The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 15

Create Missels Italiawe, Cheap Page 6b WALfe 5B ST Wednesday February 6, 2002 JEANNE ABBOTT, Features Editor 51 5-284-8029 e-mail: abbottjnews.dmreg.com trjf ItalHoinfsjBf abler Tops on TV 0 If 7 p.m. on NBC Ed (Tom Cavanagh) faces mortality after the death of a former classmate who founded their high-school rock group. Today's Birthdays Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is 85. Actor Rip Torn is 71. Actor Mike Farrell is 63.

NBC news anchorman Tom Brokaw is 62. Singer Fabian is 59. Singer Natalie Cole is 52. Actor-director Robert Townsend Parent is 45. Actress Kathy Najimy is 45.

Actor Barry Miller Night Fever," is 44. Vocalist Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses is 40. Singer Rick Astley is 36. 1 Iri fen II I BkrZ f- II iin fci urn i iiM I -fcii' ii I I -i 1. fiijimma- 1 1 rimmni iii'i i i i Research: Hormones don't help energy Findings add to the dilemma for women who take supplements to prevent hot flashes, osteoporosis.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Chicago, I1L A new study questions the effectiveness of hormone supplements in improving a woman's mood and energy level. The study found that hormones improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression in postmenopausal women who said they had hot flashes before starting on the pills. However, no significant mental health benefits were found in women without initial hot flashes. These women also reported a more rapid decline in energy and physical activity while on hormones than a placebo group. The findings "should challenge the widely held belief that hormone therapy helps women remain more youthful, active or vibrant," Drs.

JoAnn Maroon and Kathryn Rexrode of Harvard University's Brigham and Women's Hospital said in an accompanying editorial. The study, published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 2,763 postmenopausal women with heart disease, age 67 on average. They reported on their health changes during three years of hormone treatment. Whether similar results would be found in younger women closer to the average age of menopause 51 or in women without heart disease is unknown, the researchers said. The findings add to the dilemma millions of women face over taking hormones at menopause.

The supplements prevent osteoporosis and so-called vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. But there is conflicting evidence about whether the pills help the heart, and some studies have suggested they increase the risk of breast cancer. Many women think taking hormones will improve their mood and their energy levels, and many doctors prescribe the pills for those reasons. Until now, little data existed about such purported benefits, said Dr. Mark Hlat-ky of Stanford University, who led the study.

MAHY CHINDTHE HEGISTEH Harry Hillaker: The most-quoted person in Iowa? BfiB LI UCSLl LI Little-known Iowa weather dates Family Tip Bedtime aid If you have a tough time calming an energetic child before bedtime, try this: Give the child a relaxing, warm bath, then dry him in a towel that has been warmed in the dryer. Put on his pajamas, which have also been warmed in the dryer, and then put him to bed. Thomas R. Steffen, Portland, Ore. 2002 Tom McMahon E-mail a favorite parenting tip to kidtipsaol.com or fax it to (925) 461-6080.

STATE CLIAIATOLOGIST IIARRY IHLLAKER EVEN TRACKS STORM PATTERNS ON VACATION. By MIKE KILEN REGISTER STAFF WRITER 1 he state climatologist slips rubber hooded coat over his blue dress shirt and burgundy tie. Outside, snowflakes fall on his pleasant half -grin. He cups a snowball in his hand. Oct.

1, 1875 Professor Gustavus Hinrichs of the University of Iowa establishes the Iowa Weather Service, now known as the state climatologist's office, the oldest continuously operating state climate service in the nation. May 28, 1947 Snow over northern half of Iowa is greatest May snow and latest snow on record. Le Mars had 10 inches and Cherokee 8. Jan. 24, 1967 Thirteen tornadoes touch down in southeast Iowa, the only occurrence of tornadoes in the state in January.

One resident was killed and 13 injured. June 23, 1981 Hailstorms result in $460 million in crop damage across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Even adjusted for inflation, it is three times greater than crop damage from any other recorded U.S. hailstorm. May 16, 1997 Sioux City broke daily records for the highest and lowest temperature on the same day.

May 16 began with a new record low of 33 degrees in the morning, followed 10 hours later with a record daily high of 91 degrees. CoolWebSites www.michaeljfox.org The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research site features a calendar of organization events, a glossary of Parkinson's terms, organization background and Fox bio info. Lend a Hand While Iowa residents are locked in a typical, weather-related tizzy during this long-awaited first snowstorm of the year, Harry Hillaker is not in a dither. He has spent much of his life gazing at clouds with the wonder of a snowball- Official bucket: Rainfall is measured here.

throwing child, the rest at measuring cold and another of unusual warmth, he is gauges and charts with the button-down often asked to explain the climatic puzzles exactitude of a scientist. that become fodder for conversations in Hillaker, 45, is one of the most quoted coffee shops and on street corners, persons in Iowa media because we care so In a soft, high pitched voice he will deeply about the changing weather. The explain that this heat wave or that flood is telephone inside the tidy cubicle of his not very unusual, at least when you look Johnston office rings relentlessly. In the last two winters, one of extreme See WE.THER, Page 8B TONICS One new meal idea week Go figure: Iowa is 1 Covered: John 4 Ashcroft I objected to this statue, so he had it draped. more open to topless statues Fettuccine Alfredo makes weeknight treat ASSOCIATED PRESS Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic.

However, producing a classic doesnt necessarily entail long hours and a ton of rich ingredients. That's the case with this versioa A feature in the January issue of Sunset magazine makes the point, including the recipe among a collection of "comfort foods from around the world lightened, updated and designed for weeknight dinners." The recipe includes prosciutto and Parmesan cheese to keep a depth of satisfying flavor in this streamlined version that you can make in about 20 minutes. Prosciutto or cured Italian ham is available at Italian markets in Des Moines. Help the staff Help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with mailings, answering phones, data entry and staffing booths at fund-raising events. Contact Melanie Brown at 270-6169.

For more volunteer opportunities or to share one, visit www.unitedwaydm.org. Tomorrow Iowa mules at Olympics A pair of 14-year-old Belgian mules from Brayton will perform at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics on Friday night. Quite Web Look for restaurant and movie reviews at DesMoinesRegister.com entertainment Index Ann Landers 8B Comics 4B Crossword 7B Horoscope 6B TV schedule 7B Fettuccine with peas and prosciutto frozen petite peas 1 ounce thin-sliced prosciutto IVi teaspoons cornstarch 1 cup reduced-fat sour 3Vi cups fat-skimmed chicken broth 2 cups low-fat (1 percent) milk Vt pound dried fettuccine For the record, Gov. Tom cup grated Parmesan cheese Vt teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or ground nutmeg Salt and pepper jy ill Vilsack appears in front of a plain blue curiam in cream VA cups (10-ounce package) a plain room in the basement of the Capi- By LAURIE MANSFIELD REGISTER STAFF WRITER The expensive coverup at the U.S. Justice Department last week could have been avoided.

Attorney General John Ash-croft's staff got a tongue-lashing in the media after spending $8,000 on blue drapes to hide a pair of semi-nude Art Deco statues. The bare breast on one statue, "Spirit of Justice," tended to upstage Ashcroft during his press conferences. The Justice Department could have saved itself all the headache and taxpayer money by considering this alternative: Send the statue to Iowa Out here, the top brass have the foresight not to hold press conferences in front of topless bronzes. toL Iowa Attorney Gen In a 5- to 6-quart pan, combine broth, milk and fettuccine (break fettuccine if necessary to fit into pan); cover and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook, uncovered, stirring often to separate noodles, for 5 minutes.

Add peas and stir occasionally until pasta is tender to bite, 2- to 4-minutes longer. Meanwhile, separate prosciutto slices and cut crosswise into K4-inch-wide strips. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Add to pasta mixture and stir until it boils and thickens. Add sour cream, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste; stir until well blended and heated through, about 1 minute.

Stir in prosciutto. Spoon onto plates. Makes 4 servings. Kutrifiim information ner svin: 36 15 total fat 7.1 saturated tat), 84 588 mg sodium, 39 mg chol. eral Tom Miller speaks to the media in his office with Iowa and American flags in the background.

A better argument is that Iowa has experience handling statues other states passed along as too risque Take the pair of bronzes See STATUES, Page 6B Uncovered: One of several semi-nude figures around the Iowa Statehouse..