SPOTLIGHT
PAST: GOLDEN ERA OF J&R HERRA
When we pause to celebrate our journey over the last fifty years, we would be remiss to leave out Les Howard. Jack and Rich grew our company alongside this longtime friend and mechanically-minded individual. Les grew up on farms in rural Maple Park and Elburn; he knew our community well. In addition to his family farms, life granted him additional experience in the engine room of the USS Rockbridge and as a successful student at DeVry Institute of Chicago. His aptitude for mechanics and engineering led him to run his own radio and TV repair shop. Les quickly earned the reputation that he could “fix anything” around town. He spent a lot of time with our founders, Jack and Rich, from bowling leagues to countless hours serving with the Elburn Countryside Fire Department. They knew just how talented Les was with all things mechanical and knew this experience would lend itself as a valued addition to their heating and plumbing company. His imagination and ability to “tinker” repaired countless furnaces, boilers, lawn mowers, cars, tractors, well pumps, and even a vintage Elburn firetruck over the years. Les was always busy. If he wasn’t fixing something or volunteering, he was gardening, coaching, hunting, or spending quality time with his grandchildren. Les is greatly missed on the J&R Herra team. He was a fixture of our service business and we would be half the company without his loyalty, care, and ingenuity.
PRESENT: MEET GARY K.
With Les Howard on our mind, it only made sense to give January’s shout-out to a similarly talented, mechanical mastermind, Gary K. Have you ever been around someone that brings a sense of thoughtful confidence wherever he goes? That is our Gary K! He literally keeps our fleet (and our people) running smoothly and safely. From routine vehicle maintence to unique repair work, Gary is the ultimate asset around the shop. If he is not tinkering under one of our vehcile hoods, Gary is working on his snowmobiles or hot rods at home. He has shared his mechanical passions/skillset publicly too. Gary has won three track championships out at Sycamore Speedway, an honor that is something to be QUITE proud of! In addition to participating, Gary thorourly enjoys watching races out in Sycamore, specifically with his granddaughter and three (soon-to-be four) grandsons. Family is Gary’s primary focus. His hardwork is clearly dedicated to them. When he talks about his wife (of 42 years), his three kids, and his grandchildren Gary beams with pride. He is always boasting a smile or animated story about a recent visit or comical anecdote. We love hearing about them all, but what we love most is watching him light up when talking about them. Gary, thank you for looking out for all of us. Your determination, work ethic, and kindness are beyond compare.
FUTURE: OVERTIME WITH OWEN
I am so excited to start Drivers’ Education this month! From tractors to trucks (and everything in-between), I very much enjoy being behind the wheel of anything that moves. Not sure if it is a coincidence or not, but my mom just let me know that January also happens to be Teenage Driving Awareness Month. According to Google, “It is observed in January to raise awareness to the importance of safe driving practices for young drivers. The goal is to reduce the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving young drivers.” This is super important because it’s all about reminding us how serious driving can be. A lot of people think that getting a license means freedom, but it’s also a huge responsibility. We’re still learning how to handle a car and how to stay safe. It’s crucial to pay attention to stuff like seat belts, speed limits, and distractions. I know a lot of teens get excited about driving, but sometimes we forget that even small mistakes can have big consequences. During this month, there are lots of programs and events that try to get us thinking about the risks and how we can be safer drivers.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important it is to avoid texting while driving, even if it’s just for a second. It only takes a few seconds to get distracted, but that can change everything. So, during this month, I’m trying to remind myself (and my friends) to stay focused, follow the rules, and be smart about driving. It’s not just about us—it’s about keeping everyone on the road safe. We’ve got to take driving seriously if we want to make it through this time of our lives without anything bad happening.
On a final note, I’d like to remind all the parents out there to lead by example. We are always watching. So set a good example by wearing your seatbelt and following the Rules of the Road as well. Stay safe friends.
GOOD TO KNOW
Harnessing Household Humidity
This time of year, the cold outdoor air has low humidity, and when it’s heated indoors, it becomes even drier. This is especially true in homes with central heating systems. Without proper maintence, these systems are also known to further decrease the humidity of a property. Dry air can cause various issues, such as cracked skin, irritated respiratory passages, and static electricity. It can also damage wood furniture, flooring, and even musical instruments by causing them to shrink and crack. Low humidity can make the air feel colder than it is because dry air doesn’t retain heat as effectively as humid air. This means people may feel colder indoors, prompting higher heating usage, which can worsen the dry air problem. Finally, low humidity in winter can lead to discomfort and health problems like dry skin, chapped lips, and increased susceptibility to colds or respiratory infections. Dry air can also aggravate asthma, allergies, nose bleeds and other respiratory conditions.
To balance the dryness, many people use humidifiers to add moisture back into the air. Humidifiers come in all shapes and sizes. From placing bowls of water around the home to whole-house humidification systems, there are countless ways to make indoor air more comfortable and healthier during the winter months.
J&R Herra gets frequent calls this time of year about humidity worries from our customers. Like humans, every property has a unique infrastructure and “breathes” differently. This makes harnessing humidity a challenge to manage properly.
Our team of indoor air quality experts can help you iron out this problem. Our crew can evaluate and customize exactly what your home needs to keep a balanced humidity. We will take into account the fluctuations of outdoor Chicagoland temperatures and other home factors that will specifically impact the relative humidity level that is recommended for your house. We proudly install, maintain and service AprilAire Whole-House Humidification Systems. We stand by their products to help balance your home’s humidity, which in-turn helps improve sleep and dry skin, enhance productivity, and keep you protected against airborne viruses. Give us a call. We’d happily lend a hand with this menacing humidity issue. We will find a customized solution for your home.
DIYlicious DESIGN
CUSTOMIZE. CREATE. INSPIRE.
We LOVE our woodburning fireplace this time of year. It is always crackling in the background, warming our home and our spirits. We also enjoy outdoor fires in our patio firepit on warmer, winter evenings. I was THRILLED to stumble Outdoor Apothecary’s DIY Fire Starters to make our cozy fires that much more enjoyable. Barbi is an herbalist, wildcrafter, gardener, forager, and nature lover. She uses this site to inspire simple, connections with the outdoors and to rediscover the joy of living a simple life. Barbi is credited with this DIY winter craft as well as these photos. Check out the link for more Outdoor Apothecary inspiration.
DIY FIRE STARTERS
Step 1) Place cupcake papers in a cupcake pan.
Step 2) Add the wick. Cut a piece of wick about 3 inches long and place it in the center of the cupcake liner.
Step 3) Fill the liners with herbs and other ingredients. Possible additives include:
Bay Leaves, Cinnamon Sticks, Orange Peels, Whole Cloves, Star Anise, Rosemary Sprigs, Cedar or Evergreen Clippings, Lavender Sprigs/Buds, Pine Resin, Sage, Pinecones, or Twigs
Start placing the herbs and other additives around the wick in the center of the liner. Fill the liners 1/4 to 1/2 full. Place things like herbal powders, wood shavings, sawdust and dryer lint on the bottom where it will be completely enclosed by the wax and reserve the prettiest herbs for the topping. This will be things like the star anise, pretty little pine cones, and cinnamon sticks.
Step 4) Melt the wax (FYI…save up old candle wax). Begin heating the wax in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can fill a pot with a few inches of water and nestle a heat-safe bowl inside it. You want it to fit snugly without touching the water (if it dips into the water, it will get too hot). There you go! A double boiler at your service. I use a milk pan with a long handle that I hold just above the water. I can stir with the other hand as I do this.
Step 5) Begin pouring the melted wax over the herbs and additives in the cupcake liners until it just covers the material (about 2-3 tablespoons each). As you pour, be sure that the wick stays centered in the cupcake liner. You can use a chopstick or other tool to help with this.
Step 6) Add the decorative herbs/ingredients on the top. Then pouring on any additional wax until the liners are full to a 1/4 inch from the top, then allow to fully cool.
Step 7) Snip your wicks so that they only stick out about a 1/2 inch above the wax.
NOTE: Only burn these in a wood burning fireplace or in an outdoor fire pit. Do not use in a gas burning fireplace or wood stove. Fire starters can cause flare-ups in a fire or heat it to temperatures that are unsafe for a wood stove. Fire starters can also damage the stove and create a fire hazard.
RECIPE
Did you know that the Campbell Soup Company denoted January as National Soup Month back in 1984? In honor of soup’s comforting nature, especially in these cold winter months, here is our family’s favorite soup recipe. Pattie, my sister-in-law (and former J&R Herra office manager), share this soup when I brought Owen home from the hospital. It has been a staple in our family kitchen ever since. Thank you for sharing Pattie!
Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup (doubles easily)
Ingredients
- 6 T. Buter
- 3 T. Chopped Onion
- ⅓ cup flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup cooked, cubed chicken
- 2 cups “Uncle Ben’s” original wild rice (cooked)
- ¼ cup carrots (chopped or grated)
- ¼ cup celery (chopped)
- ¼ cup mushrooms (chopped)
- ¼ t. pepper
- 1 cup milk or cream
Instructions
- Cook rice according to the package and set aside.
- Sauté onion, carrots, celery, and mushrooms in butter (in a stock pot)
- Blend in flour and gradually add broth.
- Stir to a boil. Boil 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken, cooked rice, and pepper.
- Simer for 4-5 minutes.
- Blend in milk/cream.
- Serve this hearty soup with fresh baked bread.
TESTIMONIAL
Jason, thank you for taking the time to leave such a glowing review for J&R Herra Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing! We are thrilled to hear that you had an excellent experience with our team and that we were able to provide the best service at the best price. We also appreciate your kind words about the thoroughness of our installation process. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and look forward to being your go-to for all your HVAC needs in the future.
“J&R was a wonderful company to work with. I had multiple quotes from multiple HVAC companies. They were able to provided me the best service and price hands-down in the area. I really appreciated how they came out and double checked the unit and the size before installing. Scott and crew were spot on and did a wonderful job installing my new unit. Will definitely be going to J&R for other services in the future. Completely recommend this company as their service and installation was top-notch; thanks team!!”
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 facilitate a winter day program for Rising Lights Projects participants. Additionally, our annual Letters to Santa program was an absolute hit this year! Along with Siwy Real Estate we were able to donate $300 to Elburn’s American Legion Post 630. We couldn’t be prouder of our local community and all of the love and support we share for one another.
