SPOTLIGHT
PAST: GOLDEN ERA OF J&R HERRA
In honor of Mothers’ Day, we thought it fitting to pay tribute to the “Queen Mother” of J&R Herra. Where, Granny (Mary) Herra did not officially work for our company, her character remains a cornerstone of who we are as people and what we represent as a business. In addition to passing an unwavering work ethic onto her children and grandchildren, she also infused a passion for community service and philanthropy. It was common practice for her to help the elderly population of Elburn with their yard work, snow shoveling, errand running, or passing the time with a friendly visit or table game. From baking pies for the Congregational Church, supplying cookies to the neighborhood kids, or driving local women to their hair appointments, she was always busy and always being of service. She led with a strong hand, willful voice, loving heart, and sense of humor through it all. Thank you, Granny; memories of you are as strong as ever. We are wishing you a very happy Heavenly Mothers’ Day.
PRESENT: MEET MARCUS G.
Meet Marcus: Marcus has been a valued member of our J&R Herra family for fourteen years. Since 2010 he has served as one of our most trusted and experienced plumbers. In addition to his copious skillset, we can always count on Marcus to show up with a smile and positive attitude. Marcus couldn’t be prouder of his lovely family. From weekend boating trips to their travels throughout Michigan and Florida, Marcus adores spending quality time with his crew. Outside of work, he is a sports enthusiast. His ultimate pastimes include playing as much golf as possible and rooting for his beloved Chicago Bears. Although, he wanted to note that he is a Chicago fan all around. Another fun fact about Marcus is that his wife and mother-in-law own and operate the Up North Wine Tasting Room in Geneva, Illinois. It has a superb atmosphere! It is a fun place to relax, have a drink, and hang with friends. The next time you are in Geneva (9 N 2nd St, Geneva, IL 60134), pop in to see Marcus and his family!
FUTURE: OVERTIME WITH OWEN
You really can’t get ahead in this world without the support and community of a team. Even if you do succeed solo, it is much more fun to do it with others. This is a picture of my baseball team congratulating me after a good play this past weekend. Don’t get me wrong. Homeruns feel pretty good. But the excitement and care from your teammates feels WAY better. We have each other’s backs, through wins and through losses. In real life, teams are kind of like that too. Each person brings something cool to the table. Some kids are good at math and others might be good at drawing or telling jokes. It’s not until we team up that we can tackle the big stuff. I notice this same type of teamwork at my dad’s shop, J&R Herra. They work together to share ideas, help each other out when life gets stressful, and fist pump each other when they nail it! When you have a team, you can count on, you are ready to handle anything that comes your way. The losses are that much more tolerable and the wins are that much more fun. Ultimately, my latest baseball takeaway, is that the skills I am learning on the ballfield are far more valuable than the limits of a single season. Teamwork is not only a golden rule of life, it is a golden rule of being a Herra.
GOOD TO KNOW
Did you know that soft water makes for a better soap lather? Check out those suds!!! Soft water does all sorts of handy things around your home. It keeps your appliances, faucets, and toilets running smoothly and extends their life by preventing that annoying calcium build up. Water softeners are one of the most underutilized appliances in a home. They help all of your fixtures last longer, work better, and stay cleaner. If you have a softener, is it working correctly? If you don’t have a softener, do you need one? Are there certain areas of your home that don’t require soft water or extensive filtration? J&R Herra can not only help test the specific hardness and quality of your water, but we can also help specify and individualize how water is used and accessed in your home. We proudly boast the expertise to suggest a myriad of measures to improve the water needs in your household. We have recommendations for filtration systems, softeners, osmosis filters, iron curtains, and more. We would be more than happy to answer your questions and help you customize the water usage in your home.
DIYlicious DESIGN
CUSTOMIZE. CREATE. INSPIRE.
With Mothers’ Day around the corner, we thought it fitting for May’s DIY spot to be dedicated to the mothers in your life. How about putting together a Stepping Stone for her garden? They add color and personality to any garden path or flower bed. You can use broken tiles, glass pieces, hand prints, outdoor paint, or any other decorative materials to create a unique and thoughtful design just for Mom. Local craft stores even have kits with all of the materials included. Click the image for a hyperlink to this particular stepping stone by Milestone. Simply mix, pour, and decorate this one-of-a-kind treasure.
RECIPE
Having the family over for brunch on Mothers’ Day? We can’t get enough of this easy and flavorful brunch punch recipe found at The Might Mrs. Angela’s recipe will surely become your new party favorite. The ingredients and directions for this frothy pink punch are below. Don’t forget to garnish with fresh raspberries for that extra touch!
MOTHERS’ DAY BRUNCH PUNCH
Skill Level: Easy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 10 Servings
Author: Angela G. (The Mighty Mrs.)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 liters raspberry ginger ale
- 24 oz pink raspberry sherbet
Optional Add-Ins
- A heavy splash cranberry or other fruit juice
- Fresh raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- Add sherbet to punch bowl. Scoop it out or add whole block if you’re short on time.
- Slowly pour ginger ale over top about 5 minutes before serving.
- Add optional juice and/or fresh raspberries for garnish.
TESTIMONIAL
Thanks for trusting us with your home Ari & Barbie! It was an honor completing your project.
“We are Soooo Very Pleased with the Plumbing Service we received from J & R Herra, from the initial call, speaking with Mary to Jason M’s visit to quote the job & 2nd to do the work. From the moment Jason stepped in our home, he was respectful, knowledgeable, explained what he needed to do, explained the quote process. He engaged both my husband & I. We felt confident in our decision to move forward with the project. Jason M replaced our kitchen sink & bar sink & changed some of the piping. We have an older home that was started in 1942 & completed in 1944. Jason M is a Master of his craft! We will definitely be using J & R Herra again.”
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 the Kaneland Art Initiative’s 2024 Fine Arts Festival as well as The Rising Lights Project “Enchanted Garden” Fundraising Gala. Thank you for helping us offer continued care to our community.
