GOOD TO KNOW
With planting and gardening around the corner, please make sure to check your hose bibs for harsh weathering and cracks before using them. After a frigid winter season, it is important to have two people open them up in the Spring. This is especially true if your pipes are buried in drywall or above the ceiling. One person should be on the inside of the house and the other should be outside. This measure can save you a huge mess and thousands of dollars in water damage this Spring.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Meet Janet Herra: Jan is the matriarch of our company. She has been a fixture of J&R Herra since the beginning. She was not only married to one of our J&R Herra founders (Jack Herra), but she is also mother to Brian Herra, company owner and president. Jan adores traveling the world and hiking. She’s been around the world and to almost all of the United States. When she is not traversing the globe, you can find her crocheting, sewing, gardening, or redecorating her home. Jan is also proud mom/grandma to six children, sixteen grandchildren, and 10 ½ great-grandchildren.
DAD JOKES
Need a laugh? With all of the dads working at J&R Herra, we have quite the arsenal of corny, industry-related “Dad Jokes” that we’ve collected over the years. Hope you get a good chuckle at this month’s favorite.
ERAS OF J&R HERRA
Meet Henry Altepeter. He was our founder’s father-in-law, and where our company’s story begins. Henry and his brother Leo started a plumbing, heating, well-pump, septic, and electric company called H&L Altepeter out of Lily Lake, Illinois. This is a picture of Henry in his work attire, on the job, over 60 years ago. Jack Herra got his start and worked for his family for 12 years before he purchased it himself. Jack approached his brother, Richard. Together, Jack and Rich embraced this family business. They re-named it J&R Herra, moved it to Elburn, and continued the legacy of trusted service that Henry and Leo established decades ago. Thank you Henry, Leo, Jack & Rich! We work tirelessly to uphold your same standards of customer care and tireless, hard work.
A MOMENT WITH MOLLY
Molly is our youngest team member, and daughter of the VERY proud owners (Brian & Laura). She pops into the shop when she is not in school to inspire our team with inspirational quotations and nuggets of wisdom. Here is her motivational board. She took it upon herself in January to adopt this space and offer a positive influence to our J&R Herra team members and passersby. This week’s showcase phrase was,
“LIFE IS LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE. TO KEEP Y OUR BALANCE, YOU MUST KEEP MOVING.”
DIYlicious DESIGN
CUSTOMIZE. CREATE. INSPIRE.
Unlock your creative potential, one project at a time. Here is a fun idea to unleash your inner designer and make your kitchen welcoming, healthy, stylish, and the envy of all your neighbors.
Consider using the warming weather to plant a Spring Herb Garden. From a backyard plot to a stylish container garden on your patio or within your kitchen, this DIY project has countless practical and aesthetic benefits.
- Fresh: Why drive to the local grocery or farm stand for your basil, mint, rosemary, and/or thyme? Enhance your recipes with instant flavor and fragrance all season long.
- Economical: Fresh herbs and spices tend to be costly when purchased at the store. Growing your own saves considerable time, money, and resources. Customize your garden. Plant the herbs that you cook with most often. These gardens are simple, self-sustaining, and cost-saving!
- Convenient: We all appreciate “the easy buttons” in life. Harvesting your herbs in the moment couldn’t be easier or more time-saving. This is especially true for those last-minute meals you are trying to throw together on busy nights.
- Healthy: Herbs and spices are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They balance our diet and add natural flavor to food keeping us from using sugar-ridden and processed sauces/condiments. Gardening has also been proven to reduce stress. The fulfillment of nurturing a garden is relaxing and good for the mood.
- Stylish: The simplicity, authenticity and intentionality of farm fresh features have become a popular (and an ever-growing) trend in aesthetic design. An herb garden can add some visual interest, pure aromas, and beautiful colors/textures to elevate both indoor and outdoor spaces. The practicality of this design feature compliments the minimalistic, natural trends in people’s 2024 homes.
RECIPE
Special Thanks to food blogger and kitchen visionary, Andrea, at Life Made Simple. With this perfect recipe for using your new, fresh herbs all season long.
TESTIMONIAL
Thanks for the kind words Bob!
“John K. from J&R Herra Installed our new furnace today. He is extremely professional and courteous. The work he did was excellent, a quality installation is very important when purchasing a new furnace. J&R Herra gave us several options for a replacement; we chose one that fit our budget and now we have a brand new furnace! We have used J&R Herra in the past for a new water heater, and it has also been great. This is a top-notch company and I highly recommend them.”
COMMUNITY CORNER
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 support the American Legion: Post 312’s Polar Plunge Team. We were also able to help sponsor the Kaneland High School Baseball and Softball programs with their annual Pig Roast Event. #HerraCares
