HERRA HERALD December 2024

HERRA HERALD December 2024

SPOTLIGHT

PAST: GOLDEN ERA OF J&R HERRA

Our family LOVES to celebrate the Christmas season…in our home, at our shop, and in our community. Before the days of the current Elburn Christmas Stroll, our founders (Jack and Rich) would join other volunteer firefighters and carol around town.  This group would visit long-time, elderly residents and retired firefighters who were in need of some holiday cheer. J&R Herra owner and president, Brian Herra, fondly remembers this outing as a child.  Each year, the firefighters’ families would bundle up, hop on a hay ride, and travel around town full of love, laughter, and the Christmas spirit. The smiles and warm wishes they shared on those December evenings were not only evidence of age-old holiday magic, but also a testament to our special community. Elburn has deep roots of care, service, and love. The Christmas Stroll has evolved over time as our town has grown and changed. Those elderly residents have long since passed and so have many of the original carolers. But the spirit and fondness we all have for our “little” community remains. Please join J&R Herra, along with other Elburn businesses, as we welcome you all to the 30^th Annual Elburn Christmas Stroll. 

❄ Saturday, December 7^th, 4-7 PM ❄

PRESENT: MEET BEN C.

Ben is one of our most trusted and experienced HVAC technicians.  He grew up shadowing his mechanically-minded father, and thus his understanding of a property’s infastructure is almost instinctive.  But what is most amazing, is Ben’s aptitude to tranfer his understanding to customers.  He has this increidble abiltiy to educate, calm and comfort folks with his patient, thorough demeanor.  When Ben is not working alongside our J&R Herra crew, he is busy spending quality time with his VERY active family.  His son’s travel hockey schedule and his daughter’s volleyball season keep Ben and his wife, Gwen, quite busy.  Despite their full calendar, they make time for after-dinner walks and challenging their kids to impromptu games of pickel ball. Ben adores spending time outside.  Whether he is ripping around on his dirt bike or heading out west to the Colorado mountains, he thrives on fresh air and the great outdoors. The priority he places on family, health, and quality workmanship speak volumens about his character. It is a sincere pleasure working alongside such a standup guy. Here’s to you Ben! You are a true gem and we are proud to call you part of the J&R Herra family.

FUTURE: MOMENTS WITH MOLLY

J&R Herra loves the holiday season. It’s makes for a holly, jolly Christmas if we can bring a little cheer to our family, friends and local community. One thing we enjoy doing every year is our Letters to Santa project. We have welcomed a red, North Pole Express mailbox to the corner of our shop parking lot (North and First Street, downtown Elburn).  For every letter mailed to the North Pole, via this mailbox, J&R Herra will happily donate a dollar to a local non-for-profit. In the past we have supported local Elburn elementary schools, the Rising Lights Project, and Conley Outreach’s Holiday Spirit. This year, we are proud to support Elburn’s American Legion Post 630. Letters will be accepted and mailed to Santa, December 1^st through Christmas Eve. This year we have also teamed with Siwy Real Estate for a greater “give-back” and to help facilitate Santa’s return correspondence with local families. So, if you are planning to write Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick, consider mailing it through us. Thank you for helping us love our community. Merry Christmas!

GOOD TO KNOW

GARBAGE DISPOSAL: Dos & Don’ts

Maintenance: Here are a few pointers to keep your garbage disposals running and fully functional.

 –Only use cold water: Cold water keeps grease and oils solid so the disposal can break them up.

–Run regularly: Run the disposal even if you don’t have anything to grind. This prevents it from freezing up, rusting, or corroding. Let water run for at least 15 seconds after grinding, to flush out any remaining particles. 

Regular Cleaning: 

1. Turn off power
2. Remove large debris (be careful…power off)
3. Clean both sides of rubber splash guard
4. 1/2 c. baking soda & 1/2c. vinegar to dissolve grime
5. Run a few ice cubes and 1 T. coarse salt to clean the blades
6. Toss in/run a few small pieces of a citrus fruit for freshness
7. Finally, run with cold water. 

What NOT to put in: Don’t put these items down your garbage disposal:

• Large Scraps- Uneaten portions/ leftovers are too large in size and will cause inevitable issues.
• Coffee grounds- It can accumulate and clog drains.
• Grease- It can’t be broken down by disposals and will clog pipes.
• Eggshells- They can get stuck in the drain and damage the motor.
• Fibrous Vegetables- The strings can wrap around the blades and prevent disposal function.
• Potato Peels- The starches can turn into a thick paste and cause the blades to stick.

DIYlicious DESIGN
CUSTOMIZE. CREATE. INSPIRE.

With the influx of guests in your home this holiday season, at some point, you’re bound to have an inevitable sink, drain or toilet clog. We are happy to be of assistance clearing those stubborn backups, but we’d like to also share some DIY tips and tricks to unblock those pipes on your own. Here are three items we recommend every homeowner have at their disposal to solve those pesky pipe problems. Head to your local hardware store and buy your property these three practical presents for Christmas this year.

1. There are so many plungers on the market.  What plunger should you have on hand? We recommend a “two-in-one” utility plunger.  The flange (bottom rubber piece on plunger) extends for a better seal when unclogging toilet drains and can be folded back when not needed for sinks, bathtubs and showers. If you’re plunging a sink or bathtub, make sure there’s enough water in the basin to cover the plunger. This helps create the suction needed to dislodge the clog.
2. Persistent household clogs (sinks, tubs, & shower drains) often require a bit more muscle than a plunger can offer.  Our next recommendation is a small drain auger. These tools can be manual or even operated by a drill for a little extra power. A cable reaches into the drain to loosen and flush those stubborn blockages.
3. Avoid toilet troubles with a telescopic toilet auger.  At the push of a button, this cable will easily extend 3’ to 6’ into your toilet without scratching the porcelain of your commode. The pivoting handle makes it easy to use. A toilet auger uses a flexible, coiled steel cable with a spiral tip that can reach into the toilet’s drain to break up or retrieve obstructions. It is an essential tool for clearing clogs that are too deep or difficult for a plunger to handle.
4. When all else fails, give us a call. J&R Herra has plumbers “on-call” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sometimes a job requires professional grade tools and power to get your plumbing back up and running.

We pride ourselves on our emergency service and are happy to help this holiday season and beyond. 

Call our office number at 630-365-6266. We’ll be right over. 

Finally, we want to stress how important proactive pluming measures are in your home. It’s easy to save yourself from using these tools in the first place (or calling a professional), by avoiding the following:

• Flushing feminine hygiene products
• Flushing “flushable” wipes…. They are NOT flushable.
• Chemical drain cleaners…They are toxic and hazardous (to you and your pipes).
• Continuous toilet bowl cleaners…These tablets have chemicals that eat away/warp the inner workings of your toilet tank, often requiring repair or replacement. 

RECIPE

It’s not Christmas without Mom’s cinnamon bread. It’s easy; it fills your house with cozy, sweet aromas while it bakes. Best of all, everyone LOVES it! These loaves have become a staple for all of our holiday spreads and as gifts for neighbors, family and friends. If you are looking for a quick hostess gift or a baked good to pass at your seasonal gatherings, look no further.  FYI…it is to die for, straight from the oven, with a bit of butter. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup oil or butter

Swirl:

• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon 

(mix together)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients (minus the swirl) and beat well.
3. Pour half of batter into the bottom of a greased loaf pan.
4. Cover with half of the swirl mix.
5. Pour remaining batter into the loaf pan, on top of swirl mix.
6. Sprinkle with other ½ of the swirl mix.
7. Take a bread knife and cut/swirl through the loaf batter in and “S” or “figure 8” motion.
8. Bake for 60 minutes

TESTIMONIAL

Meet Ryan and Kari, from Yorkville, Illinois.  Kari and their kiddos suffer from seasonal allergies. Sadly, like many property owners, the air inside their home was not bringing them breathing relief. Instead, their family was feeling concerned and anxious about their indoor air quality, as runny noses and endless “colds” prevailed.  Kari and Ryan were looking for peace of mind, safety and comfort.  They trusted J&R Herra to offer a much-needed remedy to this serious household dilemma.  

“We needed a solution. We reached out to J&R Herra to put in an Air Scrubber. Since then, our air has been crisp and amazing.”

Thank you for partnering with our air quality specialists. We pride ourselves on being industry experts in this area and look forward to helping families, like Kari and Ryan’s, feel safe and comfortable in their homes. Happy breathing and we greatly appreciate the call.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Philanthropy is a cornerstone of J&R Herra.  We work tirelessly to support the community that supports us.  In addition to the sponsorships and seasonal donations, 10% of all Herra Home Shield profits are donated back into our community.  Thanks to you, this month we were able to sponsor ads in the Kaneland Krier, our high school’s student-led newspaper. Additionally, we have decided to continue our support of local Veterans this holiday season. Not only did J&R Herra sponsor the Wreaths Across America program for our Elburn cemeteries, but our annual Letters to Santa program was able to donate to Elburn American Legion Post 630. For every letter mailed to the North Pole, via our red mailbox, we will happily donate a dollar to Post 630! Don’t forget to mail those letters with us this year.  We couldn’t be prouder of our local community and all of the love and support we share for one another.