Our Story

This is a dedication to Jason Paul Heberle (April 17, 1984 – February 10, 2021) — a firefighter, an EMT, a musician, and the kind of person who could walk into a room and leave it brighter than he found it.

The light in the room

Jason — “Jay” to many — lived with an infectious spirit and a joy that was hard to miss. He was the friend you called when things went wrong, the guy who showed up when you didn’t think anyone would, and the one who could make you laugh even on your worst day. He carried himself like someone who believed life was meant to be shared — and that people were worth showing up for.

That heart for people wasn’t a slogan to him. He put it into action as a firefighter and EMT. He started by volunteering with the Perry Hi-Way Hose Company, then went on to serve as a career firefighter in Baltimore. If you ever worked alongside him, you probably have a story — a practical joke, a training mishap, some harmless chaos, or the latest “new” car that somehow appeared in the rotation. Jason had a gift for turning ordinary moments into memories.

Music was home

As much as he loved serving others, music was where Jason’s soul lived. He was a singer-songwriter with a voice that felt honest and a way of writing that made people feel understood. In every music circle, he became a kind of gravity — pulling people together, encouraging the shy, celebrating the brave, and treating every performer with respect regardless of experience or polish.

He didn’t just love music. He loved musicians. The first-timer with shaking hands got the same support as the seasoned performer. If you had a spark, Jason tried to help you protect it — and then he’d nudge you toward the stage with a grin that said, “You’ve got this.”

Two cousins, one dream

Jason and Jeff grew up close. As teenagers, they picked up guitars and found a shared rhythm — music, service, and a deep loyalty to the people around them. At sixteen, Jeff joined the Perry Hi-Way Volunteer Fire Department, and in 2004 he convinced Jason to join and take EMT training with him. They chased knowledge the way some people chase comfort: classes, drills, and any course they could get their hands on. They trained hard, tested hard, and carried big dreams.

Life took them in different directions, but the bond stayed. When Jason returned to Erie in 2017, the cousins did what they always did best — they showed up for the things they loved. They visited open mics across the county, played wherever they could, and built momentum around a simple idea: music should be accessible, welcoming, and community-driven. Between gigs and life, you could still find them doing what cousins do — shooting darts, playing pool, and inventing ridiculous variations of games just to keep it interesting.

For a long time, they talked about a dream: one day building a place that felt like a home base for the community — a bar and grill with music in its bones, where emerging talent could take the stage, and where people could gather for more than just a night out.

Loss, and what came next

In February 2021, Jason’s death shook everyone who loved him. It left a hole that can’t be filled — only honored. He is survived by his parents, Paul and Christine Heberle, his grandmothers Cheryl Heberle and Joyce Nelson, and a large family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who carry his name in their hearts.

But something powerful happened in the aftermath: the community showed up — musicians, friends, and strangers who had been impacted by Jason’s kindness and his music. And in that showing up, a promise formed: Jason’s story would not end with loss. His light would be carried forward.

From tribute… to tradition… to purpose

In April 2022, Christine asked Jeff to organize a tribute open mic for Jason’s birthday. With very little notice, it came together — and the room filled. People came to sing for Jason, to remember him, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a shared kind of healing. The response was undeniable.

In 2023, what began as a tribute grew into something bigger: an open mic competition built around Jason’s birthday and his legacy. Musicians signed up in numbers no one expected. The venue packed out. The feedback was overwhelming — not just “do it again,” but “we needed this.”

By October 2023, that momentum became a mission. Heberle’s Heartstrings was created as a nonprofit music-lending library — a way to put instruments into hands, lower barriers for new musicians, and create opportunities for people to step into the light the way Jason always encouraged.

The events kept growing. The community kept showing up. What started as one night of remembrance became a living tradition — and proof that Jason’s influence is still active in Erie’s music scene.

Why this company exists

When circumstances changed for a venue that had become an important home for these events, the answer wasn’t to shrink back. The answer was to build forward — carefully, responsibly, and with the same spirit Jason carried into every room: show up, serve people, and keep the music going.

Heberle & Chiaramonte Hospitality Group LLC was created from that resolve — and from family support on both sides. This is a family-driven effort, owned majority by Christine Heberle and Wendy Chiaramonte, with Jeff serving as the managing partner. It is rooted in legacy, guided by community, and dedicated to creating places where people feel welcome — and where music always has a seat at the table.

Updates and additional story details will be added as they become available.