Was it pre-election jitters or was it more?

Four male juveniles, ages 14-17, were charged Thursday with armed robbery and aggravated assault in an attempted robbery at Regal Jewelers in Shannon Mall.

Patrick Malloy Communities announced the opening of Phase II at its popular new community, Providence Place. The townhome community is located near the intersection of Flat Shoals Road and Old National Highway in South Fulton County. It is conveniently located to I-285 and I-85, as well as Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and downtown Atlanta. Local shopping and dining are just minutes away.

KB Home, the New Orleans Saints and Monster.com Atlanta are hoping to put smiles on the faces of a few lucky New Orleans hurricane Katrina evacuees in Atlanta this holiday season. From Nov. 11-21, evacuees can register for a chance to win two tickets to the Dec. 12 (Monday night) football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Saints at the Georgia Dome.

Crew members from Image Master Productions install a camera on a vehicle near Shannon Mall used in the filming of commercial to run statewide for the Click-it or Ticket campaign.

Hollywood glam, shimmer and shine the latest in home design

By Charlyne Varkonyi Schaub
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Since you can’t grow extra hands to help pick up all the leaves you rake, Lawn Claws may be the best alternative.

Lawn Claws are molded plastic scoops that let you grab more leaves, sticks, mulch or other stuff at one time. The handle straps can be adjusted to fit hands of different sizes, and hanging holes allow for simple storage.

Q: There is a “slamming” when the toilet valve shuts off. I recently replaced floating arms in both our toilets with floating cup ball cocks. Now, when the water shuts off, the valve slams shut hard and it sounds like a water hammer. What should I do?

Scented candles have many fans. They offer a pleasant fragrance and a soft romantic ambience and look pretty when burning. The scent can be therapeutic. But they can also cause smoke damage and require intense vigilance. The newest trend is less hazardous and lower maintenance. Make way for diffusion sticks. They are called “reed diffusers,” which are sticks of wood that stand in containers of scented liquid and wick the fragrance into the room.

If your toilet gives you trouble by not flushing properly, you might suspect the problem is low water pressure. But pressure has nothing to do with it. The water in the tank does the job. It fills the bowl and starts the flush-and-siphon action in the P-trap below. Gravity starts a flush and natural siphoning draws it through.

Q: We’ve been sneezing a lot since moving into our new home a few months ago. My wife’s friend says we may have a problem with indoor air quality. How can we find out more about this type of problem?

You probably already know how tough Gorilla Glue is. Now that toughness has been incorporated into a tape.

Gorilla Tape is made for the kinds of heavy-duty jobs that duct tape is usually used for, but it’s designed to stick better in the long run. The adhesive is made to stick to metal as well as rough or porous surfaces including wood, stucco, plaster and brick. The tape is thicker than conventional duct tape, weather-resistant and reinforced by a fiber webbing that can still be ripped by hand.

Remember the “Blondie & Dagwood” shows with the midnight cravings for a sandwich? This master suite (above) is equipped with a wet bar complete with refrigerator, sink and wine rack.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were a twin blow to consumers and builders heading into fall projects. Numerous reports forecast steep price hikes for building materials as a result.

Q: I have a plumbing problem wherein the toilet appears to bubble up water and the bowl completely fills with water upon flushing. It requires about 30 minutes for the water to drain out. When it does, it almost completely drains out. I have tried using a plunger, but to no avail. Please advise.

Handsome maple built-ins frame the transom windows of this classy home office (above). What a difference some woodworking makes compared to a blank rear wall behind the desk.

Your screwdriver can be your friend. Out in the field under fire, it’s a lifesaver.

Today’s tool is stronger, safer and more useful than ever before. Now you can forget about bent shanks, broken handles, injured wrists and stripped heads.

Want to catch a pesky cricket that’s been around for days? Dampen a few washcloths and spread them out in your kitchen and bathroom sinks.

The inner or outer cord on the window covering can pose a strangulation risk when you children play with them and become inadvertently entangled.

It may look like a modern family room, but looks can deceive. This stunning room (above) is actually a master bedroom retreat, and that means a no-kids zone. Well, maybe by invitation only, but buyers of higher-end homes are choosing to have a sitting room space adjacent to the master bedroom to get away from the hustle and bustle of the work world.

Q: We had a new stainless steel flue put in our fireplace, along with a new spark-arrestor and cap on top. They cleaned the old fireplace from top to bottom. Now smoke is coming out of the hearth. What’s the problem?

Tension rods are usually more practical than pretty, but Umbra has changed that.

The company, known for making functional objects with flair, introduced drapery tension rods designed to look good and work well. The rods come in aged brass, pewter, black and white, and have decorative finials in contemporary and traditional designs. The rod and its spring mechanism are also better quality than run-of-the-mill tension rods, the company says.

Calling Lew French’s work masonry is like referring to Michaelangelo’s as stone-cutting. French is an artist whose medium is the stones he fits together with exacting care into buildings, walls, fireplaces and other structures — works that take on a character and soul all their own.

Q: Is there a good home remedy or commercial cleaner that will take the odor of cat urine out of Oriental rugs?

Lipstick stains aren’t so tough to get out anymore, especially when they occur on white cotton. In a spray bottle, mix three equal parts of laundry bleach, water, and milk. Spray it on the stain, and then scrub with a toothbrush. It’s great for strawberry stains, too. Don’t use this formula on anything but white cotton; colors and other fabrics can be damaged.

Q: Is there a material I can use to repair concrete that has pitted and flaked? My steps were poured just before a rain, which dripped on them. The concrete quickly flaked away, forming large and ugly spots on the treads and the edges. It’s been a couple of years, so certainly the steps must be ready for repair by now. I’d like to do something that looks good and doesn’t really look like a patch job.

You grew up with a fish bowl on a side table where you watched two goldfish named Buster and Minnie. For many people, that’s enough. These little guys may give you all the serenity you need.

A Fayetteville teen was killed Thursday night when the car he was riding in ran off the road and struck a utility pole, catching fire, police said.

The citizens of Tyrone will have an opportunity to ask questions and get to know the seven candidates vying for the two open Tyrone Town Council positions. The Tyrone Neighborhood Alliance is sponsoring a “Meet the Candidate” forum tomorrow.

A one-day computer recycling service will be provided – free – at the parking lot of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City Saturday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Bill Grabill, chairman of the congregation’s environmental stewardship committee.