Editor’s note: This story was chosen as one of our top 12 in 2010. Tragic events in the community are always the hardest stories to cover, both logistically and emotionally. The West Seattle murder was an event that stunned everyone and was detrimental to the Cambodian community. We did our best to cover this story in a way that differed from other news outlets.

By Tiffany Ran
Northwest Asian Weekly

This is the house where the West Seattle shooting occurred. It is in the 9400 block of 14th Avenue Southwest, off of Southwest Roxbury Street. (Photos by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW)

Before her death, Saroeun Phan, 60, had shared happy memories with friends and family. Her friends recall that she was happy when celebrating her granddaughter’s birthday and was welcoming when eating a smoked salmon dinner with friends. She was described as being kind and sweet-natured. Family friends commended Phan as a woman that always spoke sweetly and was always cooperative and respectful. She was the matriarch to a large multi-generational family and a preserver of traditions in the community. She performed traditional songs and dances at Cambodian weddings and dressed brides and bridesmaids for the ceremony. Read the full story

By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly

Actors Dustin Nguyen and Kathy Uyen in a scene from their upcoming movie, “Fool for Love” (Photo provided by de-mai-tinh.com)

Actor Dustin Nguyen wanted a role that was “light and sort of fun” after playing a mentally challenged martial artist in the 2009 film “The Legend is Alive.” Read the full story

By Jason Cruz
Northwest Asian Weekly

Rebecca Kelley (right) high-fives a friend during the run portion of Ironman Canada. (Photo by Laura Lee)

“You gonna die!” exclaimed Rebecca Kelley’s mother when Kelley, 27, told her mother the distance she must cover to complete an Ironman Triathlon.

Kelley, a self-proclaimed “mediocre athlete,” competed in Ironman Canada in Penticon, British Columbia, on Aug. 29.

Kelley did not die. In fact, she completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-run in 12 hours and 38 minutes.

Kelley began participating in triathlons in 2008. She started training with a track group and was “swept into the whole triathlon thing.” Her training group, TN Multisports, focuses on group workouts, events, and races, while also setting goals for individuals.

A native of Detroit, Mich., Kelley moved to Seattle for college. Kelley attended the University of Washington in 2006 where she majored in Communications and minored in Spanish. Read the full story

Humor columnist Wayne Chan

By Wayne Chan
Northwest Asian Weekly

As we’ve all recently celebrated World No Tobacco Day … actually, let me rephrase that. I may be overstating things.

As we’ve all observed World No Tobacco Day … no, that’s not exactly right, either. Let me try one more time. Read the full story

By Tim Woodward
The Idaho Statesman

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Harvesting vegetables from a garden on Cole Road reminds Tulashi Regmi of life in his former homeland, the “happiest place in Asia.” Read the full story

By Jessica Dealy
WTOK-TV

MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) — Michael and Karyn Brown of Starkville are one of about a dozen U.S. families who were planning to adopt a child from Nepal, until the U.S. government called a temporary halt to such adoptions. Read the full story

By Tim Sullivan
The Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — The banners were erected at the little hillside enclave while everyone was at work, long blue and purple signs with a smiling cartoon tiger proclaiming the arrival of the Commonwealth Games. Read the full story

By Foster Klug
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. President Barack Obama and Southeast Asian leaders met Friday to discuss territorial disputes with China and a fast-growing trade relationship, with Obama pledging to take a strong role in regional affairs. Read the full story

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The U.S. government said last Sunday that it made an “honest mistake” when it displayed an inverted Philippine flag — which wrongfully signified that the Southeast Asian nation was in a state of war — in a meeting hosted by President Barack Obama. Read the full story

By Sarah Yee
Northwest Asian Weekly

Dr. Anthony Chen

“Regardless of how good of a doctor you are, a lot of other elements are involved in patient care,” said Dr. Anthony Chen.

Chen made this statement while pondering the positions he has held in the past. He has been a family doctor and an advocate for underrepresented populations, and he is currently the director of health of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

His father is a doctor, but his three older brothers did not pursue the same path. His dream of being a doctor was eventually realized — but he didn’t immediately run with it.

“No, I didn’t want to go to med school at first,” said Chen.

In his undergraduate program, he studied biology and cultural anthropology. It was the philosophical part of his studies that intrigued him. Read the full story

There are two positions open this year for the International Special Review District (ISRD) board. One is for a business person, property owner, or employee, and one for an at-large member. Read the full story

Lake Washington Technical College’s Student Support Services department has been awarded two United States Department of Education TRIO grants totaling $2.29 million over five years. Read the full story

SEATTLE (AP) — Two men are accused of committing a hate crime in the robbery and beating of a Seattle teen. Read the full story

By Samantha Pak
Northwest Asian Weekly

Wife and husband Cindy and Charles Martin realized their dreams this year by opening the Seattle Pinball Museum in the International District. (Photos by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW)

Charles Martin has always had a passion for pinball.

Now, after a lifetime of enjoying the game, he is sharing his passion with the rest of the Northwest by opening the Seattle Pinball Museum.

Located at 508 Maynard Ave. S. in the International District (ID), the museum’s grand opening was on Sept. 4. Read the full story

By Vivian Miezianko
Northwest Asian Weekly

Sudarsan Pattnaik, a sand artists from India, stands in front of one of his intricate creations. Pattnaik’s work can be seen in Federal Way until Oct. 3. (Photo provided by Sudarsan Pattnaik)

What descriptive expressions come to mind when the word art is mentioned? Beautiful, moving, avant-garde, magnificent, shocking? Read the full story

By Alexa Olesen
The Associated Press

Image by NWAW staff

BEIJING (AP) — China will continue to limit most families to just one child in the coming decades, state media said Sept. 27, despite concerns about the policy’s problematic side effects, such as having too few girls and a rapidly aging population. Read the full story