May 5, 1999

Eliahu Inbal, an Israeli, is appointed chief conductor of Berlin Symphony Orchestra; Central Park Summerstage will begin new season of pop music, dance and opera at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on June 12; photo of pop star Marianne Faithful; music of Frank Sinatra will be celebrated on May 8, at tribute that concludes Jazz Piano at the Y series at 92d St Y; photo of pianist Dick Hyman; book bought for $1.20 at Dutch flea market last month turns out to hold two Rembrandt etchings that were sold to private collector in Germany for $50,000 (M)

David Gonzalez About New York column notes that Manhattan International Manager Laurie Kilpatrick is soccer mom to young players who come from Africa, Caribbean and Latin America (M)

Inquiry Clears Holbrooke Richard C. Holbrooke, President Clinton's nominee as chief diplomat to the United Nations, was cleared in an inquiry over speaking fees accepted while he was an envoy. PAGE A8 Prostate Cancer Guidelines A simple method has been developed for estimating the risk that prostate cancer will recur and turn deadly in men who have had their prostates removed. PAGE A22

Cuban national baseball team makes hasty departure from Baltimore, after celebrating 12-6 victory over Orioles, but without at least seven members of traveling party; one, 54-year-old pitching coach Rigoberto Herrera, walks into Baltimore police station and requests asylum; Cuban officials say other six overslept, but Repr Robert Menendez doubts that account; political embarrassment seen for Pres Fidel Castro, who greets returning players at Havana airport; photo (M)

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column on Pittsburgh Penguins eliminating New Jersey Devils in first round of NHL playoffs; contends that Martin Brodeur was never hot goaltender that team needs in playoffs; photo (M)

Serbs and a few Albanians are trickling back to Pristina, so that Kosovo capital now displays imitation of ordinary life, as long as one does not focus on empty, looted Albanian districts, bomb damage and nearly total absence of children; photos; map; city has had little bombing for month, some cafes have reopened during day, there is coffee, electricity and usually running water, but also lines for bread and no gasoline for private sale; NATO bombs echo day and night; some Albanians remain at home while sympathetic Serbian neighbors shop for them or make Serbian nameplates for their doors; others continue to flee; worst rampages seem over for now, and one Serbian official says Serbs will feel shame later on for what they have done; he describes 'catastrophe' in Pec and Podujevo, where 'vile and angry people' were 'out of control'; authorities in Pristina, advertising return of sanity, say 350 Serbian civilians, police and soldiers have been arrested for crimes like looting and arson (M)

Gov George E Pataki presses ahead with his effort to stiffen New York's laws against domestic violence, proposing lifetime orders of protection, tougher bail requirements for accused batterers and increased penalties for several offenses; says his legislation will strengthen protections for victims by insuring that judges, prosecutors and police have more tools to fight domestic violence (M)

Amanda Hesser article on french fries; describes her efforts to make perfect french fries at home; photos; recipes (L)

An Apache helicopter crashed on a training mission in Albania, killing the pilot, United States military officials said. The pilot is believed to be the first American to be killed in the Kosovo crisis. The co-pilot is missing in the early morning crash.

Litter-filled wasteland is virtually all that remains of Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, town of 8,000 people ravaged by huge tornados; eight men, two women and an infant were killed, scores more people are injured and five are still missing; estimated 235 houses were destroyed by storms that left six-mile-long, one-mile-wide skid mark on the earth; trees are denuded and ground is littered with dead farm animals; rural town had many mobile homes and no warning sirens; photos of similar devastation in Moore, Oklahoma, and in Wichita, Kansas, where Ruth Horn is shown hugging her rescued cat, Chance (M)

Spaldeen, small, pink rubber ball, will go on sale at New York City sporting goods stores for first time since it was discontinued two decades ago; ball inspired urban kids, with limited access to green space, to turn their neighborhood streets into playing fields for made-up games like hit-the-penny and stickball; spaldeens were first sold in 1950's by Spalding Co; New Yorkers with thick accents gave ball its name when they pronounced Spalding as spaldeen; company stopped selling ball when it moved its tennis ball plant to Taiwan in 1978; photos (M)

Pittsburgh Penguins beat New Jersey Devils, 4-2, and win opening-round playoff series, 4-3; photo (M)