Practicing optometrist and State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) was awarded the Illinois Optometric Association’s top award, "Legislator of the Year" earlier this week.

Jacobs, a southern Illinois native, has been a practicing optometrist for more than 40 years in the Marion, Carbondale, and Union County areas. Jacobs offered the following remarks to attendees at the annual Illinois Optometric Association’s annual conference held in Springfield at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

Domestic violence is a reality that affects millions of people and families each year. Understanding the signs is crucial for early intervention and prevention.

Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, which can lead to injury or even death. Understanding the dynamics involved in abusive relationships and recognizing the signs is crucial and can even be life-saving.

In October, we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness about this disease that affects millions of individuals and families across the nation. In Illinois alone, approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. This statistic shows the urgent need for education, early detection, and support for those affected.

One year ago on October 7, 2023, Hamas militants initiated a deadly surprise assault on Israel, slaughtering entire families in their homes and taking more than 250 people hostage. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history.

In response to eyewitness accounts and video evidence of the atrocities, Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie voiced her support for Israel and issued the following statement:

“The Israeli people and Jewish Americans deserve our unequivocal support against threats to their very existence and the grotesque antisemitism displayed by groups here at home and in the Middle East.”

It’s been more than a week since Hurricane Helene made landfall. It is now the fourth deadliest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. mainland since 1950 and the deadliest since Katrina in 2005.

Those impacted in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama need shelter, water, food and health care. Across the Southeast, hundreds of people are still reported missing. Entire communities were destroyed by fast-moving water and tens of thousands of homes have been affected.

CORRUPTION
Mike Madigan, once Illinois' most influential powerbroker, now faces federal corruption trial. The former Illinois house speaker quietly wielded power in Springfield for decades while developing a reputation as a reclusive political wizard, well-schooled in the playbook of the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. His trial begins Tuesday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

The dreaded data breach notification letter has just landed in your mailbox. You know -- the letter from your medical provider, government, insurance agency, employer or even your car dealer --  explaining your data was included in a recent data breach. The letters have become so ubiquitous that fake versions are now being sent by criminals in an effort to steal your information.

It’s not often that a small city in a rural area in Illinois boasts two destination restaurants, but that is an absolute reality in the Marshall County city of Toluca, population 1,336. Both Mona’s and Capponi’s date back to the 1930s, and since 1965 they have both been owned by the Bernardi family. The decadent Italian eateries are located a block apart on Main Street, and both sport large, retro glowing neon signs out front. 

Fred Bernardi came to Toluca from Italy in 1907 with son Nildo, whose nickname was Mona. Fred opened a grocery store, while Mona played saxophone and clarinet for a traveling band called Mona’s Harmony Kings. As Prohibition ended in 1933, Mona Bernardi opened a Main Street bar that became Mona’s Italian Food, with the menu staples being 10-cent spaghetti plates and 15-cent chicken dinners. In 1934, Leno Capponi opened Capponi’s just down the street. The two businesses competed for patrons for 30 years until 1965, when Mona Bernardi bought out Capponi. The story behind the transaction involves a legendary card game bet. 

Not long after the merger of the operations in 1965, Mona’s son Jerry Bernardi came up with the idea of making, freezing, shipping, and selling tortellini and other pastas. While Mona was not a fan of the idea, Jerry got his way and Bernardi Foods opened in 1971 in Toluca. The 30,000 square foot facility soon became the largest employer in town. The plant has been sold twice since, but still retains 300 employees and remains one of the region’s biggest employers. 

Obviously, Mona’s and Capponi’s are known for their vast array of delicious Italian food, which includes pasta, lasagna, tortellini, mostaccioli, ravioli, and various sauces. But the two businesses share nearly twin menus and offer many other great choices, including Mona’s fried chicken. Steaks, burgers, ribs, pork tenderloins, seafood, and various appetizers and desserts are also featured. And don’t forget the salad, bread, and Bernardi’s Infused Dipping Oil, which are absolute staples of an Italian eatery. 

Each business employs just under 50 people, and Mona’s can seat up to 300, while Capponi’s has a capacity of 240. Mona’s has more of a brighter look of a supper club, while Capponi’s has more of an intimate and dimmer atmosphere. And while the menus are close to identical, there are a few unique options at each restaurant. 

A third generation of the Bernardi family now runs Mona’s and Capponi’s, and the business has expanded operations to three more locations in Washington (Bernardi’s), Pontiac (Bernardi’s II), and Dunlap (Bernardi’s Pub). Bernardi’s also offers a variety of catering options. 

For generations of local residents and visitors, Toluca is known for these two restaurants. Located 30 miles northeast of Peoria, Toluca got its start as a railroad stop in 1887. The population exploded to 3,500 and then 6,000 by 1907. Italian immigrants flocked to the area to work in the coal mines, with the mines once employing 770 workers and producing 379,000 tons of coal. By 1924, the coal mines became unprofitable and shut down. The population shrank and has leveled off at just under 1,500. 

Americans celebrate National Italian American month every October. The heritage month is celebrated in October to coincide with Columbus Day, the national holiday observed on the second Monday of the month. Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the United States, making up the nation’s seventh-largest ethnic group. 

“Mona’s and Capponi’s in Toluca fit the perfect definition for a destination restaurant in downstate Illinois,” stated Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora). “Plan your trip accordingly, as these are can’t-miss experiences that should be on many bucket lists. Small town businesses that are passed down from generation to generation are the lifeblood of Illinois communities.”

When fall arrives and homes across America start filling with pumpkin pies and jack-o'-lanterns, chances are those pumpkins came from Illinois. Known as the nation's pumpkin powerhouse, Illinois leads by a wide margin, producing over 650 million pounds of pumpkins annually. This accounts for nearly 40% of the entire U.S. pumpkin production, which is more than the next five states combined!

Much of this dominance is due to the rich soil and ideal growing conditions in central Illinois. The region boasts two major pumpkin processing plants, Nestle Libby in Morton—often called the "Pumpkin Capital of the World"—and Seneca Foods in Princeville. These plants process over 85% of the pumpkins used for canning across the U.S.

Beyond the well-known canned pumpkins, Illinois also produces plenty of decorative jack-o’-lantern pumpkins and sugar pumpkins, a sweeter variety commonly used in pies. Pumpkin patches across the state also offer visitors the chance to pick their own pumpkins directly from the fields, creating a fun fall tradition for many Illinois residents.

Morton, Illinois, home to the Libby’s plant, processes more than 90% of the nation’s canned pumpkins. These products end up in everything from pies to soups and even trendy pumpkin-flavored beverages. During peak season, the small town of Morton celebrates its annual Morton Pumpkin Festival, a tradition that dates back to 1967. With Illinois continuing to dominate this industry, its reputation as the "Pumpkin Capital of the World" remains well earned.

State Representative Bill Hauter, whose district includes Morton, takes pride in the region's pumpkin heritage. “Being born and raised in Morton, I can tell you we are very proud of our pumpkin heritage,” said Rep. Hauter. “Agriculture is the number one industry in Illinois generally and in my district specifically, with pumpkin production playing a huge role. We are proud to be the pumpkin capital of the world!”

The state’s climate, characterized by warm summers and well-draining soil, makes it a perfect environment for growing pumpkins. In fact, Illinois’ agricultural land covers more than 18,000 acres dedicated to pumpkins alone.

Representative Bill Hauter believes Illinois' agricultural heritage is key to its success. "From field to table, Illinois pumpkins are essential to American traditions," he said. “We take great pride in our farmers, whose hard work and dedication make the fall season something to look forward to every year.”

Can't get enough pumpkin?

• Pumpkin themed recipes from the Illinois Farm Bureau.
• Illinois breweries create top pumpkin beers
• Illinois is The Great Pumpkin State