BURKITTSVILLE, Md. — The small Maryland town where "The Blair Witch Project" was set has some new welcome signs. Please don't steal them.

"This Is 40" is every inch a Judd Apatow movie, from the pop culture references and potty mouths to the blunt body humor and escapist drug use. Like all the movies he's directed — and it's amazing to think there have only been three previous ones, given his name-brand value — it's a good 20 minutes too long.

Dear Debbie: I have acquired a set of dining chairs that are old but in good condition except for the upholstered seats, which are threadbare. Is it too difficult to recover them myself? - Francoise

Before you hide those Easter eggs, think like a snake - and avoid putting them where a rattler might go. The Phoenix Herpetological Society points out that with the warm weather, rattlesnakes have been active in the Valley and like to hide in places where you might be tempted to hide an Easter egg for Sunday's hunt.

Dear Debbie: I am newly married, and this is our first Christmas in our own place. And big surprise, everyone wants to come here for dinner. Help. Can you please give me some quick decorating ideas that don't cost much? Thank you from my whole family. - Roberta

The winter holidays will be a little less silver, a little more gold, and all glamour this year, if what we’re seeing in stores is any indication.

This week I received two letters that have the same solution. The dilemma for both is deciding on a backsplash for their new kitchens. The first, from Diane, says they have Quaker-style cabinets in a ginger glaze finish, Black Pearl countertops and a bamboo floor. The second, from Kim, describes lower black cabinets and white uppers, and black-and-white marble counters. Both prefer not to introduce another color, and are thinking of gray or gray and black.

At the risk of raising ire from fans and lovers of Hostess snacks, I have to confess: I have never been a fan of Twinkies, Ho Hos, Ding Dongs, Zingers or Suzie Q’s. And I would say, outside of eating a package of powdered-sugar doughnuts on rare occasion, I haven’t touched a Twinkie or Hostess cake in more than 30 years. They were just too sweet for me, and I never liked the taste of them.

When Debbie Wallace looks down the street, she sees blowing dust and broken bottles. She’d rather see something that welcomes people to the Cox Heights neighborhood in south Scottsdale and creates a great first impression. And it won’t be long before she gets her wish.

When Debbie Wallace looks down the street, she sees blowing dust and broken bottles. She’d rather see something that welcomes people to the Cox Heights neighborhood in south Scottsdale and creates a great first impression. And it won’t be long before she gets her wish.

Three out of four Arizona toddlers have received a recommended series of vaccinations against measles, polio and other diseases, according to estimates released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There was no snow at Margie Frost’s block party this year, but no one really seemed to mind.

There was no snow at Margie Frost’s block party this year, but no one really seemed to mind.

ALPINE - The Steeple and Largo fires, both started by lightning in eastern Arizona, had grown to cover 7,700 acres Saturday.

There is little question that when it comes to headlines, it's often the sensational, the embarrassing, the lurid ones that garner the most attention. As a society, we can't help ourselves: We just love to read about people who screw up or cause a scene, especially those in politics.

Quoth the raven:

Dear Debbie: My partner and I have just moved in together, and we are having a debate over how to mix our tastes in decorating. He likes the traditional look with lots of wood, and I prefer a more modern design. I'd like a glass-top dining table; he's not so good with that. Is there any way to blend the two so we can both be happy with the outcome? - Melanie

Nine-year old Zach Wharton loves to cheer on his older brother as he plays in various baseball tournaments throughout the year.

Want to give your look a lift? Forget plastic surgery or Botox, or even microdermabrasion. A new lipstick can do the trick, and so can a chic new haircut.

You heard it here first: Three-year-old Jimmy O’Connor does not have horns growing out of his head.

Sure, we enjoy a quick chuckle as much as the next guy, which is why we love "Saturday Night Live's" minute-long "MacGruber" sketches. But we have to admit, we're a little mystified as to how Will Forte was able to turn them into a feature-length movie.

With Scottsdale’s annual Downtown Week set to begin Tuesday, business owners are beginning the fall season with high hopes for a return to full stores and restaurants.

September 18, 2004

When the time came for Cindy Hindelang to decide how much allowance to give her 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, she opted for $5 a week — less than what her older daughter, Jordan, was paid at that age.