VOL 38 NO 22 | MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 38 NO 22 MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

37 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Bush Garden plans new home at Uncle Bob’s Place

Photo by George Liu

Horita skates into new position with NHL Seattle franchise

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By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Bush Garden, the first restaurant to have a karaoke bar in the country, has set its sights on a

Mari Horita

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY When Mari Horita met Tod Leiweke, a position with the new NHL hockey franchise in Seattle was not on her mind. Instead, Leiweke’s offer to Horita was organic and based on her accomplishments with ArtsFund in creating a sense of inclusion for the arts community. Starting this past February, Horita became the vice president of community engagement and philanthropy for Seattle’s NHL hockey team, which begins play in 2021.

Horita was brought on board early to build a community around the game and the new franchise.

Horita previously spearheaded ArtsFund as its president and CEO. The organization has dedicated its existence to build community through support of the arts.

Growing up in the Seattle area, Horita was familiar with the University of Washington campus, as her father was a professor, and she would frequently swing by to visit. In high school, she studied at Odegaard Library and went to Husky football games in the fall.

She went to school at Pomona College in Southern California.

Wanting to learn Japanese, she spent a semester in Japan. Her parents grew up in Japanese internment camps, which may account for her parents not speaking Japanese when she grew up. She graduated with a degree in Asian Studies with an eye to work in International Relations. see HORITA on 13

■

new home — the upcoming Uncle Bob’s Place, at where the former Four Seas Restaurant was located. see BUSH GARDEN on 15

New law will protect mobile home tenants

AAPI candidates file for dozens of races

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A total of 627 people filed to run for office this year, marking the second highest number of candidate filings in King County’s history.

A primary will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6, to whittle down see ELECTIONS on 15

COMMUNITY NEWS SPD disrupts drug rings 3

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Mark Dacascos in “John Wick: Chapter 3”  7

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Earlier this month, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law which updated protections for tenants of mobile and manufactured homes that may be displaced by landowners. Last year, after the state legislature was unable to come through with a comprehensive plan to help displaced tenants at the Firs Mobile Home Park in SeaTac, Wash., state Rep. Cindy Ryu, with the help of City of SeaTac Councilmember Peter Kwon, made a concerted effort that they would not come up empty this legislative session.

The bill is “a good step forward to continue to talk on more changes,” said state Rep. Mia

Gregerson.

To increase the chances of a bill to pass, stakeholder meetings were convened to determine the needs of each group. This included tenants, landlords, and trade associations within the mobile home and manufactured home industry.

“There were half a dozen meetings in the last couple months,” said Kwon. The common goal was to ensure that a new law passed and meeting with the people affected by the new rules to ensure little, if any opposition. Approximately 30 people showed up at SeaTac City Hall to work together to put a plan into place for this legislative session. see MOBILE HOME on 16

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT “Stars on Ice” and its Asian American cast  8

THE LAYUP DRILL Ichiro, Kihei, Angela, and CT Pan 9

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2

37 YEARS

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Photo by Mike Nakamura Photography LLC

2019 Asian Hall of Fame inductees

Safeco Field) in Seattle.

Like almost half of all UW Bothell’s graduating students, Harrell was the first in his family to graduate from college.

He said college graduates today face a more competitive global economy — but he also believes “there’s an abundance of opportunity” for students who recognize they need specialized skills. 

Huangmeng Yu

Louis Chinn

From left: J.R. Celski, Luly Yang, and Marc Anthony Nicholas.

The Robert Chinn Foundation welcomed four people to the Class of 2019 Asian Hall of Fame.

The annual event, held on May 11 at Seattle’s Fairmont Olympic Hotel, honored Filipino American J.R. Celski of Federal Way, Wash., a three-time Olympic medalist; fashion designer and Taiwanese American Luly Yang, who has a showroom in Seattle; Chinese American filmmaker John Chu, who directed “Crazy Rich Asians”; and Marc Anthony Nicholas, Filipino American Emmy Awardwinning producer of “The Talk” on CBS. Established in 2004, the Asian Hall of Fame is a national recognition event for Asian Pacific Americans that honors achievements across industry and ethnicity with a national reach. 

Plymouth Housing chooses sculpture created by artists with ID ties

Marchesa donates “Crazy Rich Asians” gown

comprised of a flock of cranes ascending upwards toward the sky and returning to their nest in a continual cycle. The nest below glows at night and doubles as seating for pedestrians.

Chinn and Yu, who both grew up, in part, in the ID, see the crane as “the perfect symbol of the extraordinary resilience of “Returning Home” one’s spirit to rise above adversity.”

On his Facebook page, Chin wrote, “The narrative of migration, with its struggles for belonging, community, and placemaking have shaped our personal and artistic journeys. We hope this work will help preserve cultural legacy, resiliency, and our connection to nature.” 

Bruce Harrell is UW Bothell Commencement speaker

Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell has been selected to be the 2019 University of Washington (UW) Bothell commencement speaker.

The UW graduate and former Husky football player will address graduates and their families on June 16 at T-Mobile Park (formerly

A sculpture created by Asian American artists Louis Chinn (Jyun Jyun) and Huangmeng Yu (MissTANGQ) has been selected as the permanent public art project at Plymouth Housing’s new building in the International District (ID).

“Returning Home” is a kinetic wind powered sculpture

Marchesa is donating the iconic blue dress that Constance Wu wore in the film “Crazy Rich Asians” to the National Museum of American History. The dress was presented on May 18 at a Los Angeles event hosted by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

The event celebrated and recognized the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to history and culture across industries, including music, film, sports, and culinary arts.

This gown is part New York RTW Fall Winter of a pivotal moment Marchesa 2016 February 2016 in the film’s plot in which Rachel Chu (Wu) attends a high-profile wedding in defiance of her boyfriend’s disapproving mother.

“Representation of Asian Pacific Americans in film and media is critical to the visibility of a community who has made many contributions to the arts,” said Lisa Sasaki, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

“By collecting the film’s iconic dress, the Smithsonian is better able to present these contributions to the world.” 

Bruce Harrell

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

3

SPD disrupts drug rings in Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square encampments

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Seattle police arrested 10 people on May 15 — associated with predatory drug dealing and behavior at encampments located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square neighborhoods.

According to department spokesman Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, officers seized real and fake firearms, knives, machetes and a sword, stolen purses, tablets, cell phones, watches, clothing, perfume, over $20,000 in cash, and crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

Police do not believe that these drug rings are connected, but were operating independently with similar patterns of criminal behavior. 

HSD awards $1 million for projects in ChinatownInternational District, Pioneer Square

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

From left: Betty Lau, Historic South Downtown Executive Director Kathleen Johnson, and Seniors in Action Foundation founder Nora Chan.

SEATTLE — Historic South Downtown (HSD) announced grants on May 13 totaling nearly $1 million to 19 community-based organizations in the ChinatownInternational District and Pioneer Square neighborhoods.

The grants will fund projects that support small businesses and local nonprofits, improve public spaces, and protect and develop historic and cultural programs.

Seniors in Action Foundation (SIAF) received a grant award of $35,000 which will be applied toward its new surveillance camera project. SIAF will use the money to

an exhibition by Indigenous creatives Through August 3, 2019 303 South Jackson Street, Top Floor Seattle, WA 98104 | seattle.gov/arts Image: Detail from Matika Wilber (Swinomish/Tulalip), Together We Rise, Isabella and Alyssa Klain. Diné, Velvet fine art paper, 2017

buy updated cameras and related hardware to replace the current aging equipment.

Other grant recipients include Friends of Little Saigon, Chinese Memorial Project, CID Coalition, CIDBIA, Historic China Gate Foundation, ICHS, Interim, and SCIDpda.

Created by the legislature in 2007, HSD is a state-created Community Preservation and Development Authority serving Seattle’s Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square neighborhoods. HSD received this funding from King County. An additional funding round and application will be launched in August 2019. 

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

37 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Asian Americans push for Smithsonian gallery of their own

By JANIE HAR ASSOCIATED PRESS The Smithsonian’s initiative on documenting Asians in America started humbly enough two decades ago, with a borrowed exhibit in a borrowed museum wing and a tiny staff.

There was a National Museum of the American Indian attached to the Smithsonian, and progress was being made toward a museum on the National Mall celebrating African Americans’ history.

But Asian Americans in the 1990s remained a largely invisible population, with few people represented in entertainment, politics, sports or business.

Those years were tough, said Franklin Odo, director at the time of the Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American program.

“Whenever we needed to do a public lecture or exhibit, I had to go beg one of these other institutions to lend a space,’’ Odo said. “We had to really convince our colleagues that this was a field, this was a demographic ... that needed to be recognized and needed to be held with some respect.’’

On May 18, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center launches a $25 million fundraising drive for permanent gallery space on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with a glitzy party in Los Angeles full of celebrities and politicians. Several actors

from the hit film “Crazy Rich Asians’’ are expected to attend, along with Rep. Judy Chu and Rep. Doris Matsui, both Democrats representing California.

If successful, an Asian American gallery could join museums and galleries dedicated to other historically underrepresented groups that have staked out space in a national park that is quintessentially American. Millions of people visit the National Mall every year to tour the White House, Lincoln Memorial and the treasures of the Smithsonian.

“The ability to have that visibility and recognition is so important,’’ said Lisa Sasaki, the center’s director. Despite temporary exhibits along the mall, she said, “there has never been a dedicated space where the public could consistently visit and find out about the history and culture of Asian Americans.’’

Asian Americans are the nation’s fastestgrowing minority and number about 20 million, or roughly 6 percent of the population. They come from more than 20 countries, with the largest populations from China, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Korea and Japan. They range from recent immigrants to descendants of laborers who migrated in the 19th century to build the Transcontinental Railroad and work sugar cane fields in Hawaii.

Museum presence is huge, says Laura Lott, president and CEO of the American

Alliance of Museums.

“Museums preserve what’s important to society. They tell our stories, give historical context to contemporary issues and help us imagine a better future,’’ she said.

Odo, the former director, said he had one part-time staffer and no exhibits of his own when the program began in 1997, so he borrowed one from a Los Angeles museum for the program’s first installation, about the evolution of field lunches of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii.

He says the Asian American community has evolved enough as an identity to support a permanent gallery dedicated to their shared experience in America.

“I don’t know that we have an Oprah,’’ Odo said, referring to Oprah Winfrey’s charitable foundation, which donated $21 million for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. But “we have lots of people with immense means, so there’s no question in my mind we can do it.’’

It’s too early to say how large a gallery would be or when it might be secured, but Sasaki says they are looking at several locations along the mall. The 4,500-squarefoot Molina Family Latino Gallery is scheduled to open in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2021.

Sasaki says $25 million is a fundraising goal for phase one of the project.

Congressional approval is not required for a gallery within existing space, unlike the stand-alone 400,000-square-foot National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016.

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is conscious of showing not just how Asians came to America, but how they have shaped American history. An example is a pin marking a successful 1960s grape boycott led by Mexican American and Filipino American laborers, who chose to band together.

“It tells a richer story about California history,’’ said Theodore Gonzalves, a Smithsonian curator.

At Saturday’s party, the iconic blue dress worn by Constance Wu’s character in “Crazy Rich Asians’’ will be presented as a donation from Marchesa to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

The 2018 Hollywood film was the first in 25 years to feature an all Asian and Asian American cast.

Organizers will also honor people and organizations at the gala, including hiphop artist Jay Park and R&B jazz band Hiroshima.

Helene An and her family will receive the “Pioneer Award in Culinary Arts’’ for their role in introducing Vietnamese cuisine to mainstream Americans. An was a war see SMITHSONIAN on 13

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ NATIONAL NEWS

5

California governor pardons Cambodian ex-refugees facing deportation SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Two former Cambodian refugees facing deportation for crimes committed as young adults were among seven people granted clemency on May 13 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his first pardons since taking office in January.

Newsom pardoned Kang Hen, of San Jose, who pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver during an attempted armed robbery in 1994. Hen, who was brought to the U.S. when he was 9, surrendered to immigration authorities April 1 after he was notified he was wanted for deportation.

The governor, a Democrat, also issued a pardon for Hay Hov, of Oakland, who was convicted of solicitation to commit murder and participation in a street gang in 2001.

Hov, a naturalized citizen, was taken into custody by immigration officials in March.

Both men immigrated to the U.S. lawfully as children.

They petitioned Newsom for pardons, saying they have

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

moved past their troubled youth to become respectable men with jobs and families.

Pardons don’t automatically halt deportation proceedings, but they eliminate the criminal conviction judges often base their decisions on, according to the governor’s office.

In Hen’s case, a pardon may eventually allow him to stay in the U.S. Hov, whose green card was recently re-instated by a judge, is no longer at risk of deportation.

“Both men have young children, are the primary income provider for their families, and provide care to relatives living with chronic health conditions,’’ the governor’s office said in a statement. “Their deportation would be an unjust collateral consequence that would harm their families and communities.’’

The pardons are a rebuke to President Donald Trump’s administration, which has cracked down on immigrants who committed crimes. Since Trump took office, a large

number of people have been detained and deported to Cambodia, according to advocates.

Newsom’s predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, pardoned five Cambodian refugees who faced deportation last year.

On May 13, Newsom also pardoned five other people who had convictions more than 15 years old — including business owners, students and at least one grandparent, the governor’s office said. Their crimes ranged from forgery to drug-related offenses.

None of those pardoned had multiple felonies and all had completed their sentences, Newsom’s office said.

Newsom’s highest profile use of his clemency powers came in March, when he placed a moratorium on executions for the 737 people on California’s death row. His action temporarily halted the death penalty in the state. 

YOUR SUMMER HOME

Proposals will be received for E00604E19, Leachate Lagoons Improvement – Cedar Hill Regional Landfill (CHRLF); by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on May 31, 2019.

Total Estimated Price: $1,500,000 There is a 15% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on this contract.

All solicitation documents are published at: https:// procurement.kingcounty. gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Lourdes Bonifacio, lbonifacio@kingcounty.gov, 206-

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MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

37 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY THRU JUN 30

POP-UP SHOP, “GODZILLA STORE INVASION” Kinokuniya Bookstore, 525 S. Weller St., Seattle

24-27 48TH ANNUAL NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle 10 p.m.

25 FASA SA UW PRESENTS: FILIPINO NIGHT 2019 UW, Kane Hall 5-9 p.m.

COMMUNITY TALK WITH CHINATOWN ART BRIGADE Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 3-5 p.m.

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK OPENING The Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle 11 a.m.-5 p.m. museumofflight.org UNAPOLOGETICALLY US BUILDING MUSLIM POWER FOR 2020 & BEYOND Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. 6th St., Bellevue 6-10 p.m. cairwa.ejoinme.org

26

30

AFROBEATS MEETS BOLLYWOOD NIGHT IN SEATTLE Nectar Lounge, 412 N. 36th St., Seattle 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

NAWMBA SEATTLE D&I DINNER CRUISE NETWORKING WITH LIVE MUSIC Argosy Cruises, 1 Kirkland Ave., Lake Washington 5:30 p.m. https://bit.ly/2w6sj6w

THRU

26

“RATSKIN,” A PLAY AIMS TO PHYSICALIZE THE INTERGENERATIONAL EFFECTS OF IMMIGRATION Location will be emailed once RSVPed RSVP at bit.ly/RatskinRSVP tbdeshpande6@gmail.com juyounp@uw.edu

27 74TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE Lake View Cemetery, 1554 15th Ave. E., Seattle 10-11 a.m. rkiga@comcast.net 2019 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY Hing Hay Park 4 p.m.

29 GSCCC CHINA SEMINAR SERIES #2: US-CHINA CONFLICT DANGERS & OPPORTUNITIES Location will be sent to the first 30 registrants.

No walk-ins.

7-9 p.m.

Register online at bit.ly/GSCCC Free for members $10/non-members

SEATTLE CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB’S WORKSHOP: BOOK CLUB Address will be given to registrants only 2-4 p.m. seattlechinesewomensclub. com

1&2

RETURN FROM CHINA, LESSONS LEARNED AND E-COMMERCE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD World Trade Center Tacoma, 1150 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 3rd Floor, US Bank Room 3-5 p.m.

Register at bit.ly/WTCMay30

DIWA FILM FESTIVAL 2019 Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle, Seattle Center 12-6 p.m. https://bit.ly/2Ltq5sn PAGDIRIWANG PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL Seattle Center 10 a.m.-6p.m.

2 SEATTLE CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB’S WORKSHOP: GARDENING TOUR Hsien’s office and Lily’s Pea Patch 2-4 p.m. seattlechinesewomensclub. com ROAD-TO-COLLEGE EDUCATION SEMINAR Microsoft Research Hall, Building 99/1919, 14820 N.E. 36th St., Redmond 2-4 p.m. cie-sea.org

31 ROOT & RISE KIN ON BENEFIT The Knife Room, 103 S. Main St., Seattle 6:30-8:30 p.m. kinon.secure.force.com

Public Hearings On Affordable Housing & Community Development  What are the most important needs for low- and moderate-income people and neighborhoods in our community?

JUN

 Affordable Housing  Infrastructure

1

 Public Facilities

 Services

 Economic Development

 How should federal funds be used to help meet these needs?

Make Your Voice Heard! Attend a Public Hearing

“BRINGING IN THE CHANGE” NIRMAL’s at Pioneer Square, 106 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle 4-6 p.m.

ANNUAL AUCTION DINNER, “CELEBRATION OF UNITY: UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY” Ming Palace, 8736 S. Hosmer St., Tacoma $75/person info@tacomachinesepark.org 253-330-8828

All interested persons are invited to attend and provide input on community needs.

June 4, 2019 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Housing Authority of Snohomish County 12711 4th Ave W, Everett Grand Canyon Room

June 4, 2019 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Marysville City Council Chambers 1049 State Ave, Second Floor, Marysville

June 5, 2019 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Sultan City Hall 319 Main Street, #200, Sultan

Unable to attend a hearing? Written comments are also invited via e-mail or mail by June 7, 2019. Send to Debra May at debra.may@snoco.org or at Snohomish County Human Services Department M/S 305, 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett WA 98201.

Accessibility: The hearing facilities are ADA-accessible. To request language interpreter services or disability-related accommodations to facilitate meeting participation, please contact Debra May at debra.may@snoco.org, 425-388-3264, or 711 for TTY users.

Hearings are sponsored by the City of Everett, the City of Marysville, the Everett Housing Authority, the Housing Authority of Snohomish County, and the Snohomish County Human Services Department. Input received will be used to help develop five-year plans that guide the use of federal funds under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Section 8 and Public Housing programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

View the solution on page 14

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ AT THE MOVIES

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR”

has likeable stars and tackles immigration — but is also so boring omg

7

MARK DACASCOS

Discipline and determination does dazzling

“John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum”

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

30+ age rating ►

By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “The Sun Is Also a Star” is the film adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s 2016 young adult novel of the same name, about two young strangers who fall in love in the

16+ age rating ►

course of a day — the hitch being that one of them is set to be deported at the end of the day. The film follows protagonist Natasha Kinsley, a Jamaican-born high school junior who has been in the United see THE SUN on 15

Very few folks grow up with not one, but two martial arts experts for parents.

But for Mark Dacascos, who excels on the workout floor, as well as on the silver screen, that was all simply part of growing up.

The martial arts and film star, playing opposite of Chinese Hawaiian Keanu Reeves, starring as the villain “Zero” in the recently-released “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” remembers a childhood loaded with workouts.

“My father, Al Dacascos, the founder of Wun-Hop-Kuen-Do Kung-Fu, taught my stepmother, Malia Bernal (Dacascos).

Both of them were my first martial arts teachers. I was told that I started playing

around with martial movements when I was 4, but started formal training with them at age 6.

“I fought in semi-contact tournaments for almost years, from 6 years old until 18. My parents were both champions, and they had very high standards… In addition to evening group classes at our Kung-Fu Academy, my mother ran and stretched with me every day before going to my academic school, 2-3 mile run in the forest, stretch, do the splits, etc.”

The future media sensation grew up in Hawaii, which he remembers, aside from all the workouts, as a delightful panoply of beaches, ocean, fishing with his grandparents, and family on all sides.

A sense of self-identity proved a bit more see DACASCOS on 14

asianweekly northwest

8

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

37 YEARS

Stars on Ice Asian American cast combines athleticism and artistry

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

see STARS ON ICE on 11

Photos by Kai Curry

The 2019 Stars on Ice tour presented by Musselman’s skated through Everett in May. The theme was “Unity” — written in large, rainbow-colored letters on the program cover. The performance line-up appeared to pay tribute through its costuming and choreography to the LGBTQ community and working Americans. The show’s cast included award-winning, record-setting Asian American skaters Alex and Maia Shibutani, Mirai Nagasu, and Nathan Chen.

The theme of unity was present in the conversation of the skaters pre-show, who were generous in their acknowledgment of the legacy of previous skaters, such as Scott Hamilton (co-founder of Stars on Ice), Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, and Brian Boitano, while also speaking warmly of the connections they have formed with their peers and audiences around the world.

“It’s a huge honor to be a part of Stars on Ice. It’s got such an incredible history of amazing skaters,” said Maia Shibutani, the sister half of “The ShibSibs,” the first U.S. sibling team to win a medal in the Olympics, scoring two bronzes at PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018. Speaking of the guidance they have had and the friendships they have made, Alex, her brother, commented, “It’s really great how this iconic generation of skaters has made themselves Maia and Alex Shibutani pre-show at Angel of the Winds Arena.

Mirai Nagasu getting ready for the show at Angel of the Winds Arena.

■ BUSINESS

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY With four branches in Washington state, and over 130 locations worldwide, East West Bank styles itself as a bridge connecting people in diverse parts of the world, but especially Asia and the United States, with opportunities for its customers to thrive financially and personally.

John Rindlaub, senior managing director here in Washington, and head of the Pacific Northwest market, is proud to be part of a banking team that invests in community, the future, and diversity.

Rindlaub has been in his position for about six months.

Rindlaub returned to banking after a small hiatus during which he had invested in several startup companies and John Rindlaub had become chairman of the Board of the National Bureau of Asian Research, which is headquartered in Seattle and Washington, D.C. Formerly with Wells Fargo, Rindlaub says, “I greatly missed banking and the special role that a bank can play in supporting commercial businesses, taking care of retail customers and helping out in the community…Given my background in Asia, when the Northwest leadership

role at East West became available, I jumped at the chance…and very happy to work for a bank with strong business ties to Asia and Greater China.”

According to the bank’s official story, East West Bank “opened for business in 1973 as the first federally-chartered savings institution focused primarily on serving the financial needs of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles.” Today, it is a Nasdaq traded company with over $41 billion in assets, full service branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shantou, and Shenzhen, and representative offices in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Taipei, and Xiamen. In the United States, the bank can East West Bank headquarters in Pasadena. be found in Georgia, MasRindlaub’s banking story launched around the same sachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Washington state, with two branches in time. He started out as a commercial banker with Bankers Bellevue, one in Northgate, and one in the International see RINDLAUB on 12 District.

Photo courtesy of East West Bank

John Rindlaub at the helm of East West Bank

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ SPORTS

9

The Layup Drill ANGELA ZHANG

ICHIRO SUZUKI

KIHEI CLARK

CT PAN

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

UVA’s Clark helps lead Cavs to NCAA Championship

Zhang secures Drive, Chip and Putt Championship

Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this month’s edition, we take a look at a new job for Ichiro, a national champion in basketball, and happenings in golf.

A year after the University of Virginia became the first number 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed in the NCAA Men’s Tournament, the University of Virginia won the 2019 National Championship with a win over Texas Tech. The Cavaliers were led by guard Kihei Clark.

Clark, whose mother is Filipino and father is Black, was recruited to Virginia out of Woodland Hills, Calif. At just 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Clark has had to dispel the myth that he was “too small” to play. In fact, many colleges passed on Clark due to his size. His father, Malik, played college basketball at the University of Hawaii-Hilo and named his son after the island of Maui, where he proposed to his wife.

Clark was a standout at his high school and on the summer basketball circuit. He averaged 19 points and 7 assists his junior and senior years in high school and chose Virginia over UCLA and Gonzaga.

As a freshman, Clark led the Cavaliers in a tough Atlantic Coast Conference. He started 20 of 38 games, averaging 4.5 points and 26.8 minutes per game. In the championship game, Clark played for 33 minutes, with 3 points and 4 assists. Much of Clark’s job during the tournament was helping others get shots and playing defense. As only a freshman, one may see Clark continue to shine for the champs.

Bellevue’s Angela Zhang won the Girls 7-9 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National on April 7.

The national tournament culminated in the finals held on the same grounds that Tiger Woods won his major.

Zhang won the driving and chipping portions of the competition and placed second in putting.

At only 4-foot-10 and just 75 pounds, she drove a ball 189 yards, which was the farthest by 33 yards in her age division.

It was Zhang’s first time in the National Finals.

Ichiro returns to Mariners as a coach Some people take up hobbies, some go on trips, and some sit in front of their television when they retire.

But Ichiro Suzuki is back at it with the Mariners. After officially retiring in Japan in March, Ichiro has returned to the Mariners to help with young players.

According to the Mariners, the former All-Star will return to the club as Special Assistant to the Chairman and will report to general manager Jerry Dipoto. He will work as an instructor with the Mariners and for their minor league club in Tacoma. Ichiro’s focus will be on outfield play, base running, and hitting.

Ichiro’s new role started on May 1, as he was invited to attend coach’s meetings and ease into his new position. As one might expect, Ichiro was ready to coach, dressed in his old uniform and even served as a pitcher throwing to batters during batting practice.

It’s unlikely that Ichiro will travel with the team but mainly be a resource when the team returns to T-Mobile Park.

CT Pan wins first tournament Former University of Washington golfer C.T. Pan won his very first PGA Tournament this past April with a win at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina. The native of Taiwan was set to compete in a playoff with two other golfers. But, while he was at the practice range, he learned that the other golfers did not tie Pan. Instead, he won the tournament by one stroke and could celebrate instead of practice for another round.

The win drew him the first-place prize of $1.2 million dollars, which is likely the biggest payday of his career.

Pan became just the second Taiwanese-born player to win a PGA Tour event. Since turning pro in 2015, Pan had won two events on the PGA Tour Canada, but this was his first in the United States.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

BE AWAKE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE ® Waking up in a Hästens bed is an eye-opener about the value of perfect sleep. It’s built with the ultimate combination of nature’s materials – together with tireless craftsmanship.

You can’t see it. But you’ll definitely feel it. 24 hours a day.

3 24 N E 4 5 T H ST. S E AT T L E 9 8 1 0 5 .

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asianweekly northwest

10

37 YEARS

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ ON THE SHELF

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Discovering your true self

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Murder Lo Mein

By Vivien Chien St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2019 Lana Lee is back and in this third installment of Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series, it is all about the noodles.

As they do each year, her family’s Chinese restaurant, Ho-Lee Noodle House, has entered Cleveland’s Best Noodle Contest and they are in it to win it. And now that she’s the manager of the restaurant, Lana’s stake in the contest is even higher.

But then one of the contest judges receives a threatening note in a fortune cookie and is later found dead. Once again, Lana finds herself knee-deep in sleuthing. And as this is her third murder mystery, her family and friends know her and do their best to warn her to not get involved.

But it’s no use. Lana (along with her loved ones) has come to accept that solving murders is now her thing and three books in, we see her being a bit more thoughtful in her actions and not acting as recklessly. In other words, she’s growing. This is always great to see in characters in a series, as it grounds the story and gives it a sense of reality, especially when we find them in outrageous situations.

In addition to Lana, we get to see more of the characters from the Asian plaza where Ho-Lee Noodle House is located and how her relationship with these people is developing. My personal favorite is Kimmy Tran, Lana’s childhood friend whose family also owns a business in the plaza. Her fierce loyalty and protectiveness of Lana will make us all wish we had a Kimmy in our lives.

In addition, Lana and her “is he or isn’t he?” boyfriend, detective Adam Trudeau, take the next step in their relationship. While it’s made pretty clear from the beginning that Adam was Lana’s love interest, Chien has developed their relationship slowly and in a realistic way, especially as they have both been hurt in past relationships.

I Love You So Mochi

By Sarah Kuhn Scholastic Press, 2019

Kimi Nakamura’s future is set. She’s been accepted into a prestigious art school and is set to become the next great Asian American artist.

But it’s been months since she’s painted anything and she can’t find the courage to tell her mother.

Instead, Kimi spends her spare time creating Kimi Originals — bold outfits that make her and her friends feel like their ultimate selves.

As the pressure mounts for Kimi to produce her next

great art piece, it all comes to a head when she and her mother get into an explosive fight.

So when her estranged grandparents in Japan send her a letter and invite her to visit them in Kyoto, she accepts.

Once she’s there, Kimi is engulfed in a culture she knows, but is still totally foreign to her. In addition to visiting outdoor markets and discovering art installations, she meets Akira, a cute boy with dreams of becoming a doctor while moonlighting as a costumed mochi mascot. She also gets to know her maternal grandparents for the first time and learns more about her mother than she ever thought she would.

“Mochi” is a sweet coming-of-age story about a young woman trying to figure out who she is. Kuhn does a great job of giving readers a glimpse into something many teens experience: the pressure to have their future completely figured out by the time they graduate.

In addition, we see how important Kimi’s relationships are—from how much her fight with her mother affects her, to the guilt she feels in possibly disappointing her friends, to her eagerness to bond and connect with her grandparents.

There are some definite tear-jerking moments (but of the good variety).

And to top it all off, “Mochi” will have readers (at least this one) wanting to visit Japan to take in the sites, eat amazing food, and find really good mochi.

The Speaker

By Traci Chee G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2017 Just days after escaping the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run, taking shelter in the forest to tend to their wounds and plan their next move.

For Archer, the experience has triggered his memory and he starts to remember the painful and traumatic things he experienced while he was held captive by the impressors. Archer also struggles to come to terms with the terrible deeds he has done in order to survive. Then he and Sefia come upon

a crew of impressors and end up freeing the boys they held captive, and Archer sees this as a way to make up for his violent past. But this may just lead him to an even more violent future.

Meanwhile, Sefia continues trying to unravel the mysterious Book and learn all its secrets.

She also has to deal with the fact that her parents were not who she thought they were.

“Speaker” is the second in Chee’s Reader series. The story picks up where the first book left off, and we delve even deeper into a universe in which the written word supposedly does not exist. While there is a lot going on and the plot jumps from various characters’ points of view, the story is easy to follow and Chee does a good job of showing how everything is connected.

Chee has created a world filled with diverse and complex characters, each with their own hopes and dreams, as well as their own histories and baggage. She will have readers staying with these characters through their ups and downs, and of course, since this is a trilogy, wanting more and to see how it all ends.  Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ EDITORIAL

11

Thank you, Keiro

“This is a real cultural tragedy,” said Nate Miles about Keiro Northwest’s recent announcement that it is closing its nursing home and other facilities.

The vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Eli Lilly is a big supporter of Keiro Northwest.

He said, “Keiro has been such a large part of our community for so long and played a key role for families and friends of loved ones.”

Board of Directors Chair Tomio Moriguchi told a crowd at a May 14 town hall that he is sick over the decision to phase out several programs, including the rehab and skilled nursing facility.

“This action is necessary to allow the best possibility of building a sustainable business and ensure continued community control,” said Keiro Northwest on its website.

Moriguchi is one of the “Magnificent Seven” who founded Issei Concerns 41 years ago—Issei Concerns

STARS ON ICE from 8 available to mentor and support upcoming skaters, and we try to do the same…and not just U.S. skaters, but international skaters as well, because the skating community is a global one.”

Nagasu, who made history for being the only woman so far besides Tonya Harding to accomplish the triple axel during competition, spoke to the unity of the cast of the show.

“I really enjoy that when I’m here, I’m skating with my competitors and I get to know them, instead of just faces that I want to compete against and beat,” she laughs. “They become my friends because there isn’t anyone else who truly understands the sport of figure skating like your competitors.”

The show gave the audience the heart-thumping fun expected from Stars on Ice, with impressive moves, dazzling outfits, and breathtaking routines that matched perfectly with the music.

eventually became what is now Keiro Northwest. The other founding members were Glenn Akai, Harry Kadoshima, Sally Kazama, Henry Miyatake, Tosh Okamoto, and Fred Takayesu.

Board member Fred Kiga called the closure “a gutwrenching event for the API community.”

The board is currently researching sustainability options for the remaining programs. The effort, led by Moriguchi, is looking to raise $5 million in the next 60 days to hire experts to determine how to best use the 1601 East Yesler property, cover operational shortfalls, and do due diligence for a potential alliance. The money raised will not save the nursing home.

On its website, Keiro Northwest said, “The Japanese American community should be so proud of what was built years ago by the Magnificent Seven and the thousands of people we have served over our 40-year history.”

Chen, “The Quad King,” entered to roars of applause, and Jeremy Abbott executed a back flip that took the air out of the room.

Transitions, where offgoing cast welcomed the oncoming, helped solidify the overall theme. There were elements of nostalgia, heartbreak, diversity awareness, and appreciation for workers.

Queen was honored more than once with medleys and Freddie Mercury-style outfits. The first half was a tribute to the MTV era.

The second half infused tradition with moving classical numbers.

In a group number, members of the cast wore rainbow-colored tie-dye. In another, they dressed as both blue- and white-collar workers. Romantic couples’ dances took viewers to a dream world of floating on ice.

Both the ShibSibs and Nagasu gave voice to the artistry and hard work involved in the show.

“There are a lot of things that people don’t see,” explained Maia, “which is the creative process, and developing and training very

hard…we really thrive when there’s that pressure and ability to perform and share something with an audience.” She continued, “We’re both driven people, and so we’re always pushing ourselves to improve. There’s something so special that figure skating has where you can really blend storytelling and artistry with athleticism, so I think that it works well with our competitive nature while also allowing us to be very creative.”

Nagasu also described the unique way in which figure skating combines athletics, dance, and art.

“It’s not like any other sport at all. It’s really a performing art that we put rules to — and I love that because I like seeing where I rank, and I like that when I pull up a protocol, I can see where I can improve and it’s all written down for me. It’s not always easy.” Alex agreed, “It’s that balance between being process-oriented and then also goal-oriented, and having the ability to deliver under — I

Proud, yes. And grateful. Grateful for the Magnificent Seven and their legacy for serving the needs of the community for decades.

We owe Keiro a debt of gratitude.

Thank you to the community leaders who placed second mortgages on their homes decades ago, in order to build a skilled nursing facility.

Where else could Issei grow old in a familiar environment, surrounded by others from their own culture, enjoying their own customs, habits, and even their own food?

Miles said, “We used to say, ‘Keiro takes care of the patient, family, and community.’ She will be missed, but never forgotten.”  If you have any other questions about the closures, contact AskKNW@keironw.org.

wouldn’t say immense pressure, because there are far more high pressure experiences that people experience in life — but given the amount of time that we commit to our practice and our preparation, and in a 3-minute or 4-minute routine being able to deliver that is something that we enjoy and take pride in.”

Like other athletes and dancers, figure skaters spend hours each day preparing for a show or competition. There is a tremendous amount of responsibility they take on, knowing who is watching and looking up to them.

“We represent our family and our parents, our trusted group of coaches and friends and advisers that are really with us on this journey, but then…we represent the United States and I guess to a lesser extent, or equal extent, the Asian American community,” said Alex, who along with his sister recognized that first they represent each other. “It started with the two of us.” Maia spoke of the sense of magic that still

inspires.

“I think a lot of it goes back to the pure reason why we started, which is just the amazing feeling that we have.”

“I’m really lucky that I found a sport that I really enjoy that’s great for my health and is something that I’m really passionate about,” echoed Nagasu. “The great thing about being an American is that we’re all representative of different cultures. Although I feel a connection to Japan, I also feel a strong connection to being Japanese American. To represent the Asian American community is really important to me because I grew up not seeing people who looked like me on television, especially in sports. Asian Americans, we’re always told that we need to be more book smart than athletic, so for me, it’s really important to me to represent my sport and to represent the kids who want to be dreamers.”  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS

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This solicitation is for intersections improvement at Highline & Fairwood areas.

Estimated contract price: $750,000.00 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/ default.aspx

asianweekly northwest

12

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

37 YEARS

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

How she rediscovered her Y Bernice E heritage through comedy

By Vivian Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Local comic Bernice Ye never saw herself as humorous.

“I didn’t consider myself a funny person,” said Ye, before her life as a comic. “I’d say things about my life and people laughed. It was the way I thought about life that people just found funny.”

Ye was born and raised in China’s Hubei province. A self-described “good kid,” Ye always loved studying and school, especially math, science, and computers. Her natural interest in these subjects led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in computer science at the prestigious Peking University in Beijing.

The computer science field looked different in China than it did in the United States.

“Growing up in China, nobody had really done [computer science] at the time,” said Ye. Of her 40-person program, a third of it was comprised of girls, “and the girls were killing it.” Women were the top students and the most confident in her program. It was different compared to the United States, where men had an advantage, she said.

In 2004, Ye came to the United States for her master’s degree in computer science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. She was 21 years old.

There weren’t many Asians in the area, and Ye felt isolated. Although she’d taken English classes in China, she learned the British dialect and didn’t have exposure to daily conversation. She struggled to speak English in her early days here.

Ye was so insecure about her English that, during her first

Bernice Ye

month in Indiana, she ordered the same Subway sandwich every day based on the handful of words she recognized from the menu.

It’s anecdotes like these — life as a foreigner in the United States — that initially made up Ye’s comedy sketches.

Over time, Ye learned more English through a boyfriend, attending parties, and consulting online resources like urbandictionary.com.

Her confidence grew.

A Microsoft internship brought Ye to Seattle in 2006. She currently works as a senior technical program manager lead at Hulu, where her team manages content delivery to subscribers.

Craving a creative outlet — and inspired by many Netflix comedy specials — Ye started to pursue comedy three years ago. She first took stand-up comedy classes, and eventually hit the open mic circuit in 2018. These open mics led to new performance opportunities, and Ye’s comedy career started to gain traction. She’s since performed at various comedy festivals, including

RINDLAUB from 8 Trust Company of New York, then took over Bankers Trust’s Los Angeles Representative Office in 1974. He was also CEO of Seafirst Bank. More specifically to banking in Asia, Rindlaub has been the head of Bank of America’s and Wells Fargo’s Asian operations, both of which are headquartered in Hong Kong. He welcomes the opportunity to return to banking in a way that supports diversity.

“Championing diversity has been a hallmark of my experience as a leader and banker, and my beliefs are welcomed and supported by both East West Bank associates and our customers.”

While East West Bank started with a focus on serving Chinese and Chinese American customers, and that segment of the clientele base remains very important, East West Bank is in the business of serving a much broader community today.

Says Rindlaub, “East West Bank started as a bank for immigrants. Those are our roots. With that being said, over the past 46 years, our customer base has broadened beyond the Chinese American community on both sides of the Pacific.”

Due to its focus on Asian and U.S. relations over the years, East West Bank is uniquely situated with the expertise to cater to the specific demands of the U.S. and Asian markets.

“Our experience serving multicultural customers enables us to offer the most appropriate products and is also reflected

the Intersections Festival, Mutiny Radio Comedy Festival, and the Northwest Women’s Comedy Festival.

Ye admitted that there aren’t many Asian or Asian American women in the local comedy scene.

There’s more white male comics than there are females. And even with minorities, Ye often finds that she’s the only Asian woman there.

It’s another scene in Ye’s life where she’s an outsider yet again.

Comedy through an immigrant’s eyes

While Ye’s early comedy focused more on physical insecurities and her Chinese upbringing to early experiences in America, her current sketches highlight where she is now in life, finding her own confidence as an immigrant and a U.S. citizen, and making fun of her entitled American self a bit. She likes exploring the in-between spaces of being a foreigner in the United States.

“Now that I’m more settled, more American, there’s a progression

where I’ve realized that things are not always right, and that not everyone treats me with dignity,” she said. “I don’t like it when people step on me.”

Reflecting back, Ye acknowledged that she had started to reject her Chinese roots after living in the United States for several years. She started to feel more American and didn’t want to follow or observe Chinese traditions or culture, so she rejected everything.

But in developing her comedy, Ye’s revisited her childhood stories, and it helped her respect the cultural differences that lie between her Chinese upbringing and her American life today.

“Comedy helped me get back to my heritage,” said Ye. “It really made me proud to be Chinese.

I realized that I’m not rejecting [being] Chinese… I’m embracing it,” said Ye. “I’m Chinese, but also a Chinese immigrant with two cultures that have blended.

Comedy’s helped me define this, and I really appreciate that about comedy.”

Ultimately, Ye hopes to create comedy that speaks to Chinese people in China.

“We don’t have stand-up comedy or free speech in China,” said Ye. “It’d be banned.” Stand-up comedy is not a natural interest for Chinese people or an immigrant, she said.

Because of this, Ye wants to share the stories and lived experiences of other Chinese immigrants like her. She hopes her comedy inspires other people to share their own stories.

On Ye’s personal website, there’s a quote that reads, “I might be a cancelled Chinese, but I’m a perfect American.” This is a perfect description of how she sees herself today.

in the investment that the bank makes for the future,” explains Rindlaub.

East West Bank offers all of the services one might expect from a bank, but with the know-how to navigate the ins and outs of banking rules and regulations in Asia, as well as the United States.

“Our roots in serving immigrants provide us with a keen understanding of the local business environment, regulations, and culture nuances that contribute to our customers’ success in both countries,” said Rindlaub. The bank has a focus on small business, including Asian small business.

“East West Bank believes that small businesses are a critical component of the American economy, and we’re committed to supporting their growth. We offer all the products and services you expect from a big bank, with the high level of personal attention you expect from a local bank…In 2018 alone, we originated $569 million in small business lending.”

For Asian-owned businesses and for individuals, Rindlaub says that the bank provides “international trade financing and currency exchange for remittances as we saw that many of our customers had started import-export businesses between the U.S. and Greater China over the years. We also have a comprehensive suite of lending, deposit, and fee-based products and services to create a seamless banking experience for our cross-border customers. We know our customers, we understand our customers, and we value our customers.”

When Ye gained American citizenship in 2017, she had to renounce her Chinese one. For her first trip back to China after becoming an American, she had to apply for a Chinese visa. Upon arrival, Chinese officials took Ye’s Chinese passport, cut it up, and put a “cancelled” stamp in it.

“It literally said ‘cancelled,’” said Ye of the stamp in her defunct Chinese passport.

Throughout her childhood, family members criticized Ye’s physical features and her then budding interest in dance. Here in America, though, Ye said she gets to embrace her imperfections and her art — a byproduct of gaining self-confidence with age, and the freedom to accept who she is in the land of the free.

“I’m perfect the way I am,” said Ye.

What’s ahead for Ye

Although she enjoys her day job, Ye would like to eventually become a full-time comedian.

“I feel like I can touch people through my comedy,” said Ye. “I never get that satisfaction from my [current] work.”

Ye acknowledged, though, that developing comedy takes time. For now, she plans to hone her writing skills, and improve her delivery technique and stage presence.

“It’s not about the fame. And it’s not my goal to make a living from comedy,” said Ye. “I just want to focus on being the best artist I can be.”  For more information, berniceye.com.

visit

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

East West Bank demonstrates this attention to its customers by community outreach in the form of seminars and workshops, which Rindlaub explains are designed to keep clients up-to-date “with business policy changes and provide knowledge on how to tackle business issues.” Topics include “project management, buying or selling CRE, etc.

Our relationship managers are here to help identify the business needs of each small business and to craft customized solutions.” These workshops and seminars are available at the Seattle and Bellevue branches.

While large in overall size — one of the top 30 largest banks in the United States based on asset size and market capitalization, according to Rindlaub — East West Bank, which remains headquartered in California, is in Rindlaub’s words, “large enough to take care of the needs of local individuals and companies of all sizes, yet small enough to get decisions made relatively quickly.”

For Rindlaub, the return to banking in the form of East West Bank has been a good fit so far. “Our Bridge Banking strategy with Greater China, our relationship focus and entrepreneurial approach, and our acknowledged expertise in commercial real estate lending have made my joining the bank very gratifying and a perfect fit with my background.” He adds that “it is also very special to work for a bank that prizes diversity.”  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of May 25–31, 2019

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Give yourself a soft landing in a new place by doing a little research about the area before you get there.

Dragon — You have a keen eye for detail and are able to discern what is important very quickly. Use that skill to focus your energies effectively.

Monkey — With the quickly changing landscape, an option that didn’t seem likely before now comes to the forefront. This is the time to take a chance.

Ox — Not all is as it seems upon initial inspection.

You will need to dive beneath the surface to see what was originally hidden from view.

Snake — A false alarm can be somewhat unsettling. Turn it into an opportunity to think about what you would do differently next time.

Rooster — While there is little resistance now, that could change down the line. Be on the lookout for a shift in conditions.

Tiger — Before you ask someone else a question, consider whether you have access to the answer from another readily available source.

Horse — Many resources have opened up to you recently, resulting in a tidy profit. Sharing your windfall will serve to widen the circle of good fortune.

Dog — Have you been worried about something that can quickly be dismissed if you are able to check on it? Your next course of action is clear.

Rabbit — Are you worried that something will fall through the cracks as you juggle multiple tasks?

Set up a list or schedule to help you keep track of it all.

Goat — While it may be tempting to add a little extra to the load, be careful that it doesn’t tip the balance in an unexpected way.

Pig — Taking a leading role could result in more responsibility than you bargained for. However, the rewards should outweigh the additional work.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

HORITA from 1 After undergrad, Horita knew she wanted to go to graduate school, but could not decide which one at the time. She chose law school over getting an MBA or attending medical school.

“I decided that I had the best temperament to go to law school and enjoyed the social justice element of the law.” Her parents’ experience in the internment camps affected that decision. “If people don’t understand the laws, a lot of injustice can go on.”

After law school, Horita worked at the Seattle law firm of Bogle and Gates, where she worked in the commercial real estate division. Perhaps a tipping point in her legal career occurred when she recalls going through a huge stack of loan documents and a fellow colleague walked into her office and asked her what she was doing. Her colleague noted that she didn’t think that Horita was suited to review loan documents. While she enjoyed the law, Horita knew that there were other things she could do to put her skills to better use.

In addition to working with the firm,

Horita became involved in the arts community. A violinist, Horita had a passion for the arts. She was also a volunteer with the Asian Bar Association of Washington, Youthcare, and the JapanAmerica Society of Washington.

Horita took time away from the law after having children and rather than go back to law, she decided to apply for a position at ArtsFund. She had experience in nonprofits as she had served on various boards, including the United Way of King County, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Washington Appleseed. She was unsure of her prospects about getting the job.

“The people before me in this position were 70-year-old white guys,” Horita explained. “I had no connection to ‘old’ Seattle.”

Yet, Horita was selected for the position.

“You have to learn to just put yourself out there and give it a shot.” Horita is proud of her work at ArtsFund and the steps moving the organization forward.

“It’s a really important organization,” Horita said. “We really made important changes, including shifting focus to be

a more community-wide organization.”

As part of her job with ArtsFund, Horita oversaw operations, governance, fundraising, external relations, and programs.

While Horita modestly points to luck in switching careers from loans to the arts, then to the ice, she also accounts creating opportunities, forging relationships, and having great mentors as part of her success.

With the NHL, Horita hopes to lay groundwork for the community and grow support of the new franchise in 2021.

She has met with officials of the NHL in seeking to make the game more inclusive and ensure that there are no unforeseen barriers to the sport for all to engage and enjoy.

“We would like to make a commitment to community service,” said Horita of her general plans with the NHL franchise. “We will focus on community and emphasize that hockey is for everyone.”

Horita is working with Youthcare in a long-term partnership that will include a monetary donation from the team, as well as in-kind support and some workforce partnerships. The hope is to foster job

development and training opportunities, which addresses one of the missions of the organization in combating youth homelessness.

She also will work on a youth hockey program.

“The big focus will be on increasing access and breaking down barriers.” She added, “Whether it is socio-economic, gender, or race, we would like everyone to know that they are included.”

Not only will Horita be leading the charge on these initiatives, she is working with other teams in the NHL to learn from their experiences.

“This is not a competition,” Horita said about how other clubs assist in collaborating on programs.

Horita admits that she was not the most knowledgeable hockey fan when she agreed to take the position. As a parting gift, her friends at ArtsFund gave her a “Hockey for Dummies” book so that she could get up to speed before the first puck drops in the fall of 2021.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

SMITHSONIAN from 4 refugee who landed in San Francisco in 1975, where her mother-in-law had bought an Italian diner and turned it into what they say was the city’s first Vietnamese restaurant. An early menu lists 85-cent bowls of pho, the noodle soup that’s become a dining staple in some U.S. cities.

The diner became Thanh Long, a San Francisco best-of renowned for its signature roast crab and savory-sweet garlic noodles.

The two dishes are so coveted they are prepared in a secret kitchen within the main kitchen. The House of AN, of which Helene is master chef, has grown to include several restaurants in California, a catering service and a cookbook.

Chief executive Elizabeth An, 51, says her mother and family are honored to receive the award.

“My mother and grandmother cooked out of love but also as a necessity to survive, to give my sisters and me the best life possible,’’ she said. “In doing so, we also shared our heritage and gave a voice to the Asian American immigrants in this country.’’ 

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MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

DACASCOS from 7 difficult, however, especially when he left Hawaii for Colorado and later Germany, when still quite young.

Dacascos knew from an early age that he possessed Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish blood on his father’s side, plus Irish and Japanese blood from his mother’s side. But he learned through a recent DNA test that he also boasts Thai and Korean ancestry, even a smidge of Scandinavian in the mix.

“I’m even more mixed up than I thought!” he laughs. On a more serious note, he loves all of his Asian ethnicities.

“The cuisines from all of those cultures are delicious to me.”

At age 18, he returned to American soil, living in San Francisco. Walking to lunch one day, he was approached by two men asking if he’d be interested in auditioning for a movie. He’d never acted, and told the men, “No thanks.”

But he accepted their business cards, as

a courtesy.

“Later that day, I told my mom about it,” Dacascos remembered. “She told me I should give them a call, give it a shot, that life is a big adventure and that you don’t know if you don’t try.”

The two men worked for Hong Kongborn director Wayne Wang, who was shooting a movie called “Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart.” Dacascos’ scenes for the film ended up on the cutting-room floor, but that didn’t matter much to him.

He’d discovered his second great passion.

“The focus and discipline I need to have in martial arts is the same focus and discipline I need in acting,” he said. “As a martial artist, I train my whole body to be fit to fight. That fitness is necessary as an actor as well. Breathing properly, deep and full, being grounded and feeling my feet on the ground, being present, releasing any unnecessary tension, this is what I need when I practice martial arts and when I’m acting.”

“One of the major differences between

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martial arts and acting is when I make like to come back.”  a mistake in martial arts, I usually get hit by my opponent. Fortunately, that is Andrew can be reached at not usually the case in acting. The other info@nwasianweekly.com. difference is that acting usually involves speaking. Practicing martial arts usually doesn’t.”

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Dacascos is full of praise for his “John Wick 3” co-star Keanu Reeves, and the director, Chad Stahelski. He’s also gearing up for a new Netflix series called “Wu Assassins,” where he’ll costar alongside Katheryn Winnick and Iko Uwais.

Dacascos has three children and he says he wants to help them “find their own wings,” and keep working on his voice training. He’s always loved Shakespeare and wants to perform as much of the Bard as possible.

When asked if he’s ever visited our city, he allowed “just a day at a time. I can’t remember any particular spots I went to, but I do recall walking around thinking this city is beautiful and I’d sure

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MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

The Bush Garden restaurant, one of the oldest in the International District (ID), closed in 2016. Its lounge remains open and is a popular community gathering place. It was also a favorite hangout for the late Bob Santos, a legend in the Asian community, who loved to sing and dance regularly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tuesday was called “Bob Santos’ Night” at Bush. His friends, who called the bar “Bob’s Afterhours Office,” always knew where and when to find Santos.

The relocation plan was announced recently at InterIm CDA’s 50th Anniversary Gala at the Hilton Embassy Suites.

The nonprofit, founded by Santos, seeks to advance social justice and equity for low-income, Asian and Pacific Islander, immigrant and refugee communities. Since Santos’ death in 2016, community groups have tried to create meaningful ways to honor the leader.

InterIm CDA’s new development is at the former Four Seas Restaurant property, located on King Street South. It has dedicated the new eight-story building as Uncle Bob’s Place, with 126 units of affordable housing units and commercial space on the lower level.

James Wong, of Vibrant Cities and the owner the Bush property, calls the development Jasmin. Last year, He offered a spot for Bush Garden at an International Special Review Board meeting in his new development, which includes micro retail space, some affordable housing units, and condos.

A good fit

Pradeepta Upadhyay, executive director of InterIm CDA, said it’s a mutual decision between InterIm and Bush Garden’s owner, Karen Akada Sakata, to bring Bush Garden into Uncle Bob’s Place.

Sakata, who has owned the business since 1999, signed a letter of intent. She said it’s a good fit. “Being a part of Uncle Bob’s Place fits so well with Bush Garden’s history and its mission.”

“Interim was going to build a community gathering place for members of the neighborhood to gather, visit,

races of three or more candidates to just two. The general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Here’s a look at all the AAPI candidates who filed for races.

Photo by George Liu

BUSH GARDEN from 1

ELECTIONS from 1

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

Karen Akada Sakata and Uncle Bob’s photo

strategize, voice their concerns or anger, make plans,” said Teresita Batayola, ICHS Executive Director and speaker at the InterIm CDA dinner. “It will be an important place also because Karen Akada has decided to locate Bush Garden in the building to be a living legacy business in the ChinatownInternational District and be a part of keeping the community solidly grounded in its roots while moving towards its thriving future, community foremost in mind.”

Sakata said she liked how Santos cared for the community.

She said Bush Garden “plays a role in the community … it’s a place for some to go back” during good times and bad.

Over the years, people always come back to Bush Garden because they want to visit their friends and Bush Garden staff members, including the karaoke hosts.

“I didn’t want Bush Garden to disappear,” Sakata said. “I don’t want [Bush Garden] to close, I want to keep it going.

City of Bellevue, Council Position 5 Janice Zahn • JD Yu City of Bellevue Council, Position 7 • Marguerite Ye City of Burien Council, Position 6 • Sofia Aragon

Like InterIm, Bush Garden connects with people. How do you keep going? What’s the plan? … in partnership with an organization (InterIm), which is on the same page of those values (of Santos).”

Although Sakata works full-time for the city, her commitment to her business never wavers. She began working part-time for Bush Garden when she was only 15. Over the years, she has seen the growth of the Japanese community and the greater Asian community, through customers coming to the restaurant and the lounge. Her memories of Santos are still vivid through the 25 songs he often sang, sometimes with her in a duet, and sometimes with his family members and friends. Some of his favorites included Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and Nat King Cole.

Sakata loves the stories Santos told the audience after his performances.

“He (Bob) would tell stories that people didn’t know … sometimes, give customers the history of the ID.” Santos was full of charisma and humor, especially onstage, as most people would agree. His charm relaxed those around him and created an atmosphere of being part of the family, according to long-time patrons.

InterIm CDA will manage the housing of Uncle Bob’s Place, while the Chan family, owner of Tai Tung Restaurant and the former Four Seas Restaurant, will manage the commercial space. Evan Chan, who represents the Chan family, said there are still a lot of details to be worked out with Bush Garden.

Their talks are in the initial stages.

Bush Garden would be one of the two commercial sites facing King Street South. When asked if Harry Chan, Evan’s dad, wants to open another restaurant in Uncle Bob’s Place, he said he has no plans. “One restaurant (Tai Tung) is enough.”

In about two years, the building will be complete. Imagine what Uncle Bob would say when he sees it from heaven.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

City of Renton Council, Position 7 • Kim-Khanh Van City of Sammamish Council, Position 6 • Rituja Indapure City of SeaTac Council, Position 3 • Peter Kwon

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1 Judge Position 1 • John H. Chun

City of Clyde Hill Council, Position 3 • Kim Muromoto

City of Seattle Council, District 3 • Kshama Sawant • Ami Nguyen

Superior Court, Judge Position 50 • Ketu Shah

City of Kent Council, Position 3 • Hira Singh Bhullar

City of Seattle Council, District 7 • Naveed Jamali

Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position 2 • Preeti Shridhar • Sam Cho

City of Lake Forest Park Council, Position 6 • Tracy Furutani

City of Shoreline Council, Position 4 • David Chen • Doris McConnell

City of Bellevue, Council Position 1 • Holly Zhang

City of Medina Council, Position 6 • Sheree Wen

THE SUN from 7 States with her family for nine years, and her love interest Daniel Bae, a Korean American wannabe poet, but one getting parental pressure to become a doctor.

While author Yoon is American and has never faced deportation, her own life sort of mirrors the protagonists culturally—her family is Jamaican and her husband David Yoon comes from a Korean family. The way that the movie touches on cultural strife but also celebrates the nuances of the two protagonists’ immigrant backgrounds feels authentic and lived-in—that was the best part of the movie.

The worst part of the movie, for me, was that it was incredibly boring.

I probably checked my phone—against the stated rules of movie theater etiquette and at risk of someone behind me telling me off for it—like, 40 times during the course of the movie because I just wanted it to be over.

I also found the movie overly gushy and grossly romantic because I am cynical and I don’t think people can or should fall in love in a day because like, is that even enough time to learn that someone is not a psychopath? It was hard for me to listen to long-winded dialogue on fate and destiny woven in between pontifications on the sun. It was hard for me to listen to Natasha talk really broadly and really symbolically about the theory of the multiverse because it was like, I don’t think she’s in AP physics, man. It was hard for me to take Daniel’s poetry seriously because his handwriting is so crazy, and he

uses a calligraphy pen to passionately write stuff like “deus ex machina” in his special well-worn notebook.

Like, it was a lot, guys.

It was hard for me to watch the two super attractive leads, Yara Shahidi (Black, Persian) and Charles Melton (Korean and white), do a lot of symbolically lit kissing in front of sun flares—because while they were doing that, Nathasha’s parents are preparing for their family’s deportation to Jamaica the next day, and they are also wondering where their freaking daughter is because she still needs to pack her crap on top of letting her worried parents know that she is not dead.

I just wasn’t down with the romance because I’m a curmudgeon that wanted to yell this at the screen: “CALL YOUR PARENTS. THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOU AND THINK YOU ARE DEAD. THEY ARE PROBABLY CALLING HOSPITALS AND POLICE STATIONS RIGHT NOW, SELFISH. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE 100 MISSED CALLS FROM YOUR MOM, OH MY GOD.” But see, the thing is that I don’t think this movie was made for people like me, a 30-something adult woman who spends a lot of time price-comparing avocados at Costco versus everywhere else.

I think this movie is made for younger people — particularly young women of color — who are craving to see themselves and the issues that they are contending with rendered onscreen.

This movie depicts an interracial couple and certain

15

Federal Way School District 210, Director District 5 • Hiroshi Eto Issaquah School District 411, Director District 3 • Minal Kode Ghassemieh Mercer Island School District 400, Director Position 5 • Linhui Hao • Bin Lang • Tam Dinh Bellevue School District 405, Director District 1 • Sima Sarrafan *Names compiled from the King County elections website. If there are any AAPI candidates we missed, please let us know at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

interesting cultural beats. His Korean family owns a Black hair care store. His brother (played by Jake Choi) is the tattooed black sheep of the family because he is a mooch. They are pretty terrible and anti-Black when they meet Natasha. That stuff felt real.

On the flip side, Natasha is under threat of being sent back to a country that she has no emotional ties to. She comes across as very American, from her clothes to her accent to her concerns and her aspirations in life. Her parents are very hard-working and industrious — and just made a mistake and had the life deck stacked a little against them.

“The Sun Is Also a Star” tamely and sterilely brings up this larger political debate on immigration and puts a face to it — and while the depiction is pretty simplistic, it’s also pretty cool that it exists. Because how many romantic popcorn flicks aspire to do this?

Also, shoutout to the leads, Shahidi and Melton. They both worked so hard selling their characters’ love. They have good chemistry. They spend a scene in a karaoke room, smoldering at each other—I put up with it just because it was just cool to see a noraebang in a movie.

And if you’re worried about Melton being half-white— dude, so was I! But it’s cool. He actually passes pretty well as full-Korean. He speaks a little bit of Korean in the movie.  “The Sun Is Also a Star” is out in theaters right now.

Stacy can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

16

■ QUOTES

37 YEARS

MAY 25 – MAY 31, 2019

What does

Compiles by Moe Yagihara NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Bobby Chen Vital T Leaf tea shop

“I think of myself as a human first, rather than as an Asian American.” The 15-year-old helps his parents at their Chinese tea shop in the International District. He was born in Seattle and is a second generation Chinese American.

“I think I am fortunate because I can learn experiences from the American side, as well as the Chinese side,” he said.

Lei Ann Shiramizu owner of MOMO

“I try to share my community or my neighborhood as much as possible, in not only from modern-day aspect, but also historical aspect. I do not want to be branded by my ethnicity although that’s

MOBILE HOME from 1 “The law helps people on the low end of the economic spectrum that don’t have a lot of options,” explained City of SeaTac spokesman Kyle Moore, who sat in on the meetings. “By providing them with financial assistance, it will give them a new start.”

Rep. Ryu continued the meetings in Olympia once the legislative session began this year. With two other mobile home communities on the brink of closing, there was motivation for a new law to be written.

“As we talked more and more on how [a new law] would work and educate one another regarding the dynamics, we started to get into the entire lifecycle,” Ryu explained. “What are we doing ‘upstream’? With no new inventory coming on board, what do we do for those in manufactured home communities and how could we help them become sustainable?”

Among the contents within the bill signed into law on May 9, it allows for displaced manufactured/mobile home park tenants seeking relocation assistance from the Mobile and Manufactured Home Relocation Assistance Program, to receive other funding for relocation purposes without reducing their eligibility. It also allows manufactured/mobile home park tenants to use Relocation Assistance Program funds to secure housing that is not a manufactured home.

Previously, the old law would have paid $7,500 to single-section homes and $12,500 per multi-section home. However, these payouts were offset by any money provided by the landowner. In addition, the payout by the state would be given to the homeowner in order to move or demolish the existing mobile home on the

ASIAN AMERICAN

PACIFIC Heritage Month mean to you? world gets a chance to celebrate or experience the various Asian countries around the world.

It is important for those coming from these countries to get the chance to celebrate their hometown and have pride from where they are from. It also gives new opportunities for me to experience other countries, that under normal circumstances I would not have.”

who I am. I think we should be proud of it, but at the same time not letting it divide us.”

He was born in Korea and moved to the United States when he was a middle school student.

He said he feels neither Korean nor American.

“My personality is mostly shaped

He did not know that May is Asian American Pacific Heritage Month until we informed him.

“I think it is a special time where the

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Muriel Jane Hoya Cacawa Seatt le Kinokuniya staff member

Sam Hur Bellevue College student

Trevor Himstead Bellevue Club

property, but could not be used toward the first and last month’s rent or a down payment on a residence.

Last year, residents of the Firs Mobile Home Park faced eviction after the landowner decided to convert the property into a hotel and apartment complex. Jong Soo Park offered $2,000 to each lot owner in the park. They were paying $500 per month. A February 2018 appraisal noted that the property was not at its “highest and best use.” While affordable housing is a concern, the private landowner does have a right to convert the land. But, the way in which it was done may have come into question. The residents, who were mostly Spanish-speaking, filed a lawsuit against the landowner and the City of SeaTac in King County Superior Court, claiming that the notices were not provided to them in Spanish. They also claimed that SeaTac city leaders discriminated against them by not listening to their concerns.

Last month, a legal settlement was announced, although it has not been confirmed by court order as of this writing. The proposed settlement would allow the residents to stay rent-free at the Firs through June 2020. Each household will also get $10,000 for relocation expenses. This would be an increase over the original amount offered. Despite the settlement, homeowners interviewed by KOMO News said that they had no choice but to take the offer. The landowner indicated that the settlement was fair.

Under the new law, residents of the Firs will be able to take advantage of the new law as it goes into effect this July. Through the proposed settlement, it would allow the residents time to find new places to live. 

by my ethnic heritage, but I still feel I am a stranger in my Korean community. The Asian custom that the younger generation show respect to seniors is what I should be proud of, and I would like to tell and pass that down to my children in the future.”

“I have never been to the Philippines, but I feel that 90 percent of my life is affected by my ethnicity. In general, Asian women are expected to be smart, and I face microaggression every day.”

Moe is a student of Bellevue College and is an intern at Northwest Asian Weekly.

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