THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604160124
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ZUNI LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Who are the Mann women, and what will they be doing in Zuni on Saturday?
They are the Mann Sisters - Cathey and Debbie. They grew up in Chesapeake singing gospel music in church, went to nursing school, raised their families, and, finally, after all of that, hit the country music scene with a storm.
They are coming to Zuni to be part of the festivities at the Zuni Presbyterian Center's 22nd annual ``Day in the Country,'' a full day of fun, food, music, plant and peanut sales and a look into the quiet, residential campus that helps to train young, mentally handicapped adults to meet the challenges of their world through employment and independent living.
The special day set aside for fun and information traditionally has been held later in the summer, director Robert B. Bishop said recently. But this year, organizers decided springtime might provide better weather and less hectic schedules.
The day starts at 10 a.m. with an introduction to the facility and open house on the campus. The center, established on a 300-acre campus in 1967, is a four-year, transitional, residential program.
Employment programs there offer instruction in basic work readiness skills, custodial work, peanut processing, horticulture and food service. Peanuts processed at the center and plants grown by the residents in several greenhouses surrounding the campus will be sold on the day of the festivities.
The Mann Sisters, nationally known country music recording artists, will highlight the entertainment Saturday, appearing from 12:40 to 1:30 p.m. and again from 2 to 3 p.m.
The sisters recorded their first album, ``It Ain't One Way,'' in August 1994 and currently are working on another album, said their manager, Steve Morgan. Three singles released from the first album all were in the top five positions on the country music charts. ``When You Leave'' hit No. 1.
The Mann Sisters were nominated for three King Eagle Awards from Airplay International in 1995-96: Video of the Year, Duet of the Year, Entertainer of the Year. The sisters won the Duet of the Year award.
The Mann Sisters have been the opening act for some of country music's biggest names, including Billy Ray Cyrus, Roy Acuff, Willie Nelson and Porter Waggoner. The sisters recently opened for Perfect Stranger.
For those who don't like country music, there will be plenty of other things to do at Day in the Country, Bishop said, including horseback riding, hay rides, fishing, face painting, bingo, mule wagon rides, even a greasy pig race.
The entertainment lineup also features clowns Smiley and Dafodilly, The Proclamations from Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church, The Roman Road Puppets and the Peanut City Cloggers.
At 12:30, E. Peter Geitner, president of the Presbyterian Home and Family Services, will talk about some changes planned at the Zuni center, Bishop said.
In addition to plant and peanut sales, there will be plenty of food available: hamburgers, barbecue, hot dogs, Italian sausage, brunswick stew, snow cones and funnel cakes.
Bishop calls the event, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., ``a family day of fun.''
For more information, call 242-6131. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
by CNB