VOL 33 NO 8 | FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

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

VOL 33 NO 8

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

Port of Seattle CEO Yoshitani will take care of unfinished business

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

OLYMPICS Updates on API athletes in Sochi » P. 9

Kaori Nakamura:

retiring dancer was truly a ‘dream come true’

By Marino Saito Northwest Asian Weekly

{see YOSHITANI cont’d on page 12}

{see NAKAMURA cont’d on page 15}

Photo courtesy of Pacific Northwest Ballet

Between competing ports, the Panama Canal, a minimum wage lawsuit, and a looming sports arena, Tay Yoshitani has a lot to deal with in his final months as CEO of the Port of Seattle.

After replacing former CEO Mic Dinsmore in January 2007, Yoshitani, the only Asian American CEO of a major port city in the country, confirmed last month that he would retire from the sixth largest port in the United States in June, when his contract expires.

Until then, Yoshitani, 67, will be keeping very busy in what he described as “one of the most interesting port jobs in the country.”

Last September in Orlando, Yoshitani became the 2013-14 American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) chairman of the board. He still serves on the board of the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and various local organizations.

At AAPA’s seventh annual Shifting International Trade Routes conference in Tampa last month, Yoshitani spoke about how global trade patterns have continued to shift over the years.

“I used the example, back in 1914, when the Panama Canal first opened. It obliterated the business down in the Port of Valparaiso in Chile,” he said. “That’s one of the things that port directors have to keep in mind — what is changing and then anticipate what those changes are, and what you have to do to prepare for them.”

The Panama Canal is responsible for 5 to 6 percent of international

Highly acclaimed dancer Kaori Nakamura will retire as principal dancer at Pacific Northwest Ballet this year.

Korean businesses Dropouts flood booted from the second-chance iGrad school in Kent Exchange Building

Photo by Alia Marsha

By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly

Photo by Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times

Tay Yoshitani

Graceful, light, strong, and fierce — that’s how Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Kaori Nakamura is described by fellow dancer Jonathan Porretta.

After a 17-year career with the company, Nakamura will retire from performing at the end of PNB’s 20132014 season.

Originally from Gumma, Japan, Nakamura started learning ballet at the Reiko Yamamoto Ballet Company when she was 7 years old.

“I had some friends learning ballet at that time, and they made me think that I wanted to learn ballet,” she said. “Also, I wanted to dance wearing a cute tutu.”

“To try to sum up the extraordinary talents of Kaori Nakamura is like asking to capture all the beautiful butterflies in the world with one swoop of a net… impossible,” said Porretta, who has partnered Nakamura

Marlon Harris talks with Connie Moriarty, an instructional classroom support technician, left, and GED teacher Karna Cristina, who both worked closely with Harris and helped him earn his GED last year.

Un “Missy” Bang, left, waits on a customer during their final days of operation.

Editor’s note: This is a condensed version of a story published Jan. 13, 2014, in The Seattle Times as part of a yearlong project called The Education Lab. Through a series of stories and a blog, Times reporters are finding and spotlighting promising approaches to problems that have long bedeviled our public school system. The project is produced in partnership with the New York-based Solutions Journalism Network

By Alia Marsha Northwest Asian Weekly

{see iGRAD cont’d on page 12}

The line at The Original Deli in downtown Seattle is usually full of businessmen and women grabbing whatever lunch they can within the short break

they have. The mom-and-pop delicatessen, tucked on the first floor of the Exchange Building on Marion St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, has been a favorite to many over the {see ORIGINAL DELI cont’d on page 13}

The Inside Story NAMES Honors, celebrations, and more » P. 2

■

WORLD China & Taiwan are speaking talking » P. 5

MUSIC Local Cambodian American singer » P. 8

WORLD Kenneth Bae: Will he ever be free? » P. 10

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FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Photo by Marino Saito

Bellevue celebrates New Year

Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee greets New Year celebrants.

Bellevue Collection held its third annual Lunar New Year celebration at Bellevue Square’s Center Court on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. It was the first time the festival ran for two days, instead of just one. The celebration featured a variety of traditional and contemporary cultural demonstrations, including martial arts, music, dance, and visual arts. A good time was had by all. 

at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel on Jan. 23.

Thirteen leaders from Washington state business and nonprofits were honored, including Martha Choe, chief administrative officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who received the program’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in the private and public sectors. The banquet was attended by 275 guests.

Other award winners included Dean C. Allen, CEO, McKinstry; Sue Anderson, vice president and general manager, CenturyLink Puget Sound; Alex Baehr, general counsel, Colliers International; Steve Cooper, CEO, TrueBlue Inc.; Leonard Garfield, executive director, Museum of History and Industry; J. Shan Mullin, partner, Perkins Coie LLP; Debra Music, co-founder and vice president of sales and marketing, Theo Chocolate; Dan Price, co-founder and CEO, Gravity Payments; Shelley Rotondo, CEO, Northwest Harvest; Sunny Singh, founder and CEO, Edifecs; Russell L. Stein, CFO, Intellectual Ventures; and Connie Symes, executive vice president of human resources, Expedia Inc. 

OCA presents awards

This year’s Golden Circle Awards were presented to Bettie Luke, long-time advocate of multicultural diversity in education and sister of the late Wing Luke; Joyce Pisnanont, community organizer in the International District and former director of IDEA Space; Donnie Chin, founding director of the International District Emergency Center, credited with saving countless lives in the neighborhood; and the Chinatown-International District Preservation and Development Authority (CIDpda), a publically-chartered agency credited with spearheading culturally- and historically-sensitive restoration of the ID. “This event is a twin celebration,” said Ron Chew, copresident of OCA Greater Seattle. “We usher in the Year of the Horse, and we pay tribute to a few incredibly committed individuals and organizations which inspire us to make the community better through their passion, perseverance and thoughtful leadership.” 

Lee is Miss Chinese Chamber princess

Photo by John Curry

Donnie Chin, Bettie Luke, Maiko Winkler-Chin (director of CIDpda), and Joyce Pisnanont.

Sue Anderson of CenturyLink and Martha Choe of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation were honored for their leadership.

Seattle Business magazine recognized the region’s top leaders and executives at the Executive Excellence Awards

The Greater Seattle Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) hosted its annual Golden Circle awards banquet at the Joy Palace Restaurant in Seattle on Feb. 8. The dinner honored the outstanding contributions of three individuals and one organization in the local Asian Pacific American community. The event featured a variety of Lunar New Year performances and attracted over 200 participants.

Photo by David Wu

Photo courtesy of OCA

Leaders & executives honored

Ka Man Lee, left, is crowned by last year’s Miss Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Ka Man Lee, Miss Chinese Seattle 2013, was named Miss Chinese Chamber of Commerce First Princess at the Miss Chinatown USA pageant in San Francisco on Feb. 8. It is the second highest award after Miss Chinatown USA. She will join the new Miss Chinatown USA (Karen Li of Houston) and the rest of Li’s court in the annual Harrah’s Coronation Ball in San Francisco on Feb. 14. Lee will receive an award of $5,000 and other prizes. 

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

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FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

■ national news

APA leaders, ABC discuss Jimmy Kimmel incident

Photo courtesy of The Rafu Shimpo

The Rafu Shimpo Los Angeles Japanese Daily News

From left: ABC VP of Diversity Tim McNeal, Guy Aoki (MANAA, APAMC), Eugene Moy (Chinese American Citizens Alliance), Priscilla Ouchida (JACL, APAMC), Haipei Shue (National Council of Chinese Americans), Daniel Mayeda (East West Players, APAMC), ABC Broadcast Standards & Practices SVP Olivia Cohen-Cutler, and ABC Global HR SVP Steve Milovich.

Sheriff baffled by killing of Chinese family

By Juan A. Lozano Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) – Sheriff’s officials have identified the married couple fatally shot last week, along with their two sons in their suburban Houston home.

Maoye Sun, 50, and his wife, Mei Xie, 49, were shot on Jan. 30 in Cypress, northwest of Houston.

The Houston Chronicle reported the CypressFairbanks School District identified the children as 9-year-old Timothy Xie Sun and 7-year-old Titus Xiao Sun. Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the slayings, nor identified any suspects, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said. All four victims were shot in the head.

Authorities said the husband and wife were naturalized U.S. citizens who had emigrated from China. They did not say when the family arrived in the United States.

Garcia said deputies went to the family’s Cypress home on Jan. 30, after the husband’s coworkers became concerned when he hadn’t shown up for work for several days. Deputies found the back door open and inside discovered a “horrific crime scene,” Garcia said.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Felipe Rivera said the victims were found in their bedrooms. He declined to give other details of the crime scene, only saying they had not been tied up and that no weapons were found at the home.

“We have no other information that will speak to a motive, as to why this occurred,” Garcia said.

“From all indications, they were a quiet family, they were the average family. I am bothered by the loss of life of two children.”

Autopsies done by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences have ruled the deaths as homicide. Garcia said authorities don’t know the type of weapon used in the killings.

Rivera said investigators found signs of forced entry via a window, but that it was unclear if it was recent damage.

“It is baffling,” Rivera said of the case.

The father — a mechanical engineer for Cameron, a Houston-based oil and gas industry equipment manufacturer — last worked Jan. 24.

Cameron spokeswoman Sharon Sloan confirmed the man had worked for the company, but declined to comment further. 

In response to a skit aired on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Oct. 16, 2013, top executives of ABC met with representatives of Asian Pacific American organizations on Jan. 24.

During the controversial episode, Kimmel held a “Kid’s Table” segment in which he posed a question to four children, “America owes China a lot of money, $1.3 trillion.

How should we pay them back?” One child immediately suggested, “Kill everyone in China.”

Kimmel replied, “That’s an interesting idea.”

The skit triggered national protests and a White House petition drive that garnered over 105,000 signatures.

Responses to the episode included charges of racism and promotion of genocide.

Following demonstrations throughout the country, ABC

issued an apology for airing the skit, stating the segment should never have been broadcast. Kimmel apologized on the air and in writing, and met with concerned citizens to hear their viewpoints and apologize.

The “Kid’s Table” segment was pulled from all media, and the “Kid’s Table” was discontinued for all future shows.

The Japanese American Citizens League and the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition negotiated a meeting with Paul Lee, president of ABC Entertainment Group, to discuss the incident and formulate measures to prevent future ones.

According to ABC, the incident was the result of human error, and steps have been implemented to prevent such errors across the ABC spectrum. All material will undergo review in a dual system according to broadcast standards.

ABC acknowledged that such language can and does {see KIMMEL cont’d on page 13}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ world news

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

5

China, Taiwan hold highestlevel talks since 1949 split

By Christopher Bodeen Associated Press

NANJING, China (AP) – China and Taiwan hailed a new chapter in their relations on Tuesday and said their ties would advance after they held their highest-level government talks since they split amid civil war in 1949.

The two-hour discussions in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing marked a leap forward in official dialogue, sidestepping Beijing’s refusal to recognize the selfgoverning island’s sovereignty. No formal agreements were signed, with both sides saying just the fact that they could meet as equals marked a major step forward.

“The holding of this meeting marks a new chapter in our relations,” Taiwanese envoy Wang Yu-chi told a news conference following the talks.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for Chinese delegation head Zhang Zhijun, said the establishment of a regular channel of communication between the sides was the most significant outcome of the discussions.

“We bear a heavy responsibility. We can’t let relations run into further obstacles, much less allow them to backslide,” Ma said The choice of Nanjing as the venue resonates because it was the capital of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government during the war against Mao Zedong’s Communists before the Nationalists were forced 65 years ago to flee the mainland for Taiwan. It also is the location of the tomb of the founder of republican China, Sun Yat-sen, who is revered in both Beijing and Taipei.

Wang will visit the shrine on Wednesday before heading to Shanghai to give a speech and pay a series of courtesy

calls. There were no plans for further talks between Wang and Zhang.

Earlier, Zhang said the talks were aimed at consolidating the consensus reached at previous meetings. He didn’t offer any specifics.

“Our meeting had Taiwan’s Wang Yu-chi (left) and Zhang Zhijun’s China are holding the first official been something untalks since 1949. imaginable before, but if we really want to achieve breakthroughs we must apply a bit of creativity,” Zhang said.

Zhang said talks touched on Beijing’s desire to see Taiwan ratify a trade services agreement that would allow the sides to open a wide range of businesses in each other’s territory.

Beijing approved the accord more than six months ago but it remains stuck in Taiwan’s legislature, a reflection of the public’s fear of being overwhelmed by their giant neighbor.

Zhang said they also discussed exchanging permanent representative offices, but that multiple technical questions remain to be overcome.

It’s in China’s interests to build trade relations with Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory and wants to eventually reunify. Previous threats to attack the island if it declares formal independence or delays unification indefinitely have only antagonized Taiwanese people. In 1995-96, China fired missiles, conducted military exercises off the Taiwanese coast, and tried to influence its internal

politics, further alienating Taiwanese people.

But China took a less confrontational approach a decade ago under former President Hu Jintao. The policy received a boost when the pro-China government of President Ma Ying-jeou was elected in 2008, giving Beijing the opportunity to use the trade carrot as the centerpiece of its Taiwan policy in the apparent hope that it would force Taiwanese people to look at relations with China more favorably and tamp anti-China sentiments.

Since 2008, trade doubled to $197.2 billion last year.

Taiwan enjoys a $116 billion trade surplus with China, one of the few countries or regions that can boast that. Taiwanese companies have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in the mainland, with companies such as Foxconn employing millions of workers making iPhones, Playstations and other popular goods. Taiwan also benefits heavily from an opening to Chinese tourists, who travel across the 150-kilometer (100-mile) Taiwan Strait.

Before the start of the talks, Taiwan’s Wang said he hoped to discuss setting up permanent representative offices and would push for greater Taiwanese representation in international organizations — something Beijing has resisted.

There have been indications China is eager for political movement in addition to the economic ties, with Chinese President Xi Jinping telling a Taiwanese envoy at an international gathering in Indonesia last year that the issues should not be handed down from generation to generation.

Beijing is keen to consolidate the gains while Ma is in power. He has become increasingly unpopular and opposition to unification has been hardening despite the economic ties. 

■ national news

White House increases outreach to limited English speakers Last month, the White House Office of Public Engagement and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) convened a daylong summit for federal agencies to discuss how to improve outreach to limited English proficient (LEP) communities.

Executive Order 13166 — “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency” — requires federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to LEP individuals, and develop and implement a system to ensure meaningful access.

According to statistics, one in three AAPIs is LEP, and therefore less likely to seek medical care, report positive health care experiences, or access government economic opportunities, such as small business loans.

When President Obama signed the Executive Order reestablishing WHIAAPI, he stated, “No community should be invisible to its government.” This statement has been WHIAAPI’s guiding light, said Kiran Ahuja, executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

“In April 2010, less than four months after I became executive director, the BP Oil Spill devastated the Gulf Coast, affecting thousands of people, including hundreds of Southeast Asians who have lived in the Gulf for decades and made their living off the waters of the Gulf Coast,” said Ahuja.

“WHIAAPI deployed staff to the Gulf to address the concerns and needs of the

AAPI community impacted by the spill.

As a result, the first federal-wide language translation clearinghouse was established, in which all materials produced for the oil spill were translated into seven languages.”

Since then, said Ahuja, agencies have increased the number of in-language publications, conducted inventories of bilingual staff, and built stronger ties to ethnic media.

“For many of us, it is personal,” said Ahuja. “Many of the federal employees at the summit said they have family or friends who speak another language other than English at home, and many said they have had to translate or interpret for family members. As the Census has shown, more than 57 million people speak a language other than English at home.”

Ahuja said WHIAAPI’s recent series of in-language Google+ Hangouts on the Affordable Care Act has helped Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese Americans with their questions about obtaining medical insurance. “Google+ Hangouts can be a low-cost and extremely effective alternative to reaching a large number of AAPIs who are LEP,” said Ahuja. “What is great about these Hangouts is that community members can continue to access them as an important federal resource.”

At the summit, WHIAAPI asked federal partners to do even more for AAPI LEP communities, such as translating additional documents in AAPI languages, hosting an in-language Google Hangout, or thinking creatively on ways to share resources across

federal agencies.

“We know that in a few short decades, the AAPI population will double,” said Ahuja.

“My hope is that together, we stay ahead of this curve, and live by the ideals espoused

by our president, that no community should be invisible to its government, and that the federal government — and its many resources and services — should not be invisible to LEP communities.” 

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FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 2/13

WHAT: Early Music from the Silk Road with music by Tomoko Sugawara, Asian Kugo Harp, and August Denhard, Lute WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Plaza Room, 650 Main St., Edmonds COST: Free INFO: 206-325-7066 WHAT: “A Proud Story of Japanese Photographers” WHERE: Nagomi Tea House, 519 Sixth Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 2 – 4 p.m.

COST: Suggested donation $5–$10 REGISTRATION: 206-6230100 or seattlecameraclub. eventbrite.com WHAT: Public Talk by Chinese Economist, Professor Jessica Leight WHERE: UW, Thompson Hall Room 101

WHEN: 7 p.m.

COST: Free

SAT 2/15 WHAT: Multi-media performance by Indian classical dancer Vidya Guhan, and artists Vaness DeWolf and the Reflective Collective WHERE: The Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave., Seattle WHEN: 8 p.m COST: $10–$15 INFO: 360-867-5213 WHAT: APCC 16th Annual New Year celebration featuring the Island of Tahiti WHERE: Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall WHEN: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

INFO: asiapacificculturalcenter. org, 253-383-3900

■ briefly

Youth invited to get creative

Creative Children for Charity (3C) is taking nominations for a new art project, “40 Story’s.”

The project is geared toward bringing youth together through art and creativity by highlighting 40 assets of leadership. Participants will meet three times, beginning Feb. 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Daniel Smith in Bellevue, where art materials will be distributed.

Finished art pieces will be collected at the second meeting on March 16, also at Daniel Smith. The final meeting will be a big celebration in April.

To register or for more information, visit www.meylah.com/3c or e-mail Catalina Raggi at catrag101@hotmail.com.

Creative Children for Charity, or 3C, is a program for inspiring children and teens to volunteer their time and talent to raise money for social causes through art.

The goal of the program is to provide an environment for children and teens to be creative and have fun, while also nurturing a spirit of social consciousness. 

Get a .kim domain address Afilias, a global domain registry, announced will launch the first “family” generic top-level domain, “.KIM.” “Kim” is an ancient Korean surname, meaning ‘gold,’” Afilias stated in a Feb. 6 press release, “and is the most common Korean last name.

More than 10 million individuals carry the name Kim. According to U.S. Census data, more than 300,000 Americans have the first name Kim (87 percent of them are female).

Beginning March 11, .KIM domains will be awarded in a “first come, first served” manner to trademark holders, according to Afilias. On April 11, the general availability period opens. From that point forward, everyone will be eligible to register .KIM addresses for both websites and e-mail addresses. It can be used as .KIM or .kim.

Afilias is also the creator of the “.info” domain.  For more information about .kim prior to launch, visit kim.afilias.info.

SATURDAYS 2/15 THRU 4/12 WHAT: Love, Loss and Longing WHERE: Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave., Seattle WHEN: 9:30-11 a.m.

COST: $5-$88 INFO: seattleartmuseum.org

WED 2/19 WHAT: Reading by author Susanne Antonetta from her book “Make Me a Mother: A Memoir” WHERE: University Bookstore, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle WHEN: 7 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-634-3400 WHAT: Pianist Joyce Yang performsworks by Bartok, Rachmanioff, and Schumann WHERE: Meany Hall, University of Washington

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS: $39–$44 (two free youth tickets for ages 5-17 with each ticket purchased) INFO: 206-543-4880

THU 2/20 WHAT: Free movie night with “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” WHERE: APCC, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 7 p.m.

SAT 2/22 WHAT: Performance of Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata WHERE: Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $10–$18 INFO: 206-623-5132

SUN 2/23 WHAT: One Human Race WHERE: Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St., Seattle WHEN: 2-4 p.m.

RSVP: www.amiseattle.org, 425954-7526, info@amiseattle.org WHAT: Performance of Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, a play about Gordon Hirabayashi WHERE: Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 2 p.m.

COST: $10–$18 INFO: 206-623-5132

TUE 2/25 WHAT: Hing Hay Park expansion public meeting WHERE: 719 8th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 6–8 p.m.

INFO: 206-615-0810

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ sports

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

7

‘Dinosaur’ looks to play in NBA Age doesn’t worry Japanese basketball player

Weights, cardio, and Zumba. It’s an unusual regimen for an individual looking for a shot in the NBA. “It helps with my balance and rhythm,” Osamu Abe explained of the dancing, aerobic exercise. Of course, Osamu Abe is not your typical basketball player. Known as “Dinosaur Samu,” the 6’7” power forward and former Japan League basketball player is 42 years old. Battling against the odds, Abe’s chances of playing in the NBA are slim. Yet, he remains unyielding of his goal.

Abe came to Seattle after finding athletic trainers who would help him get in top shape. While he no longer trains with them, he still works out regularly and feels that his body is in better shape than when he was younger.

Abe played college basketball in Japan and went on to play for its national team. He played professionally in Japan, and against NBA players, including Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Michael Jordan, in exhibition games.

After 11 seasons of playing professionally in Japan, Abe sought a bigger challenge — the NBA. “I felt like I accomplished everything as a player,” said Abe of his decision to leave Japan. Abe played for a minor league basketball team in New Hampshire in 1999. But he did not receive a call from the NBA. He then went to Los Angeles in 2004, as he was a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Phil Jackson. Although he was unsuccessful in his bid to latch on with an NBA team, it did not deter him.

But physical issues set back his NBA dream. Abe had knee injuries common to many basketball players, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury.

The bigger physical issue was a benign brain tumor, which needed removal. He recalls not being able to smell

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly

Basketball player Osamu Abe dreams of a shot at the NBA. At 6’7”, his spiked hair is nearly as high as his hopes.

and taste — symptoms related to the brain tumor. Abe had successful brain surgery in Japan. He attributes his recovery from the surgery to Kyoko Kazuse, a noted

■ community news

Photo courtesy of Seattle Storefronts

Exhibit your art in a Seattle storefront

Passersby stop to view a Seattle Storefronts art project.

Storefronts, a program that connects vacant storefront buildings with art and creative projects, is calling for submissions from local artists.

The program offers short-term, rentfree space for art installations and creative enterprises in vacant spaces or underutilized windows in various urban neighborhoods.

The program began in 2010 to address high vacancy rates in the International District and Pioneer Square, by activating empty storefronts with vibrant art and creative projects. The mission is to provide

opportunities for artists to “create dynamic, engaging works that reach out to passersby, add life and color to our environment, and function as an incubator for entrepreneurial projects and urban revitalization.”

Two such projects, Seattle’s Pinball Museum and the Massive Monkees hip hop dance school, turned into permanent Chinatown businesses.

Deadline for submissions is Feb. 21.  For information, visit www. storefrontsseattle.com or call 206-9051026 ext. 104.

Japanese healer.

It was Kazuse who inspired Abe to get involved in an anti-bullying campaign for kids. Abe learned that Kazuse’s son was badly beaten due to bullying, which eventually resulted in his death.

Now, Abe is determined to “eradicate” bullying. He is involved with the “Glad to Help Campaign Association,” a nonprofit group that combats bullying. He hopes to spread the message of “playing your best, being caring and empathetic to others, and being thankful and appreciative.”

Abe has had tryouts with three teams in the NBDL, the minor league of the NBA, but was not invited to play for any of the teams. He has not considered playing in other leagues internationally — he is focused on his goal of playing in the NBA. There are a handful of players in the history of the NBA who’ve played past 40 years old. Most had long careers in the league prior to their 40th birthday. Currently, the oldest player in the NBA is Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash, who is 39 years old.

Abe looks much younger than his age. He sports a spiked, dyed Mohawk, which he was told would help him stand out and be memorable to people. He continues to work out six days a week, including Zumba exercises, in preparation for his shot at the NBA. He plays pickup basketball games with former college players and will attempt to play in a summer league this year with professional and college basketball players, run by current NBA professional basketball player Jamal Crawford.

While he continues to pursue his dreams, Abe coaches youth basketball at the Boys & Girls Club in Rainier Vista.  Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

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FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

■ sports

The Layup Drill

Yes, we are still basking in the glow of our Super Bowl champions

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill – Championship Edition. This month, we take a look at our Super Bowl champions! We also look at one of the best snowboarders not going to the Winter Olympics.

The city of Seattle rejoiced as the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVII by defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8. While many people believed this would be a close game, the Seahawks played dominant defense and silenced the No. 1 offense in the National Football League. Special notice should go out to Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, as he was one of the key contributors on offense.

Baldwin scored a touchdown in the big game and was once again the leading receiver for the Seahawks. What makes Baldwin such a great receiver is that he plays to prove critics wrong. Case in point is NFL Hall-of-Famerturned-ESPN-analyst Cris Carter.

Earlier in the season, Carter had called Seahawks’ wide receivers, including Baldwin, “appetizers,” which was a slight on Baldwin’s ability to play. Another reporter described the Seahawks’ wide receivers as “pedestrian,” another insult to their abilities.

Rather than disregard the criticism, Baldwin used it as motivation to make him better.

After he scored in the Super Bowl, Baldwin called out Carter.

He did it again during the postgame press conference, in which

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

City of Champions

On Seahawk Super Bowl parade day, Skittles were featured prominently, in homage to Marshawn Lynch.

he relayed the story that Carter had told him. Carter wanted Baldwin to look him up on the Internet and to type his name in the Google search box. This was a subtle and insulting way for Carter to let Baldwin know that he is a Hall of Famer. In response, Baldwin wanted to let him know that he now owned a Super Bowl Championship ring, something Carter could never do in his career, and if he did not believe it, he could Google Baldwin. Sweet revenge!

Baldwin is in his third year as a pro and already has a Super Bowl ring. The sky is the limit for the Stanford University alum.

In addition to Baldwin, we should also congratulate Seahawks assistant coach Rocky Seto. A former USC Trojan, Seto

came to Seattle with coach Pete Carroll when Carroll took the job in 2010. He serves as the defensive passing game coordinator.

Seto, a Japanese American, was a “walk-on at USC,” a nonscholarship player. His path to play for the Trojans was due to his perseverance. While he was told he could walk on as a player, USC did not inform Seto when he would be admitted to play.

As a result, Seto coordinated an “accidental” run-in with USC’s head coach at the time, John Robinson, who clarified Seto’s playing status, which allowed him to play for the Trojans.

After his playing days, Seto became an assistant head coach at USC under Carroll. Coincidently, Seto’s wife, who played college soccer at USC, is originally from

■ arts & entertainment

Seattle.

Despite the cold, a reported 700,000 people made it to downtown Seattle on Feb. 5, the Wednesday after the Super Bowl.

Fourth Avenue was filled with people wearing Seahawks jerseys, hoodies, and hats. Mayor Ed Murray and his husband, Michael Shiosaki, rode in the parade as they happily waved to the cold, but fired-up Seahawks fans.

Seattle is still in the afterglow of the victory with Seahawks flags on cars and people wearing “Super Bowl Champions” T-shirts and caps. It was a great win for the Seahawks and a moment of pride for the city.

Due to age, snowboard prodigy misses Sochi games While

the

United

States

ended up with the gold medal in the snowboarding downhill slope style, it could have had a frontrunner in the women’s halfpipe event. But American Chloe Kim is just 13 years old. To be eligible for the Winter Games in Sochi, athletes had to be 15 by the end of 2013. Kim is an eighthgrader in Southern California and trains six hours away at Mammoth Mountain. Despite having the ability to compete on the world stage, she was relieved that she was not able to compete in the Olympics, claiming that there would be a lot of pressure.

Still, Kim competed in the X Games, an ESPN-sponsored snow sport event, a week before the Olympics, in which she won the silver in the snowboarding halfpipe competition.

Kim, who is South Korean and whose parents emigrated from South Korea, will wait until the 2018 Winter Olympics, when it will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Despite missing this year’s Olympics, Kim is a much sought-after rising star in the snowboarding community. She already has sponsorship deals with Burton and Oakley, and has sports agents waiting to represent her.

Kim first started snowboarding when she was 4 years old, and started competing at the age of 6. In order to train, Kim lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she attended the third and fourth grade. She is currently on the U.S. Snowboarding Junior Team.  Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Savy sings heartfelt songs of his life

“Ever since I was born,” remembers Cambodian American singer Sarey Savy, “my family sang in the house all the time.

Whether it’s talking on the phone, cooking, taking a shower, or karaoke, someone in the house was always singing. My aunt and uncle used to set up this video camera for me when I was about 5 years old. I would sing Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears for them as they recorded it. I even fell down and lost a tooth while performing for one of them!”

Savy, a singer and budding actor, and proudly out as gay, grew up in Seattle. “My earliest memories,” he recalls, “range from the first time I visited downtown Seattle and discovered Pike Place Market, Alki Beach, and taking long walks with my family for exercise.” He sang in the choir at Mount View Elementary School and made his first recording in grade school.

The recording came about because Savy’s sister Canara “had met a man by the name of Jess, who used to work with a local record label and he gave me the resources when I was about 11 or 12 years old to record a low-quality song in my living room. It was terrible. It was my first recording and I

Photo courtesy of Sarey Savy

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly

Sarey Savy

was so nervous. I wasn’t exactly used to singing in front of anybody at the time.”

Nevertheless, the experience inspired him to want to make something of himself in music. “When I listened to the melody of any R&B beat, I became motivated to write lyrics by the minute,” he said. “I knew that by then, it was a choice I had made to strive for a music career.”

The singer auditioned for the popular singing show “The Winner Is,” but was sidelined by throat issues. “I was clearly disappointed,” he said, “but kept myself positive by surrounding myself with family — the only people who can convince me to stay persistent through tough times. I knew there were other opportunities coming my way, so it didn’t bother me much.”

His sexual orientation was another issue to work through, but as always, his family stood by him. Savy said he realized he was gay in third grade, around the same time he started singing in the school choir. “Crazy, huh? I was only 9 and I wasn’t attracted to girls at all,” he recalled. “I went out with this girl who today is a close friend. That was the last time you’d see me call a girl ‘babe.’ I didn’t feel a connection.

In fact, I was busy fantasizing about one of the sixth grade basketball players.

“I came out to my family because I didn’t want to hide it and put on a mask for years pretending to be someone else. I first came out to my sisters after drinking a Monster [energy drink]. It felt fantastic. It took them a few weeks, but later they adapted and we’re even closer. As for my parents, I {see SAVY cont’d on page 15}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ sports

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

9

Winter Olympics Report

Get an update on Asian athletes in Sochi Fastest Filipino on ice?

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly

Gilmore Junio, 23, is a Canadian speed skater competing in the Sochi Games. He is from Calgary, where he trains for short track distances. Junio, who is Filipino, was sponsored by the pines telecommunications network PLDT during the 2014 season. The sponsorship was an idea from a training partner in which he was pitched to the Filipino company as “the fastest Filipino on ice.” I would think that J.R. Celski would have something to say about that. Look for Junio to go on the short track and see if he is indeed

It’s the first week of the Olympics and here is a brief breakdown of a few Asian athletes at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Celski falls short of medal in first event

J.R. Celski had the gold in his grasp, and then one move caused him to lose any type of medal in his first event at the Sochi Games.

Celski made the finals in the 1,500-meter short track event and was in the lead heading into the final laps of the race.

However, the 23-year-old from Federal Way gave up the lead due to a tactical error and ended the race in fourth place.

Canadian Charels Hamelin won the gold, China’s Han Tianyu drew the silver, and South Korean (now Russian, see next item) speed skater Viktor Ahn took the bronze.

Don’t worry, Celski fans. He still has more events left in these Olympics. Stay tuned.

South Korean shorttrack speed skater changes name, country for Olympics.

Ahn hyun-Soo was a three-time gold medalist, having competed in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.

However, he is now Viktor Ahn. Why? Originally from South Korea, Ahn is competing for Russia in Sochi and has received the personal support of President Vladimir Putin. Ahn had a falling-out with the South Korean skating federation and he did not make the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, so he decided to leave. He examined naturalization for top athletes in several countries and the choice came down to Russia or the United States. Ahn chose Russia. The choice has paid off. He won the bronze medal in the 1,500-meter short track speed skating event.

When Ahn was announced for his medal, the Russian crowd erupted in support for the converted Russian. It was the first Olympic medal in short track speed skating for Russia.

41-year-old still ski jumping after all these years

Noriaki Kasai is the best hope for Japan to medal in ski jumping.

Although the Sochi Games are not yet over, he is already thinking ahead to the next Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In four years, Kasai will be 45. At age 41, he is currently competing in his record-tying seventh Winter Games.

This is a remarkable achievement for anyone, especially considering the death-defying jumps taken in ski jumping.

Philip-

the “fastest Filipino on ice.”

Team Japan pushes Russians in Women’s hockey

After 16 years away from the Winter Olympics, the Japanese women’s ice hockey team found itself a goal away from pulling off a huge upset. Japan tied the game in the last period after a shot by Ayaka Toko floated through three Russian defenders for the goal. Unfortunately for Japan, Russia took the lead later in the period and won the game 2-1. Still, the close game against the heavily favored Russian team is an achievement. Japan last qualified for the Winter Olympics in 1998, when the games were held in Nagano. It is the only Asian country competing in women’s ice hockey in Sochi.

Chu and Mom star in Bounty Commercials

The U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team is one of the favorites to take the gold in Sochi. Julie Chu is one of the veteran hockey players leading Team USA. She is getting some notoriety starring in a couple of Bounty paper towel commercials with her mother.

In the commercials, she thanks her mother for letting her turn their home into a quasi-hockey rink, essentially allowing Chu to play in the house and sometimes spill things.

Thus, there was a need for Bounty. Bounty has another commercial which gives their family story of raising an Olympian and being a hockey mom.

The Chus also talk about “Commitment, Honor, and Unity,” a mantra patterned after their last name. It’s a great commercial and most of us watching the Sochi Games should be on the lookout for these inspiring commercials.

Ohno’s not completely gone

Olympian speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno has traded in his skates for a microphone at the Sochi Games, working for NBC as an commentator on speed skating and other events. Ohno is the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian in history, having won eight medals in three Olympics.  Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

■ community news

Last chance to talk about Hing Hay Park

Seattle Parks and Recreation will host the third and final community meeting for the Hing Hay Park expansion project on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the International District-Chinatown Community Center, located at 719 8th Ave. S., Seattle. The community is encouraged to be a part of the process and provide input on the project.

This meeting gives the community an opportunity to see the expanded Hing Hay Park preferred design and offer

feedback. Seattle Parks and the design team of SvR (a local firm) and Turenscape (a Beijing-based firm) will be at the meeting to discuss the project and answer questions.

The Hing Hay project increases the existing park (423 Maynard Ave. S) to include the site of the current post office (414 6th Ave. S). The United States Postal Service will continue to lease the site while it conducts its own public process to relocate within the Chinatown

International District.

The 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy allocates $3 million to plan, design, and construct the Hing Hay Park expansion.  For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/ hing_hay, e-mail kim.baldwin@seattle.gov, or call 206615-0810.

asianweekly northwest

10

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

■ world news

North Korea rescinds invitation to U.S. envoy for Bae talks Jesse Jackson offers to intervene six days a week.

While we reel from this heartbreaking news, we are encouraged by the growing chorus of advocates, asking for Kenneth to be released.

In particular, we are thankful to Rev. Jesse Jackson, a true advocate for Kenneth.

We have been speaking with Rev. Jackson for the last few weeks. We are pleased that Rev. Jackson has agreed to undertake a humanitarian mission to seek Kenneth’s release, if granted permission to do so from the DPRK. We fully support his efforts.

My mother and I had the opportunity to meet with Rev. Jackson and have been touched by his warmth, generosity of spirit, and his investment in bringing Kenneth home. Regardless of the outcome, we are deeply grateful to Rev. Jackson for his proactive pursuits of Kenneth’s freedom.

We hope and pray that DPRK and US diplomats will resume talks soon, ultimately leading to Kenneth’s release.

It has been 474 days since Kenneth has been detained in the DPRK. Kenneth is just an ordinary American father of three who is desperately trying to return to his family. We plead with leaders of both nations to work together to let this U.S. citizen come home to his family. 

Photo courtesy of the Bae family

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea has canceled for a second time its invitation for a senior U.S. envoy to visit the country to discuss a long-detained American’s possible release, the State Department said Feb. 10.

The cancellation comes only days after detained American missionary Kenneth Bae told a pro-Pyongyang newspaper that he expected to meet this month with the envoy.

It signals an apparent protest of upcoming annual military drills between Washington and Seoul and an alleged mobilization of U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 bombers during training near the Korean Peninsula. North Korea calls the planned drills a rehearsal for invasion, a claim the allies deny.

The State Department also said in a statement that civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has offered to travel to North Korea at the request of Bae’s family. The State Department did not elaborate and referred questions to Jackson, whose spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Analysts say North Korea has previously used detained Americans as leverage in its standoff with the United States over its nuclear and missile programs. North Korea denies this.

Bae has been held in North Korea for 15 months. The North accused him of smuggling in inflammatory literature and trying to establish a base for anti-government activities at a border city hotel.

Bae was quoted last week in an interview with the Japan-based Choson Sinbo newspaper as saying that a Swedish diplomat told him the U.S. envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Bob King, would visit him as early as Monday and no later than the end of the month.

Bae said he also heard from the diplomat that the U.S. government had told North Korea that it intends to send Rev. Jackson, but the North instead allowed King to come to the country, the report said, without elaborating.

The United States and North Korea, which fought the 1950-53 Korean War, have no diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang handles consular matters there for the United States.

“We are deeply disappointed by the DPRK decision — for a second time — to rescind its invitation for Ambassador King to travel to Pyongyang to discuss Kenneth Bae’s release,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name.

She said the upcoming military drills with South Korea are “in no way linked to Mr. Bae’s case,” and that Washington remains prepared to send King to North Korea in support of Bae’s release.

In August, North Korea also rescinded an invitation for King to visit, saying Washington perpetrated a grave provocation by flying B-52 bombers during previous military drills with South Korea. Last week, North Korea threatened to scrap reunions of war-divided families in the two Koreas later this month because of the upcoming drills and the alleged B-52 flights.

The U.S. Pacific Command wouldn’t confirm the North’s bomber flight claim, but said it has maintained a strategic bomber presence in the region for more than a decade. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said

Kenneth Bae in a family photo with his niece on the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry.

Monday that two sets of South Korea-U.S. military drills will begin on Feb. 24 and the second, longer one will run until April 18.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is to visit Seoul on Thursday and Friday for talks on North Korea as part of an Asian tour, according to the State Department and Seoul’s Foreign Ministry.

“North Korea appears to be more scared about the B-52s than [about ordinary U.S. military drills] ... because the bombers can conduct precision strikes against the headquarters of the country’s leadership,” said analyst Cheong Seong-jang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea.

North Korea has recently toned down its typical harsh rhetoric against South Korea and made a series of conciliatory gestures, and outside observers link this softening to its need for improved ties with the outside world in order to attract foreign investment and aid.

Cheong said talks on Bae’s release will likely come only after the U.S.-South Korea drills end in April.

Bae, who led tour groups in North Korea, has been serving 15 years of hard labor.

His family says he suffers from diabetes, an enlarged heart, liver problems, and back pain. In the Choson Sinbo interview, Bae said he does eight hours of labor per day and suffers pain in his legs and back.

Meanwhile, Donald Gregg, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday with representatives of the Pacific Century Institute, a private U.S. group. Gregg, who is chairman of the institute, wouldn’t say what he hoped to discuss there. Another group member and former U.S. diplomat, Lynn Turk, said they were invited by the North Korean Foreign Ministry and their aim is to discuss how to “build bridges” between the countries.

Bae’s sister, Terri Chung of Edmonds, Wash., said Friday that her family learned from the U.S. State Department that Bae, 45, had been taken back to a labor camp from a hospital, where he had been treated after losing 50 pounds.

by DPRK has, once again, been rescinded.

We are also distressed to learn that Kenneth was sent back to the labor camp on Jan. 20, which gives our family renewed urgency to bring him home. Kenneth suffers from chronic medical conditions that require treatment, including severe back pain. We remain gravely concerned that the stress Kenneth endures at the labor camp will be too much for him. We do not know whether his body will be able to withstand the strains of hard labor, eight hours a day,

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On Feb 10, Ms. Chung released the following statement: Several recent events have alarmed our family about the status of Kenneth Bae — who is a beloved son, father, husband, and brother. We are saddened to hear that the invitation extended to the State Department

See related commentary from the Bae family on page 11.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

11

OPINION

■ editorial We congratulate Satya Nadella on his recent appointment as CEO of Microsoft. A native of India, the achievements of Mr. Nadella represents a high moment for Asians climbing the global corporate ladder. He joins the ranks of other Indian heads of major international corporations, including Indra Nooyi, chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo; Ajay Banga, president and CEO of MasterCard; and Anshu Jain, co-CEO of Deutsche Bank.

According to Reuters, Mr. Nadella’s new status could make him “the most powerful Indian-born tech executive in the world.” Right here in Seattle. OK, technically in Redmond.

In some ways, it’s not surprising. A 2012 Pew Research Center report on social and demographic trends in the United States said Asians are “the best-educated, highestincome, fastest-growing race group in the country.” The report stated that as of 2010, Asians had become the largest stream of new immigrants to the United States. In the report’s survey, 93 percent of Asian Americans described members of their country of origin as “very hardworking.”

■ commentaRIES

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

Nadella’s appointment ref lects new thinking

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's new CEO

Only 57 percent of them said the same about Americans as a whole.+ The consensus on immigration is evolving. Contrary to “taking jobs from Americans,” immigrants are proving to be an asset to U.S. companies, bringing their bilingual

skills and culture to an increasingly globalized economy.

Attentive people in Asian countries are listening when we bemoan the lack of skilled workers in the United States, and they are responding by bringing their skills and education here to fill that gap.

America is slowly, but steadily, becoming more and more receptive to immigrants. They may look different, and sound different, but they think big and corporate America can only benefit.

Things have changed at Microsoft in the new century. In the old days, people of color usually ended up leaving the company once they reached a certain plateau. There was no room for them at the top.

Today, that glass ceiling at Microsoft has been shattered

by Nadella, paving the way for future Asian leaders at the company. It seems the atmosphere at our homespun tech giant is veering away from its former cutthroat competitiveness and moving toward a more collaborative and inclusive culture.

It’s a welcome change. 

Thank you, President Asia’s coal markets and U.S companies will benefit Obama, for promising to help free Kenneth Bae from PNW ports

By Lee Kyungro In most countries, coal-fired power plants are the main source of electricity due to their safety, reliability, and cheaper operating cost. My home country of South Korea is no exception.

One-third of South Korea’s electricity is generated by coal-fired plants. A recent South Korean government study stated that the capacity of South Korean coal plants is expected to double by 2027.

That means South Korea is going to need to find new, reliable suppliers of coal to meet the country’s growing energy demands.

But it’s not just South Korea where the demand for energy is growing. This increased global competition for coal means it’s also imperative that appropriate steps are taken to enhance South Korean energy security. This means diversifying the places from which we import coal.

Currently, South Korean power companies include five coal-generating power companies, including the Korea East West Power Co. They are combining to import roughly 5 million tons of Powder River Basin coal from the Westshore Coal Terminal in Vancouver, British Columbia. This is roughly equivalent to 7 percent of South Korea’s yearly demand for coal.

Due to a variety of forces, including fluctuating policies on exports by the countries providing the bulk of coal for South Korea, power companies are placing a renewed priority in the years ahead on establishing a more reliable supply chain, through, in part, the diversification of the supplying countries.

And the companies are very interested in additional coal from the Powder River Basin because, among other factors, it is considered to be among the cleanest burning coal in the world due to its low sulfur, nitrogen, and homogeneity.

The environmental impacts of coal burning is something South Korean energy companies are truly concerned about, which is why every one of the state’s power plants operates

desulfurizers and DeNOx facilities and emit 70 percent lesser greenhouse gases than the national legal standard.

South Korean power plants are also making every effort to minimize any future effects associated with the increased burning of fossil fuels. For example, one of the facilities is operating the carbon capture technology in order to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases.

Given its cleaner burning, demand for Powder River Basin coal, the world over is expected to grow gradually in the near future.

However, the current export volume through the existing terminals on the Canadian West Coast is insufficient to accommodate the expected future demand.

The major stumbling block to increasing the export of Powder River Basin coal to Asian markets is the lack of a suitable coal terminal on the West Coast of the United States. With the energy demand growing by the day in Asia, it makes plenty of sense that several proposals to build new coal export terminal are under review.

These new export terminals will help certain Asian countries, including South Korea, whose power supply depends largely on coal-fired power generation, to secure reliable coal suppliers and diverse their supply channels with economic benefits.

Considering the enormous coal reserves in the Power River Basin, along with the good quality and highly reliable mining operations, allowing new coal export terminals on the West Coast of the United States will benefit all parties.

Coal-importing countries in Asia and throughout the Pacific will be able to diversify their supply channels, while simultaneously helping U.S. coal mining companies find a breakthrough from competition with natural gas prices.  Lee Kyungro is the managing director of the Fuel and Resources Strategy Division for one of South Korea’s power companies, the Korea East West Power Co., in Seoul.

By the Bae family Our family was delighted to hear President Obama advocate for the release of Kenneth Bae during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning [Feb. 6]: “And finally, as we build the future we seek, let us never forget those who are persecuted today, among them Americans of faith. We pray for Kenneth Bae, a Christian missionary who has been held in North Korea for 15 months. Sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, his family wants him home and the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free.”

Tears sprung to our eyes as we heard the President affirm our family’s pleas and said he would do everything possible to secure my brother’s release. We are grateful to have the commitment of our nation’s highest leader to bringing Kenneth home, which is great reassurance to our weary spirits, now 15 months into Kenneth’s imprisonment in DPRK (North Korea).

We are so encouraged by the President’s remarks. President Obama joins a growing chorus of people from around the world who have advocated for Kenneth publicly or have reached out to us personally with a supportive word.

Yesterday [Feb. 5] the last surviving members of the U.S. Congress to have served in the Korean War — Rep. Charles Rangel from New York, Rep. John Conyers Jr. from Michigan, Rep. Sam Johnson from Texas and Rep Howard Coble from North Carolina — sent a letter to DPRK Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, asking him to release

Kenneth Bae

Kenneth. We thank them as well, as this movement to bring Kenneth home grows even stronger.

Every day, we receive heartwarming messages of encouragement and prayers from concerned citizens across the country. It is clear that many Americans are invested in this cause to see this fellow American come home to his family, and it gives us hope to continue our advocacy for Kenneth’s freedom.

We hope that President Obama’s remarks help spark further dialogue between the US and the DPRK toward a peaceful resolution for Kenneth’s case.

We reiterate our plea to DPRK leaders to grant Kenneth amnesty and allow him to return home to his family.

He has admitted his crimes in violation of DPRK laws, has served more than a year in detainment, and continues to struggle with his health.

We ask for your mercy to allow Kenneth to come home. 

More information: http://FreeKenNow.com http://facebook.com/FreeKennethNow

asianweekly northwest

12

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

{YOSHITANI cont’d from page 1} commerce.

“It’s hard to tell, but it has the potential of having significant impact on us,” Yoshitani said. Another impact is the development of British Columbia ports — Vancouver and Prince Rupert. “We have recently developed enormous competition from Canada, which was never there before,” he added.

Responding to “unprecedented industry pressures,” the ports of Seattle and Tacoma announced last month they were filing an agreement with the Federal Maritime Commission that would allow them to have open discussions about working closer together and sharing such information as rates, operations, and facilities. A merger is not part of the agreement.

“Under the Shipping Act of 1984, it gives us the authority to talk about things that normally would be inappropriate to be talking about,” he said. “We expect to hear back from them in early March.”

$15 minimum wage

One issue under considerable debate

is the $15/hour minimum wage for 4,700 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport workers. Last November, Alaska Airlines amended its lawsuit against the City of SeaTac’s Proposition 1 and named the port a defendant.

On Dec. 5, the Port of Seattle issued a statement, “The Seattle Port Commission believes the fairness of our economic system is a critical issue and, in the coming months, will develop a thoughtful approach to employment at Sea-Tac Airport consistent with state and federal laws.”

On Dec. 27, King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas ruled the $15/hour minimum wage could not be enforced at the port-owned airport, but was enforceable at nearby parking lots and hotels.

“We do plan to play a constructive role in finding a pathway forward and a resolution that addresses this very complicated issue,” said Yoshitani.

The sports arena

The new sports arena in the SoDo neighborhood is another, different issue concerning the City of Seattle. Port of

{iGRAD cont’d from page 1} (http://solutionsjournalism.org).

By Claudia Rowe Seattle Times education reporter Despite the best intentions of educators, legions of young people detest school, and every year across the country, 1 million such students drop out, fading into virtual anonymity.

Rarely are any described as studious. Yet over the past year and a half, hundreds have filed into an unusual schoolcompletion program in South King County, tucked into a strip mall and designed not to unlock a love of academia, but to help young people earn the credentials necessary for moving on.

No one is forced to attend the free program, which is called iGrad. But as of December, 540 dropouts had enrolled, with more on a waiting list, all drawn by the dawning realization of what it means to navigate adulthood without a diploma.

“I’m scared, man. You can’t even get in McDonald’s without a high school diploma,” said Todd Gauthun, 16, standing outside the iGrad storefront in the city of Kent. He hadn’t seen a classroom in two years.

A partnership between the Kent School District and Green River Community College, iGrad sprung from a new state law that formalizes funding for dropout education. Across the country, a spate of similar re-engagement programs has cropped up, spurred largely by an understanding of how costly such young people can be for society.

But Washington is the first state to tackle the problem through legislation.

More likely to use public assistance — while contributing

Seattle spokesman Jason Kelly said, “These are both major issues that we’re working with our neighbors, but each has its own unique complexities.”

In September 2012, the Seattle Port Commission said it “wants to reiterate its interest in working with the City of Seattle to site a new arena where King County and Washington residents can enjoy professional basketball, while also protecting the family wage jobs that depend upon our working waterfront.”

“What we disagree with is the location that is being contemplated,” said Yoshitani.

“We think that SoDo is one of the homes to what is still a very vibrant industrial base with lots of family-wage jobs. We believe the arena will invariably do is make the traffic congestion much worse than it already is,” Yoshitani said.”

What’s next?

Reflecting on his seven years of service as CEO, he said, “I think I have helped transform the organization to one that is meeting the public trust and also reorganized and really strengthened the organization with some really top-notch,

far less to the tax base — each dropout represents a lifetime taxpayer burden of $258,240 in welfare, criminal justice, and other expenses, according to economists at Columbia University.

To address this, Washington enacted its “Open Doors” law in 2011, funneling existing education dollars — about $5,300 per pupil — to diploma programs that enroll youths 16 to 21, the age at which state obligations to cover schooling end. Since then, two dozen new dropout-recovery programs have popped up in Washington. The first three alone ­— iGrad and two others — have reconnected more than 1,970 young people with education.

“No other state has tried to take this on at a policy level,” said Andrew Moore, a senior fellow at the National League of Cities, who surveys dropout-recovery efforts nationally.

“The total savings from scaled-up dropout re-engagement in Washington could be enormous.”

But dropouts are not easy to track down, let alone entice back to class. In Kent, four school officials phoned every student under 21 who had left the district without a diploma.

There were 2,600.

Each one who arrived at iGrad received a schoolcompletion plan tailored for his age and credit level.

“If you want to get better, you have to get different,” said Kent Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas. “I learned early on that the number one reason people drop out is they think nobody cares.”

Though still in its infancy, iGrad’s 40-percent retention rate is on par with programs in other states. Among the 540 iGrad had enrolled by year’s end, 226 earned diplomas, GED certificates, or moved on to classes at Green River College.

Kids from Oregon, California, Texas, and Alaska have also shown up, asking if they are eligible. (Yes, if they are

key executives.”

Along the way, he has also faced some challenges. Yoshitani said, “I think the changes to the trade pattern undoubtedly have been the biggest challenge that we have.”

“Tay continues to be a leader on issues central to the success of ports across North America,” said Tom Albro, Port of Seattle commissioner and president of the Washington Public Ports Association. “We thank him for his years of valuable service in Seattle, as well as his work to promote international trade and advance the success of maritime and aviation industries.”

Yoshitani is not ready to make his retirement plans. “I’ve got another five months that I really want to dedicate my attention and focus on continuing to be the CEO. When I retire, I am going to take some time off, and I will think about what my next act will be.”

The Port will hold a nationwide search for a new CEO later this year.  James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

under 21 and residing in Washington.) Many tell principal Carol Cleveland that she is the first school official who’s ever taken an interest.

“They’re just completely off the radar,” she said. “They’re hearing about iGrad on the street.”

That was the case for Chad Jewett and Marlon Harris, both of whom learned about the program from friends.

For Chad, its most attractive aspect is the lack of resemblance to a traditional school. He works at his own pace, facing a computer screen, rather than a teacher.

“I was pretty skeptical at first,” said his mother, Kim. “But it’s been much more successful than I ever thought. To see a kid go from failing out to wanting to go to a four-year college — that’s just huge. He’ll be the first one in our family.”

Most iGrad students — some of whom are homeless, or parents themselves — need far more case management.

Marlon Harris was at first so intimidated that he sat in a corner of the GED-preparation classroom, hoping no one would notice. But Harris’ tutor kept walking by, offering extra coaching as the young man struggled.

“I’m not a man to cry,” he said. “But I actually felt kind of loved in that place.”

On the morning Harris would attempt to pass the GED exam, he panicked. But he remembered his tutor, and how she’d told him to stop second-guessing himself.

This month, Harris began nursing courses at Green River, his GED certificate safely in hand and images of a new future driving him forward.  Link to Education Lab blog: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/ educationlab.

Claudia Rowe can be reached at crowe@seattletimes.com or 206-464-2531.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

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For the week of February 15–February 21, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Banish those self-effacing words from your vocabulary. Instead, embrace words and actions that show you believe in yourself and the path you are on.

Dragon — Picking up the pace is easy for you, but slowing down can be a challenge. Saying no once in a while is a good start.

Monkey — Although you are open to sharing, you hesitate to borrow. Knowing that you are not beholden to someone is its own kind of freedom.

Ox — What good does it do to add to the pile of criticism? Be a part of the solution and try to think of ways to help.

Snake — You are flying high after your latest coup.

Having been on the other side as well, try your best to be a gracious winner.

Rooster — Some things cannot be hurried. You must try to be patient as constant nudging could be counterproductive.

Tiger — A little unsettled by something you heard recently? Stories can change as they go through the grapevine, so don’t get too excited just yet.

Horse — Delightful surprises come in many different shapes and sizes, so don’t assume you know what is underneath all the packaging.

Dog — Starting from the ground up can feel like a monumental task, but the process can give you valuable insights.

Rabbit — In satisfying one person, you may be upsetting another. No matter how hard you try, there is no way to please everyone all of the time.

Goat — Keep a watchful eye on what is percolating around the office. The sooner you can respond, the better the outcome.

Pig — A penchant for mischievousness could make for an interesting day today. Remember that laughter should not come at anyone’s expense.

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 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*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.

{ORIGINAL DELI cont’d from page 1} years. Relationships and stories have emerged since its opening 44 years ago. But that’s all gone now.

The Original Deli went out of business on Feb. 7, after the owners were told to leave when the building began going under major renovations. Deli owner Un “Missy” Bang was heartbroken and clueless as to what the future might hold.

“This is everything we have,” Bang said.

Beacon Capital Partners bought the Exchange Building for $66 million last year and decided to remodel. In the process, it forced two Korean-owned businesses — The Original Deli and The Goodie Box — to close down. Other businesses in the building have not been affected.

Bang and her husband, Sung Bang, opened their first deli in 1970 in downtown Tacoma.

When they bought The Original Deli in Seattle in 2007, they were amused by how different the atmosphere was. Seven years later, Bang still remembers the first day she served customers in downtown Seattle.

“It was really [an] awesome feeling.

Downtown Tacoma was really slow-paced,” she said with a wide smile. “It’s really fun, and most people are really friendly. Within these seven years, we became friends with them, like a family.”

It’s difficult not to be charmed by Bang’s friendliness, a trait that has gained them loyal customers. Many were saddened when its closure was announced. Some even cried with the couple, and some tried to visit the deli as often as they could before it closed for good.

Others, however, have taken an extra step.

Members of the Korean American Coalition in Washington state (KAC-WA) are doing their best to help the Bangs and Paula Kim, the owner of The Goodie Box gift shop, which is located one level above The Original Deli. Kim is also an immigrant. Efforts by

KAC-WA include postings on its Facebook page and e-mails to the vice president of Beacon Capital Property Management, Andy Wattula. KAC-WA recently met with Beacon Capital representatives and business owners.

“KAC will continue to help facilitate and assist as the property owners and business owners collaborate to reach a fair and positive outcome,” said Cheryl Lee of KAC-WA, via e-mail.

The smile on Bang’s youthful features fade as she talks about her first meeting with Wattula. At the time, she thought it would be an all-tenant meeting under the new management, but later learned that all the other tenants had met beforehand and were made aware of the situation. She recalled Wattula’s expressionless face when he told her the news.

“He’s probably done it a lot of times to business owners,” she said with tears forming in her eyes. “He’s probably seen reactions like [mine], but at the same time…I’m a human being.”

In the midst of preparing for the closure and looking out for new possibilities, Bang began to wonder if her ethnicity had something to do with Beacon Capital’s decision to single her and Kim out, and with the way they treated her.

“Maybe it’s because I have an accent, I look different,” she said. “Before this, I never really thought about things like that, because we do work hard, we did our part.”

The Bangs have three children who are all pursuing college degrees. They purchased the deli for $208,000 and saw it as their retirement plan.

“Because we put everything in here, we don’t have anything to start [over] with.

“Hopefully, there are better opportunities out there.”  Alia Marsha can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

{KIMMEL cont’d from page 4} contribute to hate crimes. At the request of the organizations, ABC also agreed to the following: - Work with community representatives to incorporate programming around Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May to counter racial stereotypes and racism.

- Organize showrunner meetings with creative staff to promote the use of APA characters and stories.

- Conduct cultural sensitivity training for network staff.

“ABC deserves praise for stepping up and taking responsibility,” said JACL Executive Director Priscilla Ouchida, who is also co-chair of APAMC. “ABC demonstrated a willingness to view the portrayal of Asians in the media from a new perspective. The meeting enhanced the relationship between the Asian American community and ABC.” OCA Executive Director Tom Hayashi, who attended the meeting, and OCA President Sharon Wong said in a statement, “It was important for the ABC executives to understand that the Jimmy Kimmel incident was not only offensive but that the language using Asians as economic scapegoats has incited violence against the community in the past, such as in the murder of Vincent Chin in the 1980s. Moreover, there are also recent examples of how hate speech has been used to bully and bring about assault leading to death, as in the case of Pvt. Danny Chen in 2011.

We stand ready to advise and assist ABC to explore the introduction and enhancement of new and existing APA characters and themes. Additionally, we also wish to support an effort to diversify their officer-level leadership

positions, such as CEO, CFO, COO…” Guy Aoki, founding president of Media Action Network for Asian Americans, commented, “In order to assess when they’ve ‘crossed the line,’ I suggested they do ‘the substitution test’ where they substitute Asians/Asian Americans for other groups like African Americans and Jews and see how that looks in any given situation. So for the ‘Kid’s Table’ segment, if Jimmy Kimmel had asked kids about tension between the U.S. and Nigeria or Israel and one of them said, ‘Kill all the people in Nigeria!’ or ‘Kill all the people in Israel,’ someone at the network would’ve said, ‘Nahh, that’s in bad taste, let’s not use it.’ But people are so used to laughing at Asian people, no one at the network caught it. “[ABC Senior Vice President of Global HR, Talent and Workforce Diversity] Steve Milovich said he’d previously talked to Tom Hayashi on the phone and Tom had suggested the same thing and that really resonated with the network.

“Paul Lee said for a full week, all of their company meetings began with that suggestion that, in order to assess if something is offensive or not, do the substitution test. So I’m optimistic that we’ve affected the culture of the corporation, so that these kinds of offenses can be avoided in the future.”

Also attending the meeting were Hope Hartman, ABC vice president of corporate communications; Olivia Cohen-Cutler, ABC senior vice president of broadcast standards and practices; Tim McNeal, ABC vice president of creative talent development; Ed Moy of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance; and Hapei Shue of the National Council of Chinese Americans. 

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FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

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came out to them and my mother was a bit confused. My father just accepted me right on point.

I cried so much coming out in front of my mom. She really just accepted after a few days of what I would like to assume, a few days to process it in her mind. We are closer than ever as well.”

Songs Savy has released so far includes “Sweet (Like Candy)” with Tunii Music, “IDGAF (If I Lose You Tonight),” “Lay U Down,” and a new upcoming single to be released on Valentine’s Day called “Run Out of Time.”

“I wrote them based on life experiences,” he said. “Mostly the lyrics and ideas of these songs in pre-production come from my personal relationships with other men I’ve dated, to be blunt and honest. The inspiration comes from the happiness, sadness, anger, and memories of those

relationships. They’re all very heartfelt to me, especially ‘Run Out of Time’ because it speaks on a relationship I wish I could have again with someone I’ve dated, who was presumed dead in August.”

Other future projects include Savy’s first acting role in a horror film called The Leapling, and a free EP to be released on March 1. He plans to work with a professional acting coach to get ready for his film debut. He wants to stay busy and get his name out there.

“Maybe I’ll audition for a few Broadway shows. I’m uncertain.

What I do know is that I’ll be collaborating with a few artists and recording originals as much as I can until I have a plan.”

Information about Savy's music and performances can be found at www.sarey.moonfruit.com. Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

{NAKAMURA cont’d from page 1} in several ballets. “Kaori embodies both an artist and athlete. She is the epitome of grace and lightness, strength, and fierceness. Getting to perform with her on opening night of Coppélia (June 2010) was a dream; she is the most humble and gracious partner. She has taught me so much about having a genuine relationship on stage with your partner.

“I have had some of the most amazing and fun times dancing with her,” Porretta continued. “She has a twinkle in her eyes that is both full of mischief and love all at the same time. She is truly a dream come true. In a word, I would call her my idol.”

Nakamura wore her first pointe shoes when she was 8 years old, and entered her first competition at age 11.

During the competition, she fell on the stage. She was so disappointed, Nakamura said, but she decided to continue dancing and joining competitions. She tried again the next year and won third place.

She rode high on the success of that, she said, and won second place the following year. She finally won first place when she was 13 years old.

In 1986, Nakamura took first prize at the 14th Prix de Lausanne competition in Lausanne, Switzerland. She received a scholarship to go to a ballet school of her own choosing, so she attended the School of American Ballet in New York.

“Most people recommended to me to go to the Royal Ballet School in England, because it is so famous all over the world,” she said. “But I picked the American Ballet School because I had known there were already a lot of Japanese students at the Royal Ballet School. I wanted to go somewhere else, so that I could have a different experience.”

A rare gem

At first, Nakamura wasn’t sure that she made the right decision. “It was a very hard time for me. I thought that I made such a big mistake to pick New York.” She did not know much about Balanchine’s American ballet and realized that it was a very different style of dance and training. She felt shocked at that time, she said, but decided to think positively about it and persevere. Gradually, she became used to the Balanchine style and American way of training.

“I remember many of us from the New York City Ballet peeking into the studios of the School of American Ballet many years ago to see the young Kaori Nakamura, the youngest winner of the Prix de Lausanne, who had selected the School of American Ballet for further study,” said PNB artistic director Peter Boal. “She was so very tiny and perfect — a rare gem — with impeccable technique and a fierce work ethic. Now, 25 years later, I am so honored to have worked with Kaori as she continues to ascend to new heights of artistry and excellence. She remains the consummate professional.

“Though we will miss her exquisite performances, I am thrilled to know that she will join our school faculty and

FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014

bring her unique wisdom and experience to our students,” added Boal.

“I had another problem,” she added. “I was just a 15-year-old kid, so I did not know how to speak English at all.” That was very stressful and frustrating for her, but she eventually overcame the language problem. She did not have time to go to language school to learn how to speak English, so she tried to communicate with her ballet school classmates as much as she could.

“Everyone at the ballet schools was so kind to me,” she said. “I could communicate with them with ease.”

In 1988, Nakamura won a bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. She auditioned for a lot of New York ballet companies at the end of the year, but did not get any offers because she did not have a green card or working Visa. She went back to Japan to perform, but did not want to give up performing abroad.

Luckily, she said, when she was in Japan, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet came to Japan on tour and saw her performing. She was hired as a second soloist when she was 20 years old in 1990. Later, she became a principal dancer for Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Although she danced for them for seven years, she said her roles were limited because the company had so many other senior principal dancers.

“Kaori was my partner in Winnipeg (1992-1995) and a good friend,” said celebrated choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, who most recently directed her acclaimed performance as Kitri in Don Quixote (February 2012).

“I’ve always admired her dancing — effortless, light, sharp, and feminine. Technically, she could do anything, but artistically, she was able to develop fully only in Seattle and I am glad she dedicated her talents to PNB.”

The move to Seattle

Wanting more challenging opportunities, Nakamura sent her resume to many different companies. Pacific Northwest Ballet was the first company to respond to her.

She traveled to Seattle to audition, and PNB offered her a job. She became a soloist in 1997, and was promoted to principal in 1998.

“The hardest physical part of being a ballerina is maintaining a healthy body and doing the same routine every day,” Nakamura said. She usually dances from about 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. While she enjoys dancing, she still gets nervous in front of an audience.

“Dancing in front of many people is mentally the hardest point for me,” she said. “I get nervous when I dance on stage, still now. I never get used to doing that.”

Ever since she was 8 years old, when she wore pointe shoes for the first time, her dream was to be a ballerina.

Even when it’s hard, she said, dancing makes her feel happy. She prefers performing story ballets, especially Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty.

Becoming a mother brought significant changes to Nakamura’s life as a dancer.

“After I had a kid, my life became harder,” she said.

“My 3-year-old daughter is very energetic all the time.

Before I go to work, I make breakfast, and after coming home, I cook dinner and play with her, so usually I don’t have private time.

“But she always gives me power and motivates me a lot,” she added. “Playing with her is always my favorite time and that makes me very, very happy.”

Nakamura said she likes her home country, Japan, very much, but she did not want to work there as a ballerina because it is very hard for professional dancers financially. For instance, she said, dancers have to buy their own pointe shoes at a cost of about $70 a pair. They also have to sell tickets to their own performances, and unsold tickets are deducted from their paycheck. “I’m very happy to work for PNB in Seattle,” she said.

Following her retirement, Nakamura will be joining the faculty of PNB School. “I feel scared,” she said. “It will be my first time to stop dancing every day since I started learning ballet. I want to try something new. I want to go to the gym and do yoga or something to maintain my muscles.”

Although she has not decided on her plans after retiring, she said that her ultimate goal is to one day have her own ballet studio.

Nakamura has advice for young students who are interested in ballet.

“To be honest, it is very hard to continue practicing and doing the same routine every day,” she said. “But you have to do that. That was not easy, at least for me. But you can do it if you never give up. Keep doing and don’t give up on your dream,” she said.

Final dances

Audiences will have several more opportunities to watch Nakamura’s performance during the 2013-2014 season, including the upcoming Director’s Choice, which runs from March 14 through March 23.

She is scheduled to dance the Divertissement pas de deux in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, from April 11 through April 19, and the lead role in Giselle, from May 30 through June 8. The season will conclude with PNB’s annual Season Encore Performance on June 8, which will feature Nakamura reprising some of her signature performances.

Tickets to Director’s Choice, in addition to the rest of PNB’s season offerings, may be purchased through the PNB box office by calling 206-441-2424, online at www. pnb.org, or in person at 301 Mercer Street, Seattle. Tickets to the Season Encore Performance are currently available for purchase by PNB’s renewing subscribers, and go on sale to the general public on March 3.

Nakamura is one of 13 current principal dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet, including two others of Asian descent: Batkhurel Bold and James Moore.  Marino Saito can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

King County Invitation to Bid Project: On-Call Hazardous Material Abatement Work Order 2014, C00888C13 Sealed Bid Due Time/Date: 1:30 p.m., February 27, 2014 Sealed Bid Location: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: $100,000.

Scope of Work: The work under this Contract consists of furnishing all labor, tools, equipment, materials, incidentals, transportation, services, superintendents, subcontractor coordination and overhead to perform incidental testing, monitoring, inspection and abatement of hazardous materials at various sites primarily in unincorporated King County, Washington. This on-call contract may be used in response to emergency and non-emergency code enforcement situations. Work orders typically include lead and asbestos. Depending on the scope of work issued, associated subcontractors and simultaneous crews may be required.

The work performed under this Contract shall not exceed $100,000.00 and the initial Contract Time shall not exceed 365 calendar days from the date of Contract execution by the County. The County does not guarantee any minimum amount of work or that the dollar amount of the Work Orders issued will to-

tal $100,000.00 during the duration of this Contract.

At the County’s sole discretion, this Contract may be extended for one additional year or until the Not to Exceed Contract Price is reached, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the Contract Time be greater than two years from the date of Contract execution by the County.

Contact Information: Mark Hoge, Contract Specialist, 206-263-9325, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206-296-7675, or mark.hoge@kingcounty.gov. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing.

No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County.

Pre-Bid Conference: 11:30 a.m., February 24, 2014, Hobart Conference Room 214, 35030 SE Douglas St., Dept. of Permitting & Environmental Review, Snoqualmie, WA 98065-9266. No site tour.

Subcontracting Opportunities: Investigation and remedial action recommendations for lead and asbestos; air testing & analysis; incidental testing and monitoring, Apprenticeship Requirements: No minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement.

SCS Utilization Requirements. No minimum SCS Utilization Requirement.

Bid Guaranty: Not less than five percent (5%)

15

of the Total Bid Price.

Bid Documents Electronic copies of the plans, specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation are available on the King County Procurement website shown below. Printed documents may also be ordered by contacting United Reprographics at 206-382-1177. Copies of documents are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review 8:00 a.m.

– 5:00 p.m. M thru F at the Contracts Counter: Chinook Bldg, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104.

To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this solicitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following internet link: Website: www.kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in response to this Invitation to Bid.

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FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 21, 2014