BUSINESS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015
A4 HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Send submissions or story ideas for the Herald Business page to Editor Jessica Keller, jkeller@hermistonherald.com
Considering
life without
owning a car
M
ost baby boomers
couldn’t envision
their early
adult years without a
car. However, times are
changing and younger
commuters are leading the
way.
According to an
October study (http://
uspirg.org/reports/usp/
millennials-motion)
by U.S. Public Interest
Research Group (U.S.
PIRG) and the Frontier
Group, millennials —
those born between 1983
and 2000 — are driving
VLJQL¿FDQWO\OHVVWKDQROGHU
Americans. Many post-
college drivers swimming
in college debt are opting
for urban living (http://
time.com/72281/american-
housing/) where walking,
biking and mass transit
tend to be easier options.
Increasingly, those with a
temporary need for four-
wheel transportation can
do so by smartphone.
Today, there are many
options to conventional
car ownership, but it’s
important to match
VROXWLRQVDQGWKHLUVSHFL¿F
costs to your needs. Here’s
a road map for exploring
what’s right for you.
• Start with the
cost of driving. If you
already drive and budget
carefully, you will have
an idea of what driving
costs you can incur each
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fees, maintenance and
insurance. For averages
related to a range of
vehicles, look to the
American Automobile
Association’s (AAA) latest
“Your Driving Costs”
statistics. Keep in mind
that smart car ownership
doesn’t always mean
“new.” Online references
like Edmunds.com and
Kelley Blue Book can help
you spot used vehicles that
hold their value and keep
operating costs reasonable.
• Would leasing be
cheaper? The buy-versus-
lease question has evolved
over the years and many
people have strong opinions
about which option is
better. The answer depends
on your personal situation
and how you plan to use
the vehicle, so consider the
pros and cons (http://www.
practicalmoneyskills.com/
buyorlease). Many people
like leasing because they
can often lease a more
expensive car than they
could afford to buy with
no down payment. But
failing to observe lease
restrictions can cost plenty.
Remember that all leases
can be negotiated and it’s
important to review the
WHUPVDQG¿QHSULQWYHU\
closely.
• Consider ride- or
car-sharing. A decade ago,
JASON ALDERMAN
MONEY MATTERS
Visa columnist
if you asked someone
about ride-sharing or
car-sharing, most would
assume you were talking
about carpooling. Two
newer commercial
options are accessible by
smartphone: Ride-sharing
matches car owners with
passengers who need a
ride at a moment’s notice,
much like a taxi or private
car service. Car-sharing
is a new spin on the old
daily and weekly car rental
model. Car-sharers join a
service that allows them to
reserve and rent a vehicle
in their neighborhood for
a few hours or extended
periods, such as over a
weekend. However, keep in
mind that some ride-sharing
services may adjust fees at
peak times and car-sharing
companies charge steep
penalties if you return
rentals late or in less-than-
desired condition.
• Look to your
employer. Commuter tax
EHQH¿WVDOORZ\RXDQG
your employer to save.
If you plan to drive to
work regularly, check
out parking subsidies. If
you combine driving and
mass transit, check both
parking and public bus
or rail subsidies. Talk to
your human resources
department about these
options and refer to
Internal Revenue Service
Publication 15-B for more
information.
• Telecommute. Many
employers looking to
reduce commercial rents
and onsite employee
costs are increasingly
relying on telecommuting
options for their workers.
Telecommuting isn’t for
everyone, but evaluate your
employer’s program, talk
to fellow workers about
all the pluses and minuses
DQGVHHLILW¶VDJRRG¿WIRU
you in terms of time use
and vehicle cost. A mix of
telecommuting days and
mass transit or ride- or car-
sharing options may make
car ownership less crucial.
Bottom line: Getting rid
of a car is a big decision,
particularly if you’re
used to the convenience
of having wheels at all
times. But between newer
forms of mass transit and
new technology-driven,
transport-on-demand
services, now might be the
easiest time to consider
making it happen.
— Jason Alderman
GLUHFWV9LVD¶V¿QDQFLDO
education programs. To
Follow Jason Alderman on
Twitter: www.twitter.com/
PracticalMoney
Bottom line: Getting rid of a car is a
big decision, particularly if you’re used
to the convenience of having wheels
at all times. But between newer forms
of mass transit and new technology-
driven, transport-on-demand
services, now might be the easiest
time to consider making it happen.
HermistonHerald
VOLUME 109 ɿ NUMBER 6
JESSICA KELLER
EDITOR
jkeller@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4533
MAEGAN MURRAY
REPORTER
mmurray@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4532
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBBIE PEDRO
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce Latino Business Network January meeting attendees began planning the second annual
Farm Worker and Ag Employer Expo, which will take place March 11. The group has free, open meetings the second Wednesday
of each month. The next meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Feb. 11 at La Ley Radio Station, 295 E. Main St., Hermiston.
Latino Business Network grows
Farm worker expo
planned March 11
BY SEAN HART
HERMISTON HERALD
The Hermiston Cham-
ber of Commerce Latino
Business Network has
grown into a successful
venture since it began in
2012.
Chamber of Commerce
CEO Debbie Pedro said
between 20 and 25 people
usually attend the group’s
free and open meetings,
which take place at 9 a.m.
the second Wednesday of
each month.
“What we hope to do
is reach Hispanic busi-
nesses from throughout
our region and provide
them with tools and infor-
mation that they can use
to grow their business,”
she said. “This is also an
opportunity to find out
what our businesses and
organizations provide the
community. It’s a learning
opportunity for all of us.
It brings our community
together. It’s just a really
great group of people.”
Pedro said everyone
in attendance introduces
themselves and informs
the group about events
happening at their busi-
nesses, and a new speaker
is brought in each month
to provide business tips
and information to “help
businesses become more
successful.” A represen-
tative from Hermiston’s
Hispanic Advisory Com-
mittee also provides in-
formation, she said.
Hispanic
Advisory
Committee Chairman Ed-
die De La Cruz said the
network is beneficial to
the community.
“It’s actually free in-
formation,” he said. “The
goal is to attract the Lati-
no businesses to join the
chamber.”
The meetings have
been held at the Hermis-
ton Conference Center, he
said, but the group also
plans to meet at different
businesses in the commu-
nity to encourage people
who may not be comfort-
able attending a more for-
mal setting at the confer-
ence center.
Pedro said the next
meeting will begin at 9
a.m. Feb. 11 at La Ley Ra-
dio Station, 295 E. Main
St. She said the free meet-
ings are open to every-
one, whether or not they
are chamber members,
and the information can
be provided in English
and Spanish through in-
terpreters. She said Jesse
Torres is the Latino Busi-
ness Network chairman,
and the group is starting
to plan its second annual
Latino
Business
Network
The Hermiston Chamber of
Commerce Latino Business
Network hosts free, open
meetings at 9 a.m. the second
Wednesday of each month. The
next meeting will take place at
9 a.m. Feb. 11 at La Ley Radio
Station, 295 E. Main St.
Farm Worker and Ag Em-
ployer Expo.
About 100 people at-
tended the first event in
June last year, she said,
and more are expected at
this year’s expo from 6
p.m. to 8 p.m. March 11
at the Hermiston Confer-
ence Center.
Pedro said La Ley Ra-
dio Station will provide
an emcee for the event,
and Fiesta Foods will pro-
vide a meal. At 6:30 p.m.,
she said the program will
begin, and people will
speak about a variety of
topics including the Free
Application for Federal
Student Aid, legal aid and
other services and educa-
tional, training and em-
ployment opportunities in
the area.
“We invite agencies
and organizations that
provide services for our
communities and our re-
gion, and also employ-
ers that work with farm
workers and ag produc-
ers, to come and share
a little bit about their
business,” Pedro said.
“There is an opportuni-
ty if you’d like to be a
sponsor or vendor at the
event, and you can con-
tact the Hermiston cham-
ber about that.”
Pedro said, as with the
Latino Business Network,
the information can be
provided in English and
Spanish.
De La Cruz said the
expo provides informa-
tion to help people ad-
vance.
“We’re trying to bring
in the resources that are
available for farm work-
ers,” he said. “We’re go-
ing to try to get as many
local organizations to
participate in this expo
(as possible). ... This is all
free. The chamber doesn’t
charge a dime.”
Pedro said the expo is
still being planned and
more information will be
available in February.
“We’re still in the pro-
cess of contacting all
of our speakers for that
event,” she said. “Our
Latino Business Network
really wants to make a
difference in our commu-
nity, and this is just one
way we can do it.”
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Umatilla County has implemented
electronic recording (e-recording) of
documents such as deeds and mort-
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largest e-recording service.
According to Umatilla County
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chill, the county decided to start e-re-
cording to save money and to provide
better customer service.
“My experience with e-recording
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‘Why didn’t we start this sooner?’ ”
Churchill said in a press release. “I
love receiving one electronic payment
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submitted each day instead of having
to process multiple customer checks. I
also love being able to transmit a doc-
ument back to a customer for correct-
ing before it can be ‘accepted’ for re-
cording. Before e-recording, it could
literally take months for a previously
submitted paper document to be cor-
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SEAN HART
REPORTER
smhart@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4534
SAM BARBEE
SPORTS REPORTER
sbarbee@hermistonher-
ald.com
541-564-4542
rected and re-submitted.”
According to the press release, ti-
tle companies, banks, attorneys, lien
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will now be able to electronically
prepare, scan or upload documents
and submit them to Umatilla County
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service for recording.
“There is no cost to the county
as customers will pay a nominal
fee to Simplifile as the submitter
to record each document with us,”
Churchill said. “Eliminating the
need to physically sort, route and
open incoming mail, count pages,
receipt individual checks, apply
labels, pull staples, scan, verify,
re-staple and mail back has reduced
the turnaround time for a document
from one week to a matter of min-
utes. Time spent by records staff
fielding calls and processing email
requests to provide document num-
bers as proof of recording is also
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Delivered by carrier and mail Wednesdays and Saturdays
Inside Umatilla/Morrow counties .........................$42.65
Outside Umatilla/Morrow counties ......................$53.90
STEPHANIE BURKENBINE
MULTI-MEDIA CONSULTANT
sburkenbine@
hermistonherald.com
541-564-4538
reduced as e-recording customers
receive a recorded digital image of
the document capable of being re-
produced in paper form.”
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ed 10,408 paper documents totaling
more than 42,000 pages.
“I’m hopeful that we can achieve
a 50/50 ratio for e-recording versus
traditional paper recording by the end
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only increases in the years ahead,”
Churchill said.
Umatilla County is the 16th county
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cording service. Nationwide, more
than 1,180 recording jurisdictions
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High-speed internet access, a PC
and a scanner are the minimum re-
quirements for customers to begin
HUHFRUGLQJZLWK6LPSOL¿OH)RUPRUH
information about e-recording in
Umatilla County, call 800-460-5657
RUYLVLWVLPSOL¿OHFRP
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