Andy Rooney, Plus Science, History and Politics, Are on Bill for Speakers Series

“Sixty Minutes” commentator Andy Rooney and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin are among the headliners of the upcoming second annual Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series at the Newport Beach Central Library.

The four-part Friday evening series begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 with David Levy, co-discoverer of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet and 20 other comets. The curmudgeonly Rooney, whose “A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney” segment on television’s “Sixty Minutes” has earned him three Emmy Awards, will speak March 19. Susan Estrich--a USC law professor, political commentator and KABC (790) talk-radio host--will appear April 23. Goodwin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “No Ordinary Time,” a biography of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, will speak May 21.

Tickets--$35 each for Newport Beach Public Library Foundation members and $40 for the general public--go on sale Monday. The ticket price includes a buffet dinner. For more information, call (949) 644-3296 or (949) 717-3890.

Tickets are also on sale for “60 Minutes With Lesley Stahl,” part of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation’s Manuscript Lecture Series. Stahl speaks at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the library. The veteran CBS News reporter and “60 Minutes” correspondent will discuss her new book, “Reporting Live.” Cost: $13; $10 for foundation members. For reservations, call (949) 644-3392.

Also Coming Up:

* Poets Darryl Kozak and Paul Suntup will read at 8 p.m. today at the Alta Coffee House and Roasting Co., 506 31st St., Newport Beach. Free.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview Douglas Messerli, publisher and editor of Sun & Moon Press in Los Angeles, at 6 p.m. today on KUCI-FM (88.9) in Irvine.

* Y.N. Chang will speak and sign “Small Footsteps, Giant Shadows,” a look at 50 prominent women in Chinese history, at 7 p.m. Friday at Borders Books and Music, 429 S. Associated Road, Brea.

* Steve Allen will discuss and sign “Murder in Hawaii” and “Dumbth” at 1 p.m. Sunday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Rochelle Krich will sign “Blood Money” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Children’s book author John Reitano and illustrator William Haines, authors of “What If the Zebras Lost Their Stripes?”--an innovative children’s book that aims to teach youngsters to eschew racial prejudice--will read, sign and discuss the creative process at 7 p.m. Monday at Barnes & Noble, 791 Main. St., Orange.

* Michael Connelly will sign his new Harry Bosch mystery, “Angels Flight,” at 7 p.m. Monday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Wendy Shalit, author of “A Return to Modesty,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, So Cal Living, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.