

By Malcolm Ritter
The Associated Press
Two Japanese scientists and a Japanese American won the 2008 Nobel Prize in physics on Oct. 7 for theoretical advances that help explain the behavior of the smallest particles of matter.
The American, Yoichiro Nambu, 87, of the University of Chicago, won half the $1.4 million prize for mathematical work he did nearly a half-century ago. Read the full story

Novelist and teacher Peter Bacho believes everybody has a story to tell. The Filipino American recalls his own humble beginnings, growing up poor in Seattle’s Central District in the 1950s. A juris doctorate, masters degree and two award-winning novels later, Bacho is now being honored as a pioneer who paved the way for Asian Americans in literature.
His self-professed passion is investigating the plight of his people. “I have a great empathy for folks that are hustling to make it,” he said. “Who must always knock down barriers of class and race, and this is reflected in my work.”
Meet Peter Bacho on Oct. 11 at China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle. He is one of Northwest Asian Weekly’s nine honorees for the Asian American Pioneer Dinner. Tickets are $75. For more information or to register, please e-mail rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.


According to former editor Naomi Pascal, she was associated with the Press “almost from the beginning, with the development of the Press’ pioneering program of publishing books by and about Asian Americans.” In 1973, the Press had issued or reissued “a long list of books on subjects of special interest to Asian Americans,” she said.
“With the help of an informal group of advisors, we became the first university press to make a serious commitment to this field, and our list, a combination of scholarly studies; original works of fiction, biography and drama; and inexpensive paperback reprints of out-of-print classics … have kept us in the forefront in this area.”
Meet prominent UW Press staff on Oct. 11 at China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle. He is one of Northwest Asian Weekly’s nine honorees for the Asian American Pioneer Dinner. Tickets are $75. For more information or to register, please e-mail rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.


From left: Charlotte Marsden, Vi Mar, Quincy Jones, Fran Dolgoff and Irene Mano
The newly remodeled Garfield High School’s grand opening was on the weekend of Sept. 26. Close to 90 people were in attendance. The program started with a dedication of the Quincy Jones Performance Center and ended with the Garfield Jazz Ensemble playing “Stockholm Sweetnin” directed by Quincy Jones himself.
On Sunday, Sept. 28, Jones joined his 1950 Garfield classmates for a reunion brunch at O’Asian Restaurant where he told classmates how much he loved Garfield saying, “we had it all — all races” and “we all got along.” ♦


Carol Vu
Esteemed former NW Asian Weekly editor Carol Vu earned third place in the Minorities category for her article, “Asian anxious in wake of massacre” from the Society of Professional Journalists. Her article dealt with the aftermath of Virginia Tech.

James Tabafunda
Additionally, NW Asian Weekly reporter James Tabafunda won honors from The Washington Newspaper Publisher’s Association (WNPA). Tabafunda won third place in the category Best Crime and Courts Story for his article “Cambodian American community frustrated and angry over Sidorchuk’s release.”

Amy Phan
Last, but not at all least, NW Asian Weekly reporter Amy Phan accomplished a “first” for the Weekly. She was honored by the WNPA with first place for her article, “Diversifying the funnies” about cartoonists in the Best Story on the Arts category. ♦


From left: Assunta Ng and award presenters Jose Gaiton and Debbie Bird.
Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post publisher Assunta Ng was honored on Sept. 19 by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. She won the Safeco Minority Best Business Practice Award. Other winners in this category were Claudia Kauffman of Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Percell Johnson of Cassel Inc. and Mike Sotello of Approach Management Services.
Each awardee recieved $2500. Ng donated her award money to Family Services as part of Seattle 4 Rotary Centennial Project. ♦