Tuesday, Oct. 22 has been proclaimed National Child Care Provider Recognition Day, and to celebrate this occasion, the Early Childhood Development Commission of the City of Suffolk will sponsor a banquet at 7 p.m. in the Holiday Inn. This is being held to recognize unsung heroes – child care providers – and to recognize their dedication and hard work.

The year’s theme is &uot;Children are Natural Artists&uot; and the guest speakers for the evening is a husband-and- wife team, Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner, from Wolf trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Magpie, the versatile duo of this couple performs a blend of folk, country, blues, jazz and swing style music and tours extensively through Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, and the United States. Their virtuosity includes playing the guitar, harmonica, concertina, mandolin, banjo-mandolin, and the fretted dulcimer. Their many recordings include &uot;Circle of Life,&uot; a collection of some of the finest songs for children on the subject of the environment; this work has been greeted with great acclaim by children, parents, teachers, and by such notable organizations as the National Audubon Society. In 2000, collaborating with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Leonino and Artzner wrote and performed a new &uot;museum musical&uot; entitled, &uot;Tales of the Blue Crab&uot; with fun upbeat songs detailing the life cycle of the Chesapeake Bay’s most famous resident species. They have also written and performed a two-person stage play with a companion CD based on the life and letters of famed abolitionist John Brown and his wife Mary, entitled, &uot;Sword of the Spirit.&uot;

They have been professional musicians since 1973. Artzner studied music and theater while in college and joined the Wolf Trap Institute at his wife’s urging in 1984. Leonino holds three degrees in education, two of those in special education. She also has worked with the Wolf Trap Institute since 1982.

During their speech presentation, the couple will also perform a workshop juxtaposing music with a serious look at ecology. The workshop will additionally include songs about animal and play life as well as other resources such as water, trees and air.

Wolf Trap is a nationally acclaimed performing arts center since the 1960s and is located in Vienna.

In other highlights of the program, a special award, the &uot;Tender Loving Care&uot; award will also be presented to one provider in each child care business who has been selected by peers who represents kindness, respect, and creativity needed to be a quality child care provider.

As a special treat, Suffolk children who have participated in Hugh Copeland’s Hurrah Players will present several selections of their last two plays during the dinner hour the banquet.

The first 100 providers to register will be given a tape recording of their most popular songs.

All childcare providers in the city have been invited.

Lottie Fenwick is the program organizer.