Local musicians earn Indian Summer Music Awards nominations

Claremont resident and recording artist Steve Rushingwind, along with musical partner Michael Mucklow, has been honored with 6 nominations for the upcoming Indian Summer Music Awards, to be held in Milwaukee on Saturday, September 8.

The Indian Summer Music Awards recognizes and promotes the best in Native American music created by both established and emerging artists. A panel of industry professionals from across the music and entertainment industries will judge the nominated entries. Songs nominated by Rushingwind and Mucklow’s 2011 album “Among the Ancients” includes “Maricopa 1890,” “Cahuilla Sunrise” and “Spirit of the Wolf.”

The duo has been performing together, with Mr. Rushingwind on the native American flute and Mr. Mucklow playing guitar since 2009, with 3 albums released to date. Three of their songs were used in the independent film “Wild Horses and Renegades” released in 2010. They are recipients of 2011 and 2012 New Mexico Music Awards and were nominated for Best New Age Recording and Best Producer for Ancient Elements at the 2011 Native American Music Awards.

House check offered to vacationing residents

Claremont residents are invited to take part in the Claremont Police Department’s Vacation House Check program for those leaving their residence for vacation, business or personal reasons.

As part of the program, community patrol officers will perform house checks. Suspicious activity will be reported to officers on duty, who will check the residence for further abnormalities. Applications for the free program may be printed online or picked up at the Claremont Police Department, 570 W. Bonita Ave. Forms must be dropped off in person to the CPD. Those submitted online or by mail will not be accepted. For more information, contact the police department at 399-5411.

Jazz, rock at final 2 Concerts in the Park

Though the summer season draws to a close and Claremont kids return to school this week, the seasonal music and festivities of the Concerts in the Park continue through Monday, September 3.

This Monday, listen to the melodic Dixieland tunes of the Night Blooming Jazzmen beginning at 7:30 p.m. Classic Rock favorite The Answer will round out the summer concert series September 3. Join the fun before the concert by partaking in a picnic dinner or stopping by the Kiwanis Club concession stand starting at 6 p.m. Concerts run until 9 p.m.

Pilgrim Place offers ESL classes to health care center employees

On a journey to transform the way care is provided in its skilled nursing setting—based on resident-centered values and practices—Pilgrim Place has discovered that enhancing the communication skills of the limited-English- speaking staff is making a difference.

“The job description of the housekeeping staff has become that of homemaker,” said Sue Fairley, vice president of health services at Pilgrim Place. “Their jobs have been expanded as part of care teams to include more daily interaction with the residents, including feeding them and tending to other needs. It is not uncommon for this staff to be made up largely of limited-English-speaking workers. Better communication skills make it easier for both the employees and the residents.”

Four members of the homemaking staff attend ESL (English as a second language) classes 3 times a week for an hour a day at Pilgrim Place. Pat Hynds, a Pilgrim Place resident and retired Maryknoll missioner, volunteered to teach the classes.

In addition to her missionary work, Ms. Hynds taught ESL at the junior high, high school and community college level. She is assisted by several other volunteers and residents of Pilgrim Place. The students come 30 minutes early for the class, on their own time, and the second half-hour of the class is treated as part of their work day.

“It is amazing how quickly these classes have allowed them to overcome their timidity,” Ms. Hynds said.

There was a lot of excitement when a recent staff meeting was held entirely in English without the need of a translator, according to Pilgrim Place staff.

“Being able to communicate reduces anxiety as we transition into this new mode of care,” Ms. Hynds said. “They really feel as if they are part of the team. One of the students even took it upon herself to enroll in adult school. That’s progress.”

Pilgrim Place, founded in 1915, is a senior community for 350 retired clergy, missionaries and social activists. In the last 3 years Pilgrim Place has transformed the 56-bed health services center, which is also available to the wider community, from a traditional medical model to a more patient-centered one. 

Chief among the benefits of this new model, according to Pilgrim Place, is the restored dignity to the oldest members of our society, who must rely on someone else for many of life’s essentials.