Tag: Jefferson County Missouri

Posted in Advertorial Feature

Meet Julia Weitzel, the Eureka-based Real Estate Agent with a Vision to Give Back to Area Youth

Posted on by Amanda

When it comes to buying or selling a home, it’s important to work with an agent that has your best financial interests and lifestyle needs in mind. Both buying and selling situations can be exciting as well as stressful since there’s a lot of things out of your control, like market conditions, interest rates, and available home inventories. Having a skilled real estate agent on your side means someone will be there to share their knowledge of the local market, help you negotiate the best deal, find your dream home, or the best buyer for the home you’re selling. 

One such area realtor is Eureka-based residential real estate agent Julia Weitzel. Julia has been in the industry for five years and during that time she has built a reputation of being a helpful and knowledgeable agent that stays ahead of market trends and current pricing strategies through expanding her experience helping clients in the St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Charles, and Lincoln County markets.

She’s had a thriving career so far, and has helped dozens of clients purchase their first homes, their forever homes, and their dream properties. Although she’s found success in the field, real estate is a career she came upon purely by happenstance. 

Real estate agent Julia Weitzel has a reputation for being a helpful and knowledgeable agent that stays ahead of market trends and current pricing strategies. Photo via Julia Weitzel on Facebook.

Before real estate she volunteered at a children’s hospital and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Her original career trajectory was to become a child life specialist working with children and families in hospitals. After she earned her bachelor’s degree she got a job working in a title company in order to earn some money and take a little time off before going back to school to earn her master’s degree in social work. 

Instead, through her job at the title company, Julia found her way into real estate when she met her now husband, Michael, who was working in real estate at the time. Today, Julia works closely with her husband, now a mortgage lender, and the couple often help people through the buying process with Julia handling the real estate portion and Michael walking buyers through the lending and loan approval process. 

She grew up in nearby Cedar Hill, located in Jefferson County, and looking back at her childhood, Julia points to attending home showings with her mom as a situation that stands out.

“My mom did real estate part-time when I was a kid and I went with her to show houses sometimes. I thought it was so cool,” she recalls.

Helping local heroes save money

Giving back to the community is important to both Julia and Michael, and the Weitzels participate in Homes for Heroes, a nation-wide program which helps active duty military members and veterans, teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS receive significant savings when buying or selling a home, or when refinancing a mortgage. The program partners with local real estate agents who give back a portion of their commission to the hero at closing, and participating mortgage lenders provide a credit toward the buyers’ finances for the loan, which also comes out of the lender’s commission.

However, giving back to the community doesn’t stop at the Homes for Heroes program. The Weitzels, who have two young children, are thinking about future ways they can help provide much needed resources for area youth.

A vision for area kids and families

Although she loves her career in real estate and helping people find a home that fits their lifestyle, Julia says the desire to do something for children is still something that’s on her heart. 

“My motive for continued success in real estate is to save funds to put toward a nonprofit organization for youth. Although, I do not plan on leaving the real estate industry, I have a desire to organize something special for the youth in the community and I am hoping that finding success in my business in real estate will provide me with the ability to do this down the road,” she shares.

“This desire is inspired by someone very special to me. I believe that many children find a positive outlet in life through sports, music, and other arts. I would love for the organization to be centered around providing these outlets for free to all children along with mentors and coaches that would provide valuable leadership and sportsmanship guidance that will be helpful to children succeeding in life. The goal would be to provide a healthy outlet for children while also building valuable skills at no cost in an easily accessible place.”

The idea is still in the developing stages and there’s still a lot that has to happen until her dream comes to fruition. Right now Julia and Micheal are in the beginning stages of saving funds to go towards startup costs of the organization. She knows that the organization will serve kids in the more rural counties, and could see it being needed in Jefferson or Franklin County, or possibly in a location that’s accessible to families in either county.

If you’d like to learn more about her or you’re looking for a realtor to work with, connect with Julia on Facebook, Instagram, or on her website.

Posted in Advertorial Feature

Improve Indoor Air Quality with Duct Cleaning and Air Purifiers from BreathEasy

Posted on by Amanda

After spending more than 30 years in the heating and cooling industry and running his own business where he installed and maintained HVAC equipment as well as provided repairs, in October 2024, James Heller applied his expertise to his current business BreathEasy. With a focus on improving indoor air quality, the company provides services such as air duct and dryer vent cleaning, and installing products that help improve air quality while also extending the life of HVAC equipment. 

BreathEasy can install whole home air purifiers such as the REME HALO®, which is an indoor air purifier that’s easily installed in existing air conditioning system ductwork, as well as a variety of purifiers by AprilAire. Other products BreathEasy provides include whole home humidifiers and dehumidifiers, ventilators that bring fresh air into your home without losing heating or cooling, as well as programmable thermostats. 

When he sold his original HVAC business, James took an office position at an HVAC equipment supply house. At that time, he didn’t intend to start another business from the ground up and thought thought he’d work in the supply house until he retired. However, working inside the office building began triggering an existing health issue and started making him ill. That experience led him to jump back into entrepreneurship, involving two of his three grown sons in the business and to think about what the business would mean for the future of his family. 

“I started BreathEasy to leave a legacy for my kids and family,” James shares. 

Healthy air is a necessity

Because we often can’t see the things that are polluting the air inside our homes or businesses with the naked eye, we may assume that all indoor air is equally clean. That’s not the case, and for people with certain health conditions like asthma, allergies, and other health and respiratory issues, the quality of indoor air can have a direct impact on their overall health and the quality of their daily life.

Since James experienced this first hand working at the supply house, that situation reinforced why the air quality in homes and businesses is so important. Starting BreathEasy was a happy side effect of an unfortunate circumstance, but it also underscored statistics that James was already familiar with due to his years in the industry.

“Inside air can be five to 10 times more contaminated than the air outdoors, even on a high allergy day, because that contaminated air is built up and keeps circulating through the home,” he explains.

That’s why the products and services provided by BreathEasy are something that should be installed in nearly every home or business. Over time dust, allergens, mold, pet dander, and other air contaminants can build up and get trapped in the air ducts. Not only are tiny particles forced out every time air comes through the ducts, you and everyone in your home or business is breathing those items in.

The inside of air ducts that are filled with dust, pet dander, and other things that pollute indoor air. Photo credit: James Heller with BreathEasy.

The BreathEasy process

If it’s been a while since the air ducts have been cleaned at your home or office, it may be time to call BreathEasy to come out and check them. When James or one of his sons arrives on site, they’ll use a small camera attached to the end of a flexible rod that’s about six feet long to probe inside the ducts. The camera can take pictures as well as video, and allows a potential client to see the full extent of the buildup.

And, there are times when the service isn’t needed, such was the case when on a recent house call where the client had just purchased the home. The camera revealed that the ductwork in the home didn’t have buildup and had likely been recently cleaned. 

When it is determined that the ducts need to be cleaned, the pros at BreathEasy have two options to remove the debris. They can use a piece of equipment called The Maintainer, which has a Hepa filter and a dual motor that provides double filtration. For jobs with significant buildup and debris in the ductwork, The Extractor is used. This much larger piece of equipment also has a Hepa filter and dual motor, but it provides triple filter capture. 

Depending on the situation, once the ductwork has been cleaned, a BreathEasy tech may recommend other products, such as a whole home air purifier, humidifier, or dehumidifier, to ensure the air quality remains high inside your house. Customers may find peace of mind knowing that the products that are suggested by James aren’t a random selling technique, but come from a knowledgeable expert that has first-hand experience with everything he suggests. 

Air ducts can contain dirt, dust, and random debris, as seen in this short video clip. Video credit: James Heller with BreathEasy.

“I don’t suggest products I don’t use, and I use all of them,” he shares.

In the late spring 2025 James inspected the ductwork in my home and found significant buildup. Those findings weren’t a surprise since we’d just purchased the home and it’s nearly 100 years old. Due to the age of the home and buildup, the job required using The Extractor to properly clean the ductwork. After cleaning the ducts, BreathEasy also installed a REME HALO® UV air purifier to work in conjunction with our existing HVAC system.  

The team at BreathEasy can also install air filters to provide cleaner air, whole house dehumidifiers to eliminate moisture in places like damp basements, or a whole house humidifier, which is a good option if you notice there’s a lot of static electricity buildup during winter when the heat is on. 

BreathEasy provides services to homes and businesses in St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. If you’re interested in learning more, contact BreathEasy at 636-875-6767, reach out by email, or visit the company’s website.

Posted in Advertorial Feature

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality with a REME HALO Air Purifier Installed by BreathEasy

Posted on by Amanda

Almost a year ago, I became aware of a whole home air purifier that improves air quality throughout air-conditioned living and working spaces. After speaking with James Heller from local duct-cleaning company BreathEasy, I learned more about the REME HALO®, which is an indoor air purifier that’s easily installed in an existing air conditioning system ductwork. The REME HALO® actively reduces bacteria, viruses, odors, mold, allergens, and dust, ensuring excellent air quality.

I don’t have any pets and try my best to keep the windows closed during times of high pollen because I’ve always had sensitivities to dust, pet dander, pollen, and other common allergens you might find in the air. I’ve learned to live with lots of sneezing, spending some portions of the year with nasal congestion, itchy eyes and nose, and a scratchy throat. 

As I’ve spent most of my adult life as a renter, I had to adjust to life with dust and other allergens coming out of the air ducts in my residence. 

Last year we moved into an old home, and while I love the fact that it’s got hardwood floors, plus lots of character and charm, I have struggled with dealing with that old home smell. You probably know what I mean, that slight musty scent is bothersome and it has proven hard to get rid of, it can be masked when we’ve left the windows open or burned lots of candles or scented wax burners, but it would come back once we closed the house up or blew out the candles. 

Due to my history of suffering with indoor air allergens, shortly after we moved last year, we had BreathEasy clean the HVAC ducts in our home. We saw a noticeable improvement with increased air flow out of the vents and some improvement with the smell, but there was still a bit of dust build up that would appear near each air duct. Between the dust, the musty old home smell, and the fact that the previous tenant in this home had indoor pets, this spring we had BreathEasy come back out to our home and install the whole house air purifier. 

Since the installation of the REME HALO® that old house smell has disappeared. It was installed last month, and I’m so pleased with the results. There’s been far less dust build-up all throughout my home since we had the purifier installed. And, even with all the spring blooms and constant Missouri weather fluctuations, so far seasonal allergens haven’t impacted me, which I attribute to the cleaner air inside my home, so my respiratory system isn’t constantly fighting allergens outdoors and indoors.

BreathEasy provides air duct cleaning and other services to homes and businesses in St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. If you’re interested in learning more about the REME HALO®, contact BreathEasy at 636-875-6767, reach out by email, or visit the company’s website.

Posted in Events

What’s Happening in East Central Missouri, July 14 – July 20, 2025

Posted on by Amanda

This week is the Crawford County Fair, the free drive-in movie series continues in Washington, plus there’s a local farmers market, barbecue events, an outdoor yoga experience, and a lot more happening.

Thursday, July 17
Cinema 1 Plus in Washington continues its free drive-in showings this week with a screening of “Mamma Mia.” Weather permitting, the show will begin after sunset in the parking lot. Parking spaces are first come, first serve, with concessions available for purchase.
Follow the theater on Facebook to stay updated.

Friday, July 18
Teens can gather at the Washington Public Library for the Teen Paint and Pizza Party. Create an original masterpiece under the guidance of a paint instructor. Materials will be supplied. Registration required. Call 636-390-1070 to register. Ages 12 & Up.
Find out more.

Friday, July 18
On the third Friday of each month, The Washington Coffee Shop hosts an Open Mic Night. Singers, musicians, poets, and spoken word artists are welcome to share their talents with the crowd. 
Learn more at The Washington Coffee Shop’s Facebook page.

Saturday, July 19
Rennick Pavilion at the Missouri Riverfront in Washington will be the site of Blessings Are Miracles’ free BBQ.
Learn more.

Photo via Blessings Are Miracles’ Facebook post.

Saturday, July 19
The St. Clair Farmers Market happens every on the first and third Saturdays in the Elks parking lot. Find local produce, meat from Bardot Farms, cottage baked goods, and more.
Get more details on Facebook.

Freelance Services business ad
Ad purchased by Freelance Services – residential architecture and design services. “My goal is to make your home your castle.”

Saturday, July 19
Head to the Union American Legion for the 3rd Saturday BBQ, beginning at 11 a.m. until sold out! Menu includes full slab of ribs, 1/2 slab ribs, chicken, brats, pork steaks, and more.
Learn more.

Road Trippin’

Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.

Tuesday, July 15 – Saturday, July 19
Hood Park in Cuba is the site of the Crawford County Fair! Kicking off on Tuesday, July 15 and running through Saturday, July 19, the fair will include food vendors, agricultural and live stock shows, entertainment, and carnival rides. The fun gets started with a fair parade on July 15, at 6 p.m. 
Find the full schedule of events on Facebook.

Friday, July 18 – Sunday, July 20
Where can you find antique tractors, steam engines, a flea market, food, music, and fun activities like a cast iron skillet throwing contest and a bale throw? In Rosebud at the Steam Engine & Antique Tractor Show.
Find the full schedule.

Ad purchased by Soul Refresh. Healing mind, body, and soul in WashMO.

Saturday, July 19
Flow at the Spring at Maramec Spring Park in St. James. Stretch, breathe, and flow in a natural environment at this outdoor morning yoga class. Bring yoga mat, towel, and water to class. $15 fee to attend class.
Sign up details found here.

Saturday, July 19
Watch truck and tractor pulls at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro.
Find more info on Facebook.

Saturday, July 19
Head to St. James Winery for a stunning summer evening in the heart of the Meramec Highlands! Settle in at the Taproom for a four-course dining experience showcasing seasonal flavors, local ingredients, and expertly crafted pairings from St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company. Limited seating available!
Get more info and tickets.