BUSINESS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015
A4 HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Send submissions or story ideas for the Herald Business page to Editor Jessica Keller, jkeller@hermistonherald.com
Resetting your
life for retirement
T
he phrase
“downsizing
for retirement”
is popular with Baby
Boomers, the youngest of
whom turned 50 last year.
It sparks a
conversation about
transition, which may
include buying fewer new
things, selling, gifting
or donating possessions
that are no longer needed
and relocating to smaller
quarters to create a
more comfortable and
affordable retirement.
If you’ve diligently
saved and planned for
retirement, most experts
say you should do this
³¿QDODSSURDFK´WKUHH
WR¿YH\HDUVEHIRUH
your planned retirement
date. If your retirement
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it’s smarter to start the
transition as early as
possible while time is on
your side.
The Demand Institute,
DQRQSUR¿WWKLQNWDQN
founded by business
research giants Nielsen
and The Conference
Board, reported last
October (http://www.
demandinstitute.org) that
if the 2008 crash and its
effect on employment,
investments and housing
prices had not happened,
the typical Boomer
household would have
a net worth roughly 2.5
times what it is today.
This all the more
reason for many
Americans to review and
possibly “reset” their
retirement clocks. Here
are some suggestions
WRKHOS\RX¿JXUHRXW
where you are on the pre-
retirement spectrum and
some changes you might
consider:
Get a retirement
checkup. Spend some
WLPHZLWKD¿QDQFLDO
tax and/or estate advisor
to evaluate your current
strategies and set — or
reset — a reasonable
retirement savings goal
and date. Consult friends
and family for reliable
H[SHUWV¿UVWDQGIRURWKHU
TXDOL¿HGSURIHVVLRQDOV
and check online with
your state CPA society,
the Association for
Financial Counseling
Planning and Education
RUWKH&HUWL¿HG)LQDQFLDO
Planner Board of
Standards.
See if moving makes
sense. Great retirement
destinations offer more
than great weather,
inexpensive housing
and an affordable tax
environment. Consider
whether you want to be
near family, a thriving
arts community or
superior health facilities.
Where do you start?
You’ve probably seen
popular lists of retirement
communities in leading
magazines, and they
supply good food
for thought. National
agencies like the Council
for Community and
Economic Research
(https://www.c2er.org)
produces an annual cost
of living index for more
than 300 U.S. urban
areas.
Get realistic property
valuations. Even in
a rising economy
and recovering
housing market, many
homeowners need a
reality check about
real estate prices. The
same likely goes for
other valuables like
JASON ALDERMAN
MONEY MATTERS
Visa columnist
antiques, jewelry and
art. For real estate, get
a broker valuation and
do online backup checks
with property transfer
listings over the last
year or two in your area.
As for valuables, check
appropriate markets
(from professional
dealers to eBay) to sell,
gift or donate those
items and get tax and/or
estate advice before all
transactions.
“Bottom line:
Everyone
should set a
‘final approach’
for retirement.
That means
reviewing your
investments,
lifestyle
goals and the
possibility of a
post-retirement
career so you
can adjust your
money behavior
to match.”
Clarify your tax
picture. If you make a
KXJHSUR¿WRQ\RXUKRPH
you may owe taxes on the
sale. Current IRS rules
allow most couples to
exclude up to $500,000
in home sale gains from
their taxable income and
singles to exclude up to
$250,000. Check with
your tax advisor and
consult IRS Publication
523 (http://www.irs.
gov/uac/Publication-
523,-Selling-Your-
Home-1), “Selling Your
Home.” Also, keep local
property taxes and city
and state taxes in mind
if you’re considering an
out-of-state move.
Decide what you plan
to do post-retirement.
Retirees may have at
least 20 to 30 years of
OLIHVSDQWR¿OOSRVW
retirement. If you’re
hoping to keep working,
start a business or
transition permanently
into travel or leisure
activities, these future
goals have to align with
your current retirement
plan.
Bottom line:
Everyone should set
D³¿QDODSSURDFK´
for retirement. That
means reviewing your
investments, lifestyle
goals and the possibility
of a post-retirement
career so you can adjust
your money behavior to
match.
— Jason Alderman
GLUHFWV9LVD¶V¿QDQFLDO
education programs.
Follow Jason Alderman
on Twitter: www.twitter.
com/PracticalMoney
HermistonHerald
VOLUME 109 ɿ NUMBER 2
JESSICA KELLER
EDITOR
jkeller@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4533
MAEGAN MURRAY
REPORTER
mmurray@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4532
MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO
El Cazador owner Celina Cortez makes a burrito for visitors to the restaurant Thursday. The business gave more than 20 burri-
tos away to people who may not have had a meal otherwise on New Year’s Day.
El Cazador supports community through variety of ways
BY MAEGAN MURRAY
HERMISTON HERALD
When Joey Casillas
and his fiancée, Celina
Cortez, decided to reopen
Cortez’s family’s busi-
ness, El Cazador Mexi-
can Grill, six months ago,
they did so with the com-
munity in mind.
The business, which
had been in Hermiston
for more than 20 years,
closed in 2009 after open-
ing in 1990. This year,
however, with a newly
painted facade and the
same traditional Mexi-
can-food menu, the cou-
ple decided to reopen the
restaurant with the hope
of not only providing
community members with
good, traditional Mexi-
can meals, but also giving
back to the same people
who have given so much
to them.
Casillas said when
they opened six months
ago, they did so with the
same recipes and menu as
before, but also with the
idea that they wanted to
really make a difference
in the community.
“One thing I am really
big on is the community,”
he said. “I like to support
our local athletes, give
back to the community.”
Casillas said the busi-
ness is a supporter of the
American Youth Soccer
Organization, and student
athletes can eat for free as
long as they bring their
parents and spend at least
$10.
“That is our way of
saying, ‘We support you,’
” he said. “We want kids
to stay goal oriented,
keep fit and generally
stay involved in school
and sports.”
Casillas said they also
offer regular specials and
discounts for customers in
the region with the hope
the restaurant will be a
place where families can
stop in and get an afford-
able, but satisfying meal.
Last week, the business
owners did the communi-
ty even one better Thurs-
day. Staff handed out free
burritos for people who
may not have had a meal
otherwise.
“We wanted to start the
new year by giving back,”
Casillas said.
Casillas said he was
just glad to offer the
community something in
return for all it has done
for his family through the
years.
“We don’t want to be
just another authentic
Mexican restaurant,” he
said. “We love what we
do. We believe we are
good at what we do … We
want to give back.”
Those
taking
the
restaurant up on the free
burritos were pleased
with the opportunity.
Among the first to walk
in the door to try out the
burritos were Theresa and
Leroy Capote, of Uma-
tilla, and their 4-year-old
granddaughter,
Malina
Gallo.
“It is nice what they
are doing for the commu-
nity,” Leroy Capote said.
Capote said they had
been to the restaurant be-
fore but not since it re-
opened. He said they ap-
preciated the opportunity
to not only get a free meal,
but try out a newly re-
opened restaurant. Capote
took a burrito each for his
family members and also
ordered some lengua ta-
cos from the restaurant.
MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO
El Cazador owner Celina Cortez hands free burritos to the
Capote family on New Year’s Day. The effort was a way for the
business to give back to the community.
“This is great,” he said.
“My family will enjoy
these.”
Casillas
said
the
restaurant offers tradi-
tional Mexican food,
which is made almost
entirely from scratch. He
said they make tortillas
fresh daily and that all of
the items are freshly pre-
pared by family members,
who all work together to
run the restaurant.
“It is all family owned
and operated,” he said
with a smile. “We make
everything and do every-
thing ourselves. Every-
thing is authentic.”
Casillas said he hopes
people will wander in to
the restaurant, which is
newly painted and reno-
vated, to see the changes
that have been made, as
well as try out their food.
He said they have re-
ceived numerous positive
comments from patrons
so far and want those to
continue.
“We get people that
come in here, and, once
they taste the food, they
say they will come back,”
he said. “We would love
for people to come out
and experience what we
have to offer … We are all
about humble beginnings.
We want to be able to get
to know our guests.”
El Cazador Mexican
Grill, 780 S. Highway
395, is open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays
through Thursdays and
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fridays through Sundays.
For more information,
call 541-289-8226.
BUSINESS BITES
Hermiston business receives
special status
es the value in the client-supplier re-
lationship. It’s a win-win for both of
us.”
Third Day Creations, LLC, an-
Third Day Creations, LLC, is a
QRXQFHGLWLVDPRQJWKH¿UVWWRDFKLHYH Hermiston-based company that pro-
“Product Safety Aware” status in the vides ad specialties and corporate ap-
Promotional Products Association In- parel to businesses and organizations
ternational Product Safety Awareness looking to advertise. Third Day Cre-
Program. This means Third Day Cre- ations was formed in 2000 and later
ations, LLC, has met or exceeded the became a limited liability company.
PPAI product safety training and edu- For more information on Third Day
cation requirements.
Creations, LLC, call 541-564-9219 or
“Meeting the evolving product visit www.thirddaycreations.net.
safety compliance expectations of
the promotional products industry re-
quires regulatory knowledge and an Umatilla Morrow Head
ongoing company commitment,” said Start hires new executive
Dani Smith, Third Day Creations,
LLC, owner, in a press release. “We director
Umatilla Morrow Head Start wel-
are proud to establish a proactive lead-
ership position in the industry through comed Monday new Executive Direc-
our commitment to PPAI’s ‘Product tor Maureen McGrath, who assumes
Safety Aware’ compliance program. leadership of the organization, which
Product Safety Awareness gives us a provides early childhood education,
strong competitive edge and increas- health and social services to families
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news, advertising
or subscription information:
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SEAN HART
REPORTER
smhart@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4534
SAM BARBEE
SPORTS REPORTER
sbarbee@hermistonher-
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541-564-4542
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STEPHANIE BURKENBINE
MULTI-MEDIA CONSULTANT
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throughout northeastern Oregon.
McGrath assumes the role as only
the second leader in the history of
UMCHS. Cathy Wamsley has served
as executive director since 1986,
ZKHQ WKH SULYDWH QRQSUR¿W FRUSR-
ration was formed. Initially, it was a
single-purpose agency, serving 130
children and their families with the
Head Start program. UMCHS now
offers education, health and social
services through eight programs,
reaching more than 4,700 families in
Umatilla, Morrow, Grant, Wallowa,
Union, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheel-
er counties.
McGrath has most recently served
as the division director of Child Wel-
fare Services for Catholic Charities of
Yakima and the agency director for
Catholic Family and Child Service in
the Tri-Cities. She received her bach-
elor’s degree from Gonzaga Universi-
ty and her masters from the Universi-
ty of Denver.
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