Diana Riggs, new resident of Uplands Village in Pleasant Hill, is generous with her musical talent.
Diana became the Director of Music for the Pleasant Hill Community Church, UCC in October 2015
commuting from Little Rock, Arkansas for two weeks each month until she and husband Ron moved to
Pleasant Hill in January 2016. Her talent on the keyboard has been life-long, but her interest in the harp
is fairly recent. She began studying piano at the age of 5 and added organ lessons when she was tall
enough to reach the pedals - at age 13. It wasn't until Diana turned 70 that she became interested in
playing the harp. She had a good friend who had two harps and encouraged her to try one
of hers. After she bought her own, they began playing duets. She plays a 5-octave Dusty Strings Celtic
harp called Luna. Their first “gig” was playing for the Annual Illumination Feast at the Unitarian Church
in Little Rock in 2006. They became known as "Wylde Thyme". After that they performed regularly for
Christmas Programs in churches and at retirement homes in the area. They can be seen on YouTube in
the Arkansas Harp Extravaganza www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz3BCy1gWeY.
Music had been a way of life for many before they moved to this area of Tennessee and
they continue enriching life for self and others in this community, especially in Wharton Homes and
Fletcher House. The Pleasant Hill Ensemble has players of a variety of instruments. Some have pursued
playing their entire lives and others have dusted off musical instruments they hadn’t touched in
years. The “Noters”, a dulcimer group, consists of players new to this instrument and inspired
by Appalachian music developed for this instrument. Fletcher House for Assisted Living residents enjoy
piano or organ music before each evening supper often performed by one of their own. The Muddy
Pond Mennonite singers visit monthly, Ron and Nan Wilkins sing here every month, and other church
and civic choirs often perform. Volunteers at Wharton Homes have found that music opens channels of
communication with elders as they sing-a-long, hum, or sway to tunes never forgotten from
their childhood or teenage years. The Fairfield Glade Rotary Club is partnering with Wharton and other
area nursing homes in developing a program using MP3 players, iPods, and earphones to unlock the
musical memories of dementia sufferers.
The Wharton Sunday Singers warble their way from Lake through Dougherty, then Munson to
Braun Homes with hymns “Our Grandparents Loved”. Monday afternoon “piano parties” involve
Wharton elders requesting their favorites from volunteer musicians and song leaders. A cadre
of talented volunteers share their music with the elders on a regular basis. Erin and Will Siler provide
musical entertainment with guitars and sing-a-longs. Burnett Family Music with Junior Volunteer and
singer Sophie Burnett and Jane Burnett on the piano delight their listeners. Weekly worship led by
Marlene Roach with Jane Heald on the piano and Milt Smith on his fiddle involves “Scripture and Song”.
Newcomers Dicksie and Earl Schmitt delight with violin and Irish drum music. Creative movement
with drumming and dancing involves elders. Music is often in the air, but there is always room for more.
If you have a talent or know of someone with one and wish to share, contact Tawnja Davis, Activities
Coordinator or Tausha Nesbitt, Volunteer Coordinator at 931-787-4217.
This week in Pleasant Hill:
Tues, May 24 from 5-7 pm Adshead Hall of Fletcher House. Regaining Optimal Health –
Preventing and Reversing Diabetes Seminars: “Oxidative Stress and Inflammation”, Register at 931-4848249 $20 per family.
Wed, May 25, 5:30 pm, Documentaries: “Eating” US diet and its impacts and “Materialism” the
impact of consumption in Room 4, PH Community Church/UCC Main Street & Church Drive in Pleasant
Hill.
Thurs, May 26, 10 - 10:30 am, PH Weather Siren TESTING.
Thurs, May 26, 7 pm, Community Bridge, Fletcher House Dining Room, all welcome. Call 2775005.
Fri, Sat, Sun, May 27-29 Mindfulness Meditation Reteat. “Getting Unstuck – Finding Freedom in
Openness” at Earth Heart Center, 44 E. Main Street, Pleasant Hill. Call Rebecca Kilmer, 931-287-2826 or
email [email protected] for registration information.
Sat May 28, 2016 10 am – 3 pm The Grab thrift shop in Pleasant Hill will hold its monthly
$1.00/bag Sale. Call 931-287-3018.
Sat, May 28, Singings at The Garden: Gospel groups 4 and 6 pm, free dinner at 5 pm. 603
Genneta Lane, Pleasant Hill. Call Monica at 931- 200-5278.
Tues, May 31 Byrd Creek, Cumberland Mt. State Park – 2 mile Hike. Meet at 10 am in the PH
Community Church parking lot at the corner of Church and Main Streets to carpool.
[email protected]
931-277-5467