People

MRS. RON HOWARD ... AUTHOR

It's tough being the spouse of a Hollywood celebrity. Some are seldom seen, content with enjoying the perks associated with being married to "wealth." Others are activists, including Jay Leno's wife Mavis. She openly crusaded for the rights of women in Afghanistan before the recent changes there. Another who has a true life of her own is the wife of Academy Award-winning director Opie Taylor, er, rather Ron Howard. According to columnist Liz Smith, Cheryl Howard is putting the finishing touches on an expansive adventure novel. It's plot concerns the travels of an American woman in Western Asia and her search for her missing sister, caught up in violence in Northern India. In researching the book Cheryl Howard spend several months in the region, even going undercover -- dressed in native garb -- and living with local families. The novel is to be called "In the Face of Jinn."

KATHIE LEE STILL BITTER ABOUT SHOW

In the upcoming issue of Ladies Home Journal controversial entertainer Kathie Lee Gifford has even more to say about her longtime association with Regis Philbin and their TV talk show. Even hubby Frank Gifford confirms in the interview with the magazine that Kathie Lee was never happy with the show and left two years ago after seeing the broadcast stuck in a rut of "sameness." The Giffords say they have seldom watched the show since her departure. Kathie Lee confirms in the article that she is working on a tell-all book about her association with the show and will speak openly about the controversy that surrounded the possible use of child labor in the production of her signature clothing line. She says that when she left the Philbin show, in essence she wasn't really there anyway; her heart had exited the program years prior.

BEST NEW AMERICAN CHEFS HONORED

The folks at Food and Wine magazine have published their annual list of the best new chefs in the country. And, according to the publication's editor-in-chief Dana Cowin, compiling the list is the "most fun thing" of the year. Nearly a dozen chefs from a variety of eateries across the country are saluted in the latest issue of the magazine. Topping the list is Grant Achatz of Trio's Restaurant in Chicago. A highlight of this year's awards banquet was the reuniting of the first group of honorees, the 1988 best new chefs. Many from that initial class have gone on to become internationally recognized. Photographs of the awards ceremonies and profiles of this year's winners will appear in the July issue of the publication. This year's winners will also participate in a "cook off" to be held in Aspen, Colo., in June.

WOMAN KILLED IN 'IRONIC' ACCIDENT

We've all seen photographs of auto accidents printed in newspapers and shown on TV news broadcasts where the gruesome scene includes a street sign that says "Dead End." Now in Minnesota a traffic accident has taken the life of a passenger in a car and the crash scene also has an ironic twist. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune says that a St. Paul woman died when her car in which she was riding crashed into a large "Welcome to Minnesota" sign on Interstate 94 this week. The accident victim was a 47-year-old woman who died shortly after being airlifted to a nearby hospital. The driver of the car survived the accident. Police report that a search of the crashed car, which had just crossed into Minnesota from Wisconsin, contained a speeding ticket that the driver had been given just three hours before the fatal crash.

POPULAR STEWART OPTS OUT OF INDY

Officials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are beginning to process applications for this year's running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." But among the already announced no-shows will be Tony Stewart. He's famous for having hopped a plane to be able to participate both in the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day last year. Stewart, in a statement released to the media, says that he wants to spend this year concentrating on winning the Winston Cup and feels that going to Indy -- no matter how steeped in tradition is that race -- would dilute his chances on the stock car circuit. Stewart is currently No. 12 in the Winston Cup standings, some 204 points behind the current leader, Sterling Marlin. Stewart says that by not going to Indy he has a better chance of qualifying in a higher position for this year's other Memorial Day event and will have a better chance of winning ... and compiling more points.

HORSE RACING LEGEND HAS NEW HOME

In a column called People in the News it might seem heresy to spend ink talking about a horse, but Seattle Slew is not just any horse. And the legendary 1977 Triple Crown Winner is in the news, moving to new digs from the farm he's called home since 1985. In a letter to the owners of stock in the horse, veterinarians announced that Slew will be leaving Hill 'n' Dale Farms (near Lexington, Ky.) and the famous Three Chimney's breeding shed so he can "lead a solitary life for a while." Slew is recuperating from recent neck surgery. He had two vertebrae fused on March 2 and doctors feel that he needs to concentrate on getting well, not making whoopee. Slew is the only living Triple Crown winner and is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. Slew is in his late 20s.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 303

First of all, let me thank the many of you who have submitted questions for future use. You'll start seeing them soon. So, today's question. It's prompted by my discovery this week (near a dumpster) of a never-played store-bought videotape of "West Side Story." Did some young person buy it, not knowing what it was, and tossed it when he or she discovered that it was an "urban ballet?" So, here goes: "Do any young people today have an understanding of melody? With hip-hop and rap do any kids you know ever listen to MUSIC anymore?" Put MUSIC in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 298 (WTC)

Last week we asked your feelings about what should be done at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Here is a sampling of your responses: Many of you, including SJ, feel that what is needed is a wonderful memorial, large enough to represent the enormity of what happened that day. Brenda feels that a memorial park would best serve the mood and the memory. Cheri also says that any memorial should also include the names of the people who died at the Pentagon and in the Pennsylvania plane crash. Mike and Tish go one step further: Put a hospital for kids there. Even though the thought of a memorial won out 2-to-1 in our poll, those who wanted the towers rebuilt were just as adamant in their comments. MTM suggests that the towers be rebuilt "bigger and better than ever." He suggests FOUR towers with vacant floors for memorials. TOMORROW: What you would hide were Mom to suddenly knock on the door. GBA.