacturing forcing companies to make goods in the U.S While there’s no word from Stellantis that tariffs could spur more production or jobs at the Belvidere plant Frantzen is optimistic that tariffs could open up new discussions that ultimately lead to more jobs “That may be what we need in the automotive industry to start getting some of these products back in the country and create more jobs,” Frantzen said Belvidere Assembly Plant will operate on two shifts when an estimated 1,500 workers are recalled to begin building a mid-sized truck in 2027 That's the latest information available according to an email UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen wrote to members and posted Monday on Facebook "They are looking at first quarter 2026 for skilled trades to be recalled," Frantzen wrote "Fourth quarter 2026 for TL's (team leaders) to be recalled. First or second quarter of 2027 for team members Stellantis appears for now to be backing off plans for a joint venture battery production facility and mega hub in Belvidere More: Stellantis to reopen Illinois plant, reinstate 1,500 jobs to Rockford area Those facilities and operations were promised as part of a $5 billion investment to settle the 2023 Stand Up Strike The company in January said those plans were being re-evaluated because of market conditions Frantzen said there might not be an appetite right now for a protracted fight to hold the company accountable for those commitments "After all the Keep the Promise rallies that were held throughout the corporation the support from the membership for a strike wasn't there," Frantzen wrote "I'm sure there are several reasons the support wasn't there there's no other way to hold this corporation accountable for anything." Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey In what should be a significant boost for the economy and job outlook throughout the Rockford region Stellantis on Wednesday announced its plans to relaunch production at the Belvidere Assembly Plant starting in 2027 The company’s announcement includes hiring back 1,500 members of the United Auto Workers and comes after months of talks with the union UAW President Shawn Fain said in a news release "This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable," Fain said "Your solidarity forced Carlos Tavares out as CEO of this company Since Antonio Filosa has taken over as North American COO at Stellantis This is a leadership that is ready to recommit to investing in our membership Here is what we know about Stellantis' plans in Belvidere What kind of vehicle will be built in Belvidere?Stellantis says a mid-sized pickup truck is slated for production in Belvidere starting in 2027 but won't say what make or model is planned What kind of powertrain will the truck have?Whether the vehicle will be powered by an internal combustion engine, hybrid engine or electric motor was not announced. However, plans for building a battery plant on nearly 300 acres assembled by leaders of the Region 1 Planning Council and Northern Illinois Land Bank were not discussed A company representative said plans are take advantage of the Stellantis' "multi-energy strategy," which includes all kinds of powertrains Dave Vella said Stellantis has a unique approach that allows gas powered hybrid and electric vehicles to be produced on the same line That means Stellantis could add additional types of the truck as time goes on "My guess is it will be internal combustion at first and hybrid after," Vella said "Stellantis has a unique powertrain where they can use the same line for internal combustion They can’t start with an internal combustion engine vehicle than move to hybrid and EV The fact they are going to start making cars and didn’t say anything about a battery plant probably means they will start with a non-EV." Are there still plans for a battery plant and parts mega hub?Stellantis in August backed off promises the company made to end the UAW's 2023 Stand Up Strike. It announced plans to delay promised investments of nearly $5 billion to re-open the Belvidere Assembly Plant build a joint-venture battery production facility in Belvidere and create a Mopar hub in part of the plant The latest announcement did not discuss the battery plant or the Mopar hub A company spokesperson said the company is currently reassessing plans for both those initiatives Everyone from Stellantis and the UAW to President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders to Illinois Gov members of the Illinois General Assembly and local elected leaders lined up to take credit for the agreement “We commend Stellantis on its investment in Belvidere that will put 1,500 Illinoisans back to work in good-paying union jobs and grow the automotive industry in Illinois," Pritzker said in a news release "This would not be possible without proactive collaboration and coordination between the State of Illinois Stellantis’ decision to reopen the plant was the result of a coordinated effort involving local and the "tireless advocacy" of the Northern Illinois Council of Governments Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris said in a news release for the employees of the Belvidere Assembly Plant Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at  (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey The revival of the shuttered site also ends a dispute with the United Auto Workers The announcement to reopen the plant follows a meeting this week between Stellantis Chairman John Elkann and President Donald Trump to discuss the automaker’s “strong commitment to the U.S auto industry,” according to a letter Elkann sent to employees that was shared with Automotive Dive The revised plans are part of a multi-billion dollar investment by Stellantis to increase its market share grow sales volume and invest in innovative technology in the U.S. The Belvidere Assembly plant was idled as part of a series of cost-cutting moves by Stellantis. But in its contract negotiations with the UAW in late 2023 only to reverse course and delay those plans In July, Stellantis was also awarded $335 million by the Department of Energy to convert the Belvidere facility for electric vehicle production The UAW threatened a national strike against Stellantis last August for failing to keep its product and investment commitments including keeping the Belvidere Assembly plant open Elkann also announced the company’s other plans They include investments in additional technologies for Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator production at its Toledo Assembly Complex as well as components critical to production at its Toledo Machining Plant Stellanis also plans to invest in its Kokomo Indiana facilities to produce the GMET4 EVO engine for future models saying the planned investments will retain union jobs “This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable,” said UAW President Shawn Fain in the release “We’ve shown that we will do what it takes to protect the good union jobs that are the lifeblood of places like Belvidere Despite the past grievances between the UAW and Stellantis the automaker’s recently appointed North American COO has expressed a desire to work with the UAW to build vehicles in the U.S. “These actions are part of our commitment to invest in our U.S operations to grow our auto production and manufacturing here,” Filosa said in the letter to employees “We have shared with the UAW all these actions and our desire to work together to strengthen our great company.” Stellantis aims to regain its footing after a difficult 2024, resulting in shrinking market share and declining sales in the U.S., which led to the sudden resignation of former CEO Carlos Tavares on Dec The automaker also announced a series of other leadership changes last month Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The move follows Tesla’s decision to open its Superchargers to other automakers to improve public access and promote EV adoption The changes are intended to make roads safer by encouraging automakers to add pedestrian protection technology to their vehicles Want to share a company announcement with your peers The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines VCU Police implemented a traffic initiative on March 7 VCU Police increased traffic enforcement efforts along a five-block corridor of Belvidere Street according to an April 8 press release from VCU Police Taylor said VCU Police has increased their enforcement by 69% “We have definitely seen a decrease in some of the traffic violations on campus and also we’re constantly working with our pedestrians providing information,” Taylor said VCU Police has issued 64 tickets and 49 warnings out of 113 stops since the operation started This is compared to 62 traffic violations reported in the same corridor from January to April 2024 and 42 in 2023 according to a press release issued by VCU Police April 8 VCU Police will issue tickets on Belvidere for violating the 25 mph speed limit running red lights and failing to yield to pedestrians Enforcement has increased through radar and LiDAR and increasing police presence at intersections on Belvidere “We have a lot of officers sitting around near intersections observing traffic patterns and also the violations,” Taylor said “We have groups of officers come out on particular days throughout the week and engage with our community.” Taylor said safety in this particular corridor of Belvidere is important because the street borders student residence halls and there is a high number of students crossing the street every day Along with increased enforcement of traffic laws Taylor said she urges students to be responsible and aware when crossing the street “Make sure your head is on a swivel,” Taylor said “Make sure you’re looking around and ensure that most drivers see you before you step out into the street.” VCU Police’s Belvidere Street Operation follows ongoing pedestrian safety initiatives on campus, including the installation of “Head Up, Phones Down” signs, speed tables, no-turn-on-red signs and curb extensions, according to VCU News These initiatives follow the death of two VCU students in traffic-related accidents in January and May of 2023 Taylor said the presence of officers sets the expectation for drivers that traffic violations will not go unnoticed anyone that’s coming to our campus understands that we are out here to enforce,” Taylor said our plan is to make sure it doesn’t happen a second time.” Officer Jose DeJesus is in VCU Police’s traffic division DeJesus said issuing a ticket is not always the answer but being pulled over can be a learning experience so I do give a decent amount of warnings,” DeJesus said “I think as long as we can have an intelligent conversation as adults The Belvidere Street Operation will run through May 2 but VCU Police will continue to focus on this corridor beyond the operation’s conclusion The CT strives for accuracy. If you believe we have made an error, please contact Dylan Hostetter at editor@commonwealthtimes.org Letters to the editor or editorial content submissions are encouraged by email to Natalie McEwan at opinions@commonwealthtimes.org All content © 1968-2025 The Commonwealth Times No part of The Commonwealth Times may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris has won re-election defeating former Republican Mayor Fred Brereton and independent Ald unofficial results from the Boone County Clerk's Office show Morris said that as mayor he kept his promises to not accept campaign donations a public pension or taxpayer health insurance while avoiding partisan politics He counts the planned Walmart 1.2 million square-foot cold storage facility the opening of a $210 million General Mills warehouse and distribution center on Irene Road and the opening of the $58 million Midwest Refrigerated Services facility as major victories for his administration More than a decade after he decided not to seek a fifth term in office had sought a return to the Belvidere mayor's office He campaigned promising civility and to make economic growth his priority More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Register Star app The Rite Aid at Broad and Belvidere has been open for over a decade VCU now has control over all four corners of a major gateway to its Monroe Park campus An entity tied to the university’s Real Estate Foundation last month purchased the 1-acre assemblage at 510-520 W The property is anchored by the Rite Aid drug store at 520 W It has owned those two parcels since 2002 and the 1990s The site is north of where VCU’s currently building a major arts center The seller of the Rite Aid parcels was an entity tied to New Jersey-based investment firm Arctrust The property was most recently assessed by the city at $4.4 million A VCU spokesperson said there are “no specific purposes identified by the university” for the property and that Rite Aid will continue to lease its building and parking lot Last year Rite Aid closed its Hull Street location in Manchester amid a bankruptcy battle that it’s since emerged from The only other remaining Rite Aid location in the Richmond region is in Chester This latest deal is the second VCU’s Real Estate Foundation has closed in as many months. In December, it bought an adjacent, two-story building at 508 W This story is for our paid subscribers only Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today Renew now by choosing a subscription below YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM Mike Platania joined BizSense in December 2016. He covers commercial real estate, restaurants and breweries. He graduated from Virginia Tech. Reach him at mike@richmondbizsense.com or (804) 554-6872 Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" If it’s owned by VCU’s Real Estate Foundation but leased to a for profit company is Richmond still getting real estate taxes on it If At some point it becomes an integral part of the University and the property transfers to the state a rep of the Foundation posted that the Foundation is a separate non-state funded arm of the University how much of Richmond VCU will have gobbled up Who’s to say how important bricks and mortar will be in higher education 200 years from now The future might be just the opposite of what it is today Schools like Phoenix and Liberty already discount the need for physical presence in favor of virtual classrooms thank god – broad street looked like a bombed out part of Syria before VCU started buying properties and developing the area VCU has no right to ever claim they are hurting for $$$ They continue to buy up every piece of property under paying professors and providing an average at best education The Foundation purchases and manages property from gifts and profits from its properties It’s more of a commercial enterprise whose sole function is for the benefit of the University Sometimes it feels like their sole function is to take properties off the Richmond tax role when did the VCU Foundation (or VCU for that matter) claim they are hurting for money The critique of their tuition and the value of their degree is in the eye of the beholder I suppose VCU has space inside existing buildings that are just setting there not being used © 2025 Richmond BizSense - All Rights Reserved Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now × Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale In Belvidere the mayor is the chief executive officer of the city The role receives a salary and is a full-time position The last day to cast a ballot in the Republican primary is February 25 Whoever succeeds will face independent candidates incumbent Mayor Clint Morris and Alderman John Albertini in the April 1 consolidated election Here’s the profiles of Belvidere mayoral candidates in the Republican primary Arevalo served as Belvidere alderman from 2014 to 2021 He lost his 2021 re-election bid in a coin flip toss to settle a tie vote of 105-105 The 36-year-old works in road construction and said what moves him to run is the need to usher in a new generation of leadership “Sometimes there's an age gap between politicians and the new but we have to mold ourselves to what the current times are and evolve a little bit faster instead of always thinking the same way.” Arevalo also said his candidacy would bring what he believes is much needed Latino representation to government that people feel included in the community and easier for them to access resources as well." Latinos make up 37 percent of the population There’s no Latino representation on the Belvidere City Council He said if elected mayor he’d focus on supporting small businesses to medium size businesses in town “Most people work for small to medium business,” he said easier than for them to expand if they need to we can work with them or change the ordinances.” The Stellantis auto plant places a lot of national attention on Belvidere the company announced it will bring back production in 2027 “We also have to diversify a portfolio as a city,” Arevalo said we'll have enough different businesses that can absorb that impact from the city.” Fred Brereton served as Belvidere mayor from 1997 to 2013 The 73-year-old is semi-retired from the insurance business which was started by his father and now being run by his son He said he was moved to jumping into the mayoral race after watching a televised city council meeting Belvidere mayor Clint Morris asked for clarification from Alderwoman Marsha Freeman who'd made accusations involving the workings of the city council "that if you'd asked me the day before that meeting Morris did not respond to requests for comment on the meeting While the reopening of Belvidere's Stellantis plant is set to happen in two years Brereton said there are things a mayor can do in the meantime “The first thing that I would do," he added "is to strengthen the relationship within the community that would include the school district which is our public private economic development corporation." Brereton said as mayor he’d pay attention to the budget and property taxes “That's always foremost in many people's minds," he said "and one of the things that can assist in that is increased housing to help spread the cost of providing services to more people." Regarding the lack of Latino representation in government he said as mayor he can appointment Latinos to various boards “I think by appointing individuals to planning commissions or to police and fire commissions all helps to be aware of the needs [in the community],” he said it's up to the individuals to get involved." (PAI) —The Auto Workers have won a months-long battle to enforce their new contract with Stellantis by holding the giant automaker to its promise to refurbish retrofit and reopen its key plant in Belvidere UAW President Shawn Fain and UAW Stellantis Department Director Kevin Gottinsky announced victory in a Jan 22 letter to all Stellantis Department directors The letter adds Stellantis also agreed to keep building the Dodge Durango at the firm’s Detroit Assembly Complex The win is important for one big reason that goes beyond restoring the 1,200 jobs Stellantis cut by closing Belvidere Stellantis closed Belvidere just before negotiations began several years ago between the union and the three Detroit automakers — and before UAW’s successful “Stand Up” strikes against Stellantis The new contracts the union won included first-ever provisions ratifying UAW’s right to strike over grievances and/or company closure decisions reneging on the key contract provision to reopen an updated and refurbished Belvidere Stellantis also planned to move Durango production outside the U.S led to ouster of the company’s overpaid CEO Antonio Filosa replaced him and reached agreement with the union reversing closure of Belvidere and agreeing on other changes The fate of the Belvidere plant was more than just a jobs issue for the union It symbolized two key turning points for UAW and the Detroit automakers when the financier-caused Great Recession threw FiatChrysler and GM into bankruptcy One price the government exacted in return for federal loan guarantees and government stock purchases to keep the two from going under was the hated two-tier wage system Belvidere was the first plant among the Detroit automakers’ facilities to suffer that and both the workers and the downstate Illinois city took a big hit The second was Belvidere’s significance during the Stand-Up strike Not only would there have been no UAW-Stellantis contract without a provision to reopen it but alongside came the Biden administration’s commitment to make Belvidere an electric vehicle factory and center accounting for the new workers to be sent there “The company agreed to build the next generation Dodge Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex and to reopen the Belvidere Assembly plant in 2027 “The company also committed to a significant investment in Kokomo announcing plans to build Phase II of the GME-T4 EVO engine beginning in 2026 reversing plans to move work out of this country “There will be no change to existing GME-T4 EVO production at the Dundee Engine Plant the company committed to increased component production at the Toledo Machining Plant.” “Your solidarity forced Carlos Tavares out as CEO of this company But “there’s still more work to do in reversing the damage” from Tavares’s reign over Stellantis “Thousands of our union sisters and brothers [were] laid off due to gross mismanagement under him That means “we must remain vigilant and stay organized,” Fain and Gottinsky concluded Filed under: Featured, National Labor News Shawn Fain blames everyone and takes credit like he’s the hero The membership knows what’s going on and knows why the jobs are coming back from Mexico and it’s not Fain And he refuses to push for the government ,when Biden destroyed our jobs county and municipalities buy America Made vehicles He is a embarrassment to all workers and retirees Please enter an answer in digits:seventeen + 3 = the Labor Tribune is one of the few remaining labor weekly newspapers in the country It has a symbiotic relationship with its subscribers: the paper exists because of their continued and unwavering support and the St Louis/Southern Illinois labor movements are considered among the strongest in America in great part because they have a solid strong voice that allows their positions to be heard in the general community In a dramatic turnabout that defuses months of wrangling with the UAW Stellantis says it will restart its idled Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois and build the next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit announced in a letter Wednesday to employees from North America Chief Operating Officer Antonio Filosa also provided some good news to workers in Toledo The Belvidere plant will start production of a new midsize truck in the next two years The letter said company Chairman John Elkann had met last week with President Donald Trump before his inauguration on Monday Elkann shared "our enthusiasm for his strong commitment to the United States auto industry and all that this means for American jobs and the broader economy." Reuters reported that Elkann met with Trump twice Elkann said Stellantis planned to continue the company's long history in the United States "by further strengthening our U.S manufacturing footprint and providing stability for our great American workforce," according to the letter The announcements on Belvidere and the Detroit Assembly Complex offer a significant shift in the narrative around Stellantis in the United States which has seen significant job cuts over the last year The UAW had threatened a potential national strike over what the union contended was the company's backtracking on product commitments The fate of the idled Belvidere Assembly Plant was a major issue during 2023 contract talks and the company later said it would delay a planned restart there The announcement said 1,500 UAW-represented workers would return to Belvidere The UAW noted in a statement provided by spokesman Nathan Pensler that the investment news followed months of the union pushing the company to keep its 2023 contract commitments in Detroit and Belvidere The union had accused the company of confirming plans to move production of the next-generation Durango to the Windsor Assembly Complex in Ontario The current version is built at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Jefferson formerly known as Jefferson North Assembly Plant well in advance of the end of his contract as the company dealt with numerous challenges including alienating key stakeholders and sales struggles More: Stellantis CFO: Automaker could shift production to US to cope with tariffs "This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in the release Details on the brand of the new truck to be built in Illinois were not immediately available. However, lack of a midsize pickup for the Ram brand has long been seen as a gap in the portfolio, and it's something that returning Ram brand CEO Tim Kuniskis mentioned when he met with the Free Press at the Detroit Auto Show this month Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson confirmed production and launch of the truck in 2027 The investments in Toledo are to include "additional technologies and strong product actions for Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator in our Toledo Assembly Complex and more components critical to our production in our Toledo Machining Plant," the letter said Kokomo will see investments "to produce the GMET4 EVO engine will be the manufacturing home of this strategic powertrain," the letter said The Kokomo plans represent a new investment announcement Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters Leer en español Townships are the oldest and a less visible form of local government in Illinois The elected officials under the township are the supervisor In Belvidere Township the only contested race is in the Republican primary election for township supervisor He has served as a trustee on the Belvidere Township Board of Trustees for four years Before that he’s served on several boards including the Boone County Board The 78-year-old is a retired family physician He said if elected supervisor he’d be more accessible to the public than his predecessor “I'd like to have some monthly coffees with people in our building,” he said “And I just like to make a little more a little more friendly than it has been.” O’Malley also said he’d want to see the township offer activities to residents free of charge “Our park district charges for every activity they have,” he said I'd like to see some things that are free for the town and get people together.” O’Malley said he won’t be taking the insurance or the pension benefits and will donate his salary to charity The Belvidere township salary is $46,000 dollars “I really don't need the money,” O’Malley said He said in contrast the other candidate may have another motive “The opponent is really interested I think in the pension "I think that's one reason that people are running for it.” What does a township supervisor role entail A supervisor is commonly described as the CEO of the township This person chairs the township board of trustees' meetings The board approves the budget for all the township activities including at the offices of the highway commissioner and the assessor the supervisor oversees the general assistance program which is a need-based program for single adults The Township’s current budget for roads and bridges for its fiscal year ending in March is $8.6 million dollars The board of trustees approved $4.5 million for all its other functions An effort had been made at the state level to get rid of the township as an entity for what critics argued was a redundant form of government “We do everything at a much lower cost,” said O’Malley Everything is done very cleanly in the townships.” Boone County Board member Rodney Riley did not mention finances as a motive for running for the role “I did some background research on the position entitles and the duties and the responsibilities and I felt that it was just a perfect match for this transition in my life," Riley said “Moving away from being in law enforcement for the last 38 years but just look at a different type of public service.” Riley currently works at the McHenry Courthouse with the sheriff’s office he would resign his job and continue to hold his seat on the Boone County Board He’s served on the county board for the last five years with the last two years as chairman Riley said he’s been told the current supervisor treats the job like a part-time position “I really think that somebody needs to be in there more often," he said “Another thing the supervisor should be doing He said with the upcoming retirement of long-time secretary Terri Bullard the supervisor will have to take on more responsibilities "the Supervisor is going to have to learn a lot of those duties that the Secretary performed or at least have a working knowledge of it." And Riley said he’s up for the task in comparison to O’Malley “I just don't think he has an idea of just how much time is going to need to be spent in that office I think he's more in a retirement mode at this point and just not sure exactly how much time he's going to be able to commit.” Belvidere Township maintains about 90 miles of roads and entails most of Belvidere City and parts of Poplar Grove Latinos make up 37 percent of the City Of Mural's population Over 26 percent of homes in Belvidere speak Spanish as their primarily language but there’s no Spanish speakers at the township office When WNIJ asked the candidates whether having Latino bilingual staff members at the township would be of value both agreed that it was important in order to best serve all residents The last day to vote in the consolidated election primary race is February 25 who pressured Stellantis to reopen the plant the Chrysler manufacturer has recommitted to reopening the plant and building a new midsized truck there the company announced it would build the next generation of the Dodge Durango SUV at its Detroit Assembly Complex and increase Jeep parts production at its plant in Toledo Stellantis also said it would build a second phase of its GME-T4 EVO engine in the United States after previously planning to build it elsewhere Belvidere Assembly plant indefinitely idled operations in February 2023 the UAW issued a trilateral strike against General Motors winning in the eventual contract a commitment to invest $5 billion in restarting the Belvidere plant following a speech at the Democratic National Convention by UAW President Shawn Fain In a release, the UAW laid blame for the closure and delay at the feet of former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, who resigned the company in December last year amid falling profits. Fain called Stellantis’ commitments a “victory” for workers “standing together.” Following his speech at the DNC the union threatened another national strike on Stellantis “We’ve shown that we will do what it takes to protect the good union jobs that are the lifeblood of places like Belvidere As talent editor, Ryan Secard reports on workforce and labor issues in manufacturing, including recruitment, labor organizations, and safety. Ryan has written IndustryWeek's Salary Survey annually since 2021 and coordinated its Talent Advisory Board since 2023 He joined IndustryWeek in 2020 as a news editor covering breaking manufacturing news Ryan also contributes to American Machinist and Foundry Management & Technology as an associate editor Linkedin The Rockford IceHogs are teaming up with the Belvidere Park District to hold their annual outdoor practice on Tuesday The practice session is open to the public and free to attend and fans are invited to swing by to catch an up-close glimpse of all their favorite IceHogs players Fans can also stick around following the conclusion of the outdoor workout to get autographs from the IceHogs and Hammy For more information on Belvidere’s Riverside Ice Arena, visit belviderepark.org Please note the event is weather dependent and the date is subject to change © 2025 Rockford IceHogs. All Rights Reserved. | Experience by Eden A farmer, teacher, lawyer, accountant and Illinois lawmaker for 26 years, former state Rep. Ron Wait State Rep. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, the Boone County Republican Central Committee and other officials reported Wait's death on social media and offered their condolences to his family "We lost a local giant this morning with the passing of former state Rep Ron Wait," Syverson wrote Monday on his Facebook page "His impact on Boone County and the region was immeasurable His kindness and generosity touched almost every life in Boone County I had the privilege of his friendship and working with him for over 40 years Wait represented a district that included all of Boone County a small part of DeKalb County and a wide swath of Winnebago County from 1985 until 2011 with the exception of two years Barb Giolitto in 1992 before winning his seat back in 1994 Wait was succeeded in the 69th District by state Rep "I'm saddened to hear of the passing of my predecessor former State Representative Ron Wait," Sosnowski posted on Facebook "He was hugely instrumental in so many ways in Boone County and the surrounding area Illinois to call on Stellantis to keep the commitment the company made to reopen Belvidere Assembly and invest in thousands of jobs in that community.  On Monday, UAW locals representing tens of thousands of Stellantis workers filed grievances with the company over their failure to Keep the Promise made in contract negotiations in 2023 Once the grievance procedure is exhausted under the national contract “This isn’t just a local fight or just a union fight,” said UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell “This is a fight for the dignity of work in America If we don’t Stand Up to protect American jobs “The victories we won last year in our Stand Up Strike at the Big Three weren’t suggestions they were binding commitments in a union contract and we as the UAW intend to enforce that contract to the fullest extent,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.  “I find a pathetic irony in the fact that Stellantis is now citing ‘market conditions’ as their reason for attempting to break their promises to Belvidere and autoworkers across America It’s always ‘market conditions’ when they have to stiff an autoworker or close a plant It’s never ‘market conditions’ when they want to raise CEO pay by 56% Carlos Tavares is telling the American autoworker “They say they want to ‘delay’ reopening Belvidere Assembly but they really want to kick the can past our contract expiration so they can suddenly cite ‘market conditions’ again and never open this plant never repair the damage they’ve done to thousands of autoworkers and their families As the company attacks us with layoffs during the most profitable times what jobs will those workers have left to transfer into to invest in the American autoworker and invest in Belvidere and that’s why we’re ready to take action to make sure Stellantis keeps the promise.”  For more information on the fight to make Stellantis Keep the Promise, visit UAW.org/KeepThePromise.  (313) 926-5000 This secure form is for collecting your information for union communication purposes only senators are celebrating a decision by Stellantis and the United Auto Workers’ union to invest in upgrading its U.S Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth say that includes investing in the Belvidere Assembly plant “Stellantis’ investment in auto plants across the country is welcome news.  And with the support of UAW our nation’s auto industry is moving toward developing a more sustainable “We are encouraged that Stellantis understands that tapping Belvidere to build the company’s next mid-size pickup truck.  This $1.2 billion investment in Belvidere is a major win for our state and the 1,500 workers who can come back to the assembly line.  Stellantis and the UAW’s continued commitment in expanding American manufacturing and creating new jobs across the country is critical to our economic prosperity.” 1,500 jobs are expected to return in 2027 to the Illinois plant to build the new truck In October 2023, Stellantis reached a deal with striking UAW workers that included restarting the Belvidere facility we are excited to announce that we have successfully moved Stellantis to Keep the Promise they made in our 2023 agreement to our union and our hardworking membership After meeting with the company for the last several months last night we resolved our grievances concerning the Dodge Durango and the reopening of Belvidere The company has agreed to build the next generation Dodge Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex and to reopen the Belvidere Assembly plant in 2027 The company also committed to a significant investment in Kokomo There will be no change to existing GME-T4 EVO production at the Dundee Engine Plant the company committed to increased component production at the Toledo Machining Plant This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable Thank you to the thousands of members and leaders who rallied Your solidarity forced Carlos Tavares out as CEO of this company While this news reaffirms the company’s commitment to UAW members there is more work to do in reversing the damage done by Carlos Tavares We still have thousands of our union sisters and brothers laid off due to the gross mismanagement under Tavares we must remain vigilant and stay organized The Dodge Durango and Belvidere were the two issues that we filed grievances on Throughout this process we’ve all learned an important lesson: it takes a fight to keep jobs here in this country and the nation that we are ready for that fight Belvidere North claimed its fourth competitive cheerleading state championship in the past eight years on Saturday putting together a near-perfect performance and a show for the ages one that a coach can only dream of," North head coach Kim Crull said "I am a firm believer in chemistry leading to success More area high school sports: The art of the bounceback: Here's how Stillman Valley rebounded to win a share of title The Blue Thunder had one of the most impressive seasons in NIC-10 history And that was after the Blue Thunder won an unprecedented 14th straight NIC-10 title Then came their two performances at the state meet in Bloomington including a power-packed 96.12 in the coed division prelim on Friday followed by a near-flawless 96.90 to win it all in the finals on Saturday Buffalo Grove came in a close second with a 95.58 and Carpentersville Dundee-Crown took third with a 94.04 "We continued to raise the bar in stunting trying new things that would set us apart," Crull said "They spent countless hours at practice doing full out after full out submitting motion and dance videos from home after practice taking just two days off of practice for Christmas break North also won state championships in 2017 and the Blue Thunder finished second four times and took third last year we were filled with so many different emotions One of the senior athletes said to me: 'I just don't want it to be over.'" since the turn of the century at the Register Star.