The Miami Woman's Club will present the Historian of the Year award to Howard Kleinberg at it monthly luncheon on Feb. 14, in the Grand Ballroom at the Doubletree Grand Hotel, 1717 N. Bayshore Dr.

Kleinberg began his journalistic career as a high school sports correspondent at The Miami News in 1949 and became a full-time staffer the following year. Over the years, he rose through the ranks of the newspaper to become executive sports editor, news editor, managing editor and ultimately becoming the paper's last editor. He held that position from 1976-1988.

Kleinberg continued his writing career by writing a column twice a week on national and international affairs for Cox Newspapers, which was distributed world-wide by the New York Times News Service into the turn of the century. Kleinberg also wrote a weekly local history column for The Miami Herald for 10 years after the Miami News folded in 1988.

He is the author of six books. They include a book on Miami's history; one on Hurricane Andrew and another on the history of Miami Beach. He also has written a book on the history of Miami High School (which he attended), a history on Miami Beach's hotels and a history of the famous Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant. Kleinberg is currently participating in the upcoming book about the Cuban exile experience and a biography of Orange Bowl originator and impresario Earnie Seiler..

Kleinberg is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He is married and lives in Palmetto Bay with Natalie, his wife of nearly 59 years. They are the parents of four adult children — one followed Kleinberg in the newspaper business and writes for the Palm Beach Post. The Kleinbergs also have nine grandchildren.

The community is invited to this event, which will start at 11:30 a.m. with networking. Lunch will follow at noon. The cost is $23 for members and $28 for non-members. Call Nancy Smith at 305-891-3789 or send an email to nsmith2686.att.net, to make your reservations.

Black history

Lecturer/teacher Richard Rodriguez will present the "Ideology of Divine Retribution for Slavery in the Writings of the Abolitionists from 1776-1865," at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale at 5 p.m. on Feb. 13.

In his presentation, Rodriguez will discuss the historical role the Bible played in the Abolition Movement in America. "Scripture was used to argue that God would punish the United States because of the sin of oppression," Rodriguez said. "This ideology can be traced from 1776 , the year of America's independence, to 1865, the year of African-American emancipation. Abraham Lincoln is the most notable American to suggest that the Civil War was perhaps God's punishment for slavery."

The African-American Library and Cultural Center is at 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-357-2810 for more information.

It's free.

Writer’s group

The Lamplighters Writers Group will be featured at the Homestead Center for the Arts Bea Peskoe Lunchtime Lecture Series, to be at noon on Feb. 6, in the main gallery on the second floor of Art South, 240 N. Krome Ave.

The Lamplighters is a group of from 12 to 15 local authors who have been meeting for 11 years. The group was originally known as the Loose Feathers and was renamed Lamplighters by one of its organizers, the late Miguel Perez.