On Saturday February 22 the library will present a double feature – the annual Black History Month concert, entitled “Music of Black America”, featuring Tony Hofler, Jr. at 1:00 p.m. will be followed by an appearance by Dr. Ian K. Smith at 2:00 p.m. 
    A Waterbury native, Hofler began singing in the church choir at age 15. After   attending Wilby High School, he  joined the Marines at age 17 and  entertained at USO Clubs throughout the country.  Back home in Waterbury, he began writing love songs and joined The Modulations, performing locally at night clubs and on the annual Jerry Lewis telethon. He was also a member of Bill Baker’s 5 Satins.  
     The library concert will consist of a history of the music of Black America, including gospel, blues, jazz, and R&B. Hofler, partial to the romantic music of the 50’s and 60’s,  will open with “In the Still of the Night” and close with an upbeat welcoming  tune for diet doctor Ian K. Smith..
     Danbury native Dr. Ian K Smith, a #1 New York Times bestselling author  will be  giving a motivational talk and offering weight lose tips before signing his latest book, Super Shred: The Big Results Diet: 4 Weeks, 20 Pounds, Lose it Faster!. 
     He is a co-host of The Doctors show, medical contributor to The Rachael Ray Show and host of the HealthWatch radio program. He has appeared on the Today show, The Oprah Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, The View, Dr. Oz, and Dr. Phil. He has written for Time, Newsweek, Men’s Health, and the New York Daily News ,and has been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, Red Book, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, People, Essence, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Cosmopolitan   and the University of Chicago Medicine on the Midway.
     A graduate of Harvard, Columbia and the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, he founded the 50 Million Pound Challenge and the Makeover Mile, initiatives that have helped millions of people lose weight and improve their health. Dr. Smith also serves on the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.
    
Waterbury  native Stephany D. Minor will discuss and sign  her book Fear Not, Believe Only: Miracles Received Throughout My Journey Having HIV/AIDS Tuesday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m.
     Shock, fear, and disbelief  were the  feelings that gripped the heart of a young, bright, ambitious Stephany Minor in 1992 – and changed her life forever when she learned she had contracted what was then known as death – the HIV Virus.
Will it develop into AIDS?  Will God heal her? Will she ever marry and have children? Will her career visions wither like a raisin in the sun? Ms. Minor’s journey is an inspirational story of her personal hopes, heartbreaks, and wonders.
     Stephany D. Minor is an internet marketing entrepreneur and blog author for Wealth To You at wealthtoyou.blogspot.com. She loves to play chess and enjoys encouraging others to achieve their visions and goals.
     The public is invited to all the programs.  Admission is free as is parking  during evening programs.
     A calendar of Black History Month events compiled by the Mattatuck Museum will be available  on the library’s website at http://www.bronsonlibrary.org.