Window Cleaning News

Window washer rescued from outside skyscraper: DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO — A window washer stuck in a basket between the ninth and 10th floors of the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego was lowered to safety yesterday afternoon with the help of firefighters. Jimmy Zapien, 27, was washing windows outside the skyscraper about 1:50 p.m. when the basket's cable became jammed in the pulley system, preventing the basket from moving up or down, said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. A firefighter rappelled from the roof of the building to the basket and strapped the window washer into a harness. Zapien was then safely lowered. Zapien's co-workers from Southland Exterior Building Services, as well as hotel employees and passers-by, craned their necks to watch the rescue unfold. Applause broke out as soon as he touched ground. The ordeal lasted less than an hour.

Westlake Boys take top honours, NZ: An ingenious mathematics based computer game and a user-friendly magnetic window washer saw Westlake Boys High School take out the two top honours at the annual Smales Farm North Shore Regional Awards as part of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES). The student companies, made up of year 12 and 13 students, were presented with awards at a ceremony at North Harbour Stadium last night in front of an audience of dignitaries, sponsors, mentors, parents and fellow students who participated in this year’s Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme. Fellow Westlake student company ProDG won the Smales Farm North Shore YES Company of the Year Runner Up with their pragmatic magnetic window washer.

Have you seen stolen window cleaner's van? A window cleaner’s van was stolen from a driveway in Crowthorne overnight between Monday and Tuesday. The white, LA53 plate Ford Transit van has the words ‘Town and Country window cleaning services’ written on the side and was taken from the owner’s drive in New Wokingham Road sometime between 9pm on Monday and 8am the following morning. Anyone with information can call police on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

MANAMA: The Labour Ministry launched an investigation into two worksite accidents yesterday that killed one worker and left another seriously injured, reports ANIQA HAIDER. Indian Pokkillatha Ali Sulaiman, 51, fell to his death from the second floor of a building in Isa Town. The accident took place at 10am when he was cleaning a window at the Traffic Directorate. Mr Su-laiman worked for a cleaning company and leaves behind wife and two children.

Dust haze blankets coast: The Coffs Coast again held its breath again yesterday as another dust haze blanketed much of the east coast. While it wasn't of the same magnitude as the dust storm a couple of weeks ago, paramedics again treated people for breathing difficulties and local air traffic was again affected. By mid morning, the visibility was reduced to 5000 metres adding to the difficulty of pilots and the tower at Coffs Harbour Regional Airport. “The dust that's blowing over from South Australia and western NSW is being lifted by strong winds caused by the combination of a cold front and a low pressure system moving across Bass Strait,” said Mr Crow.
“Here in Coffs Harbour, there's been a layer of dust sitting at about 2300 feet. The bureau has forecast the likelihood of further hazes or storms in coming weeks, but it's hoped the inland dust will finally be settled by rains forecast around Christmas. The dust is proving a boon for some at least. Local house-washers and automatic carwashes are predictably flat out - and then there are the window washers! “I just can't keep up,” said Bayden Hogan of Coffs Window Cleaning. “While the dust isn't as noticeable on vertical surfaces like windows, there's a fine film on the windows so when it rains it turns to mud. We are very, very busy.”

Dougherty County School System; The board also approved the recommendation from its Buildings & Grounds Committee to award the Administration Building pressure washing/window cleaning project to Albany's Akridge Interiors, the lowest qualified bidder at $22,000. Minority businesses Robie Thompson and Tandem Contracting turned in bids of $7,990 and $8,400, respectively. Akridge is a women-owned business. The board voted 5-2 for the bid. Board members Velvet Riggins of District 3 and Anita Williams-Brown, at-large, voted against it. "I would like to talk to the (Building & Grounds) Committee about the process in which these people were selected," Riggins said. "There's still people being eliminated, but we're pleased with what the (Building & Grounds) committee has done with including more minority businesses. But, there's still more work to be done." Maschke said the pressure washing/window cleaning project received seven bids, which he said, "was good participation on a small project." He said the large participation follows the Building & Grounds Committee directing school system staff to solicit proposals from local, small and minority firms.

Cleaning up on windows is just the start for Everest chief: At 1,732ft above sea level, it is the UK’s highest pub. But the cosy hostelry is well-known for another reason. It was the setting of a memorable television ad in the 1980s for the Everest double glazing firm. In the ad Ted Moult, the farmer-cum-TV personality, dropped a feather in front of a window and watched the feather fall vertically onto the sill. “Fit the best. Everest,” said Moult. It was one of those ad slogans that stuck in the public’s consciousness. Although Moult shot himself in 1986 after a period of depression, the ad lives on. Everest recently remade the promo with TV presenter Craig Doyle in the Moult role. As well showing the double-glazing, the ad revealed that the pub’s roof was fitted with solar panels.
It is a neat snapshot of where Everest is today; solar panels are a growing part of Everest’s business as consumers look to “green up” their lifestyles. Simon Jarman, Everest’s managing director, believes that there is a “big opportunity” in energy efficiency as some 20pc of a house’s heat is lost through its windows. And he says that the TV ads still resonate. “There is not one person who doesn’t remember that ad campaign. Most companies would do anything to have that brand awareness,” he says. Business is going well, despite the downturn. The doors and windows market fell by 12pc last year and is down 14pc this year. Everest’s sales of doors and windows, however, have grown by 13pc this year. Overall it is seeing 2.5pc sales growth. This is due to what Mr Jarman describes as a “flight to brand”. Everest pitches itself at the top of the market, which has attracted customers. Everest’s average customer is 55 years old. Eighty per cent of its clientele do not have a mortgage. Most are in the A and B demographics. “We don’t compete on price and we haven’t reduced our prices at all. Our customers are savers rather than borrowers, which has made them more resilient in a downturn,” he says.

A company that has revolutionised the window business with it’s custom designed safety windows has just scooped an international award. Britplas, based on Winstanley Industrial Estate off Long Lane, Orford, clinched the top award for Product Design for Healthcare at the Design & Health International Academy Awards. The business won the accolade for it’s Safevent windows, which have taken to the medical industry by storm with safety features that has seen it fitted in secure units across the country. The judges praised the company’s design saying: “The Safevent window allows patients and staff to fully open a window in complete safety with no restrictions, permitting maximum natural ventilation. Due to its unique design, it has no locks or hinges and has self-cleaning glass. Its installation in over one hundred acute locations is testimony to its operational success.” The window has a fine mesh over the openable side that allows the window to be open and let in air, but nothing else can get through. It also offers extra safety as they are designed to be anti ligature fittings. Already it has become a massive success and the windows have been installed at hospitals across the country.

Class under glass help Blue Peter star: Sunderland students are on a high after using their singing skills to help Blue Peter presenter Joel Defries through a hard day's work. The popular BBC kids' show's latest presenter had his work cut out when he stopped off in the region to film part of the TV programme. And pupils from Highfield Community Primary School, Ford, Sunderland, were on hand to help him get through his gruelling day. A team of abseilers responsible for cleaning The Sage Gateshead, IS-IS Property Service, had set Joel the task of helping them get the iconic regional landmark spotless. Joel was given extensive training to learn how to abseil, and how to clean windows, before being put to test on the roof alongside the experienced team. And to help him with his work, a team of youngsters from the school sang George Formby's When I'm Cleaning Windows as they waved him on from the building's concourse. When he got back down to earth, Joel said: "I knew it sounded good but The Sage Gateshead has never looked so good." Anthony Wintle, an experienced abseiling window cleaner from IS-IS, added: "I think my job's safe – for now."

Providing insights into strengthening your business: In celebration of Small Business Week, Campbell River Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Business and Professional Women’s Network, will present Together We Are Stronger – Insights and Ideas to Strengthen Your Business. The evening will kick-off with networking and an opportunity to learn more about the BPWN and the Chamber of Commerce. During dinner, Brent Hohlweg, co-founder and CEO of Men in Kilts, North America’s premier window and gutter cleaning company, will share his insights about the growth, success and unique marketing twist of his business. Over dessert and coffee, a panel of local entrepreneurs will discuss their business experiences and address questions from the floor.
Men in Kilts, with head offices based in Richmond, B. C. provides an industry first guaranteed five minute eco-friendly green estimate to more than 4,000 clients across the entire Lower Mainland. Hohlweg’s business partner and Men in Kilts president, Nic Brand, started Men in Kilts in 2002 with just $500 and a ladder strapped to the top of a rusty old Honda. Since then Hohlweg and Brand have taken the company from idea and sole proprietorship to an outstanding commercial success. Sales have doubled every year since incorporation and in 2009, Men in Kilts will surpass the one million mark. The corporation has been built with a long-term vision to franchising across North America. Hohlweg’s professional background includes many years in management with a Fortune 500 retail company and number of small start ups. Most recently Hohlweg was awarded the 2008 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

Police warn of window washer scammer making rounds: Don’t open your doors to strangers, warn Saanich police, as a man claiming to be a window washer has scammed a number of seniors out of money. Police know of at least five incidents around Greater Victoria – including Saanich, Central Saanich, and Oak Bay – since September, where a man calling himself John and claiming to be from a window washing company says he is in need of assistance. The man has told his victims that he’s at the building – most often apartment buildings for seniors – to wash windows and that his van broke down nearby. He asks residents for money to get his vehicle fixed. Most often he requests $20 or $40, but has also asked for $200.
The latest incident happened on Oct. 10 when the suspect entered a building in the 500 block of Marsett Place claiming to be in distress because his vehicle broke down. In this case, he showed his driver’s licence to the victim, presumably to prove his legitimacy. “I don’t know if it was fake or not,” said Sgt. Julie Fast. “My guess is that it was his actual driver’s licence, but (the victim) couldn’t recall the name on it.” The man also entered a business in the 4000 block of Quadra St. on Oct. 5 with the same story, asking for $80 to fix his vehicle. The man was very forceful and wouldn’t leave, so staff called police. He was gone before police arrived and some money was given to him before he left.
“This person is being allowed into (apartment) buildings, which means he’s being buzzed in ... Don’t let anybody into the building that you don’t know,” said Sgt. Julie Fast. “If you’ve got this individual asking for money, if your suspicions are raised, don’t hand over your money to anybody. Don’t give them money if you don’t know them. And if you do find yourself giving money to somebody and they leave, and you’re thinking, ‘Why did I do that?’ call police. Anything suspicious like that, report it to police right away.” The suspect involved is described as a caucasian man between 35 and 45 years of age. He is between 5’8” and 5’10” tall, 160 to 180 pounds. He has short dark brown hair. Police are asking anyone with information on this man to give call 250-475-4321 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

'Chilling' threats to get cash: A man who loaned his life savings to a friend who was later jailed for drug dealing made chilling threats to try to get the cash back. Antony Weegram gave £12,500 to friend Antony O'Connor to set up a window cleaning business. But he harassed O'Connor's mother Debra Dunn on several occasions after he was jailed for five years last year. Teesside Crown Court heard how Weegram, 25, inferred to her that O'Connor could be attacked in prison if they did not come up with the money. Weegram received a suspended prison sentence yesterday after admitting harassment. But he denied threatening violence. The court heard Weegram first approached Mrs Dunn in the street on January 4 and went with her to her daughter's house where they were expecting a call from O'Connor. But he left before the phone call after things got heated and Weegram said: "I'm not waiting five years to get the money back." On January 19, he contacted her again through a third party who warned the debt could rise to £16,000. Mrs Dunn then called Weegram to try and sort things out, but felt harassed again after another heated conversation. Sam Andrews, prosecuting, said: "The first time she met him he made her believe her son might come to harm in prison. "She was clearly harassed throughout this period and frightened by his behaviour." There was no suggestion the loan was used or intended for drugs. Paul Cleasby, mitigating for Weegram, who was of previous good character, said: "He is sorry for the upset that he has caused Mrs Dunn." Weegram, a welding inspector of Belmont Gardens, was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for two years. Judge Peter Fox said: "That to a mother obviously already in distress at her son's offending and sentence, it must have come as an additional burden to bear and it was a chilling thing for her to hear."

Finally: Tony Evans of "A New View window cleaning" gives us another episode in the weather or not summer edition..