Houston: A fantastic shot of one of the many brave souls who take great risks to keep your view of our fair city crisp and clean.
Summer's looking good: Long-range forecast says next three months should see warm, dry weather. Andrew Tibbits and Nick LeBlanc of HighTower Ltd. take advantage of the fine window-washing weather yesterday at the corner of Main and Church Streets in Moncton, working high above unsuspecting pedestrians.
New website for the IWCA. The International Window Cleaning Association is a non-profit trade 501(c)(6) association committed to raising the standards of professionalism and safety within the window cleaning industry. Please take your time to fill in their latest survey concerning health & safety here.
But as the latest figures show, things are looking up on the Costa Blanca with more people finding work than losing their jobs. Shops and businesses in the area have said that recently things have started to pick up with many telling me that the winter, although tough, had not been as bad as they’d feared. Recent trade fairs have seen good numbers of expats (and Spanish) not only visiting but also spending well, leading traders to believe that this summer could see things picking up again for all. And on the streets the builders, shop owners and business people of the region all told me pretty positive stories of how they are finding things.
Jim McGregor, a window cleaner in Torrevieja told me that since the turn of the year he had seen an increase in not only new customers but also old clients that had stopped having Jim clean their windows and were saving money by doing it themselves. Said Jim, ‘I’m not getting carried away, but things have certainly improved this year – it’s still not as it was a couple of years ago, but its going the right way.’
As Jim said, we shouldn’t get carried away too much as traditionally in Spain more people do find work towards the summer but according to the figures, the trend has turned out slightly better than predicted. For two years, businesses, both expat run and Spanish, have suffered in the global crisis; although Spain is considered to be one of the worst affected. This being mainly due to the Spanish economy being based on tourism and construction – the two industries usually affected most, and first, when money gets tight for people.
Lefort is among 60 students who are currently enrolled in the college's Fire Science program. The program, which became a full time program in 2006, provides students with certifications in either Firefighter I or Firefighter II or earn an associate degree in Applied Science. "The service that this college provides and training these people do saves lives," said Kevin Brungardt, dean of academics. "If we didn't train then we would see a lot more of them being injured or killed in the line of duty." "If you lived in a big city like Houston or New York and a window washer was trapped 100 floors up, the specialized rescue team would perform a high angle rope rescue," Pander said.
Why do we label people if they are different – different hair, skin and eye colour or if they love differently, or choose their friends from ‘the wrong side of the track?’ I promise you, you will have more genuine love, appreciation and respect from the cleaning lady, the window washer or the handicapped. Some of them didn’t choose their circumstances, but we, as the so-called educated, high-class citizens treat them like scum. Why not get to know them better. You will be surprised that they are smart, loving and compassionate people. They get hurt just like we do. They know how to make the best of each day. Material things are of no concern to them. They are honest with themselves and don’t wear masks like the rest of us. Anyway, what makes us such experts on human emotions? Aren’t we, the so-called upper class the one’s who are handicapped? We see things according to material riches and not emotions. I am tired of people judging others. I did it too, and just because I was afraid of what my family or friends will say if I go against their wishes.
Oregonians See Slow Recovery Ahead: A poll of Oregon voters shows broad agreement that economic recovery is going to be a slow process. The poll was conducted for OPB, Fox 12 and the Portland Tribune. A good example is Caleb Boak He attends Salem Bible College part-time and runs a window cleaning business with his dad. He says things have picked up a little since last year - but people are still wary about spending money. Caleb Boak: "Window cleaning itself is not a necessity. People just use it with discretionary funds typically. So that has cut back quite considerably. But our other areas that are more necessary like power washing, and other things have increased." Boak and other respondents feel that jobs with technology companies and green businesses are likely to lead the state out of this recession.
Maid services see little spike for spring cleaning: March through May is typically mayhem for Merry Maids, with spring-cleaning requests on the rise. But few customers are asking for extra services this year. Some regulars tack bigger jobs, such as window washing or refrigerator and oven cleaning, onto their regular appointments. But deep cleaning, already a casualty of more casual lifestyles, has suffered another hit from the recession. "We see that a lot of people are cutting back," says Mike Brown, manager of Merry Maids' Chicago and Evanston locations. He blames the economy and suspects people are either doing the work themselves or seeking a better price with a competitor. Merry Maids charges $96 per hour for a two-person team, but prefers to send out a PDA-toting estimator to provide a quote for a particular job.
At the Maids, another national service, business is steady but spring hasn't brought a spike, says Tom Carlstead, general manager and owner of the Evanston franchise. For $159 an hour, a team of four maids cleans "every surface," from woodwork to ceiling fan blades, he says. Spring sunshine shed light on those dark, dusty corners to the point that Sharon Robinson, a pediatrician at Evanston-based NorthShore Medical Group, bumped her family's once-weekly cleaning to twice, at an additional $60 a week. "I want it done, but I want somebody else to do it," says Dr. Robinson, 37. Hiring spring cleaners could be considered a must for allergy sufferers plagued by cleaning agents, dust mites and mold, says Dr. Mary Kay Tobin, an allergy expert at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center: If you stir up all that dust yourself, "you overwhelm your system."
In my Inbox (USA only). Covers window cleaners: Handi-Men is where you'll find hundreds of service providers located in your own community. In addition, you can see their history and background, review their web site and look over feedback from previous customers. Users and visitors share their experience with others so that you can choose the service provider that's right for your job the first time around. Service Providers are aware that they have to keep their customers happy or expect to be dropped from Handi-Men.Com's listing! Better than Angie's List - BECAUSE IT'S ALL FREE! Listed Providers receiving three major complaints within one year are dropped from the Handi-Men.Com listings. Editorial review of all negative reviews for complaint resolution
The family of George Emslie (pictured), of Allardice Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, paid tribute yesterday to the 84-year-old, who died on Wednesday after suffering from pneumonia. Mr Emslie was a well-known face around the town after working as a window cleaner for more than 40 years until he retired at the age of 83. He was involved with local Scout groups, Stonehaven Heritage Society, the fireballs ceremony and setting up what is now the Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club. “He was very well liked,” his son, George, said. “He was a font of information and advice, full of local knowledge.
Consider time for training: From 6 April 2010, approximately 11 million employees in Great Britain will have a new right to request 'time to train'. This will be extended to cover employees in all businesses from 6 April 2011. As an employer, you are required to consider any requests and respond within a set timeframe. You can turn down requests when you have a good business reason to do so, including where you do not believe the training will help improve business performance. The new right closely follows the model used for agreeing requests under the flexible working arrangements. The right to request time to train will apply to all employees in businesses with 250 employees or more from 6th April 2010. It will be extended to cover employees in all businesses from 6th April 2011. Also here.
City seeks answers on glass falling from mall ceiling: City officials want answers from the operators of a downtown mall after two large glass skylight panes broke, including one that shattered while shoppers mingled below. Kevin Griffiths, the city’s chief building official, said 20Vic Management Inc., the management company for the Core Shopping Centre at 8 Ave. and 4 St. S.W., informed the city about the incidents on Friday, a full day after the mall was evacuated when the second large pane in two days broke. “The glazing completely broke through and the area below where the incident occurred has been closed off,” he said. He said mall staff and customers were never at risk and workers assessing the first shattered pane were below when the second incident occurred. “There were fragments but there’s no way anyone could have been hurt if it hit someone,” Smith said, noting the huge suspended glass skylight, which spans three city blocks, is designed to withstand significant impact. “The glass did what it was supposed to do and the building is safe.” “It is the responsibility of building owners to ensure public safety and that’s our primary concern.”
Car shatters OAP's shine: Pensioner Des Morgan had just finished lovingly cleaning his front window... when a runaway car crashed into it. He'd stepped inside minutes before the Mini rolled down a hill and hit his home in Neath, West Glamorgan. Reg, 76, who also lost a collection of glass decanters on the window sill, said: "It's been very traumatic."
A window cleaner ripped out a taxi's radio system after a row with the driver, a court heard. Wakefield Magistrates heard how window cleaner David Walker, 30, and his girlfriend were returning from a night out in Wakefield city centre oValentine's Day in Ryhill but he later told them he'd charge what was on the meter. The couple asked why it was more expensive than normal and an argument ensued. It was alleged the taxi driver became aggressive and grabbed hold of Mr Walker's girlfriend causing bruising. Walker told the taxi driver to leave her alone and pushed him away. Punches were thrown by both men. The court heard Walker flew into something of a rage and took his frustration out on the car. Prosecutor Diane Gomersall said Walker "lost it". He damaged the car by kicking the door, smashing the window and ripping the radio system out. The victim requested £2,000 to pay for repairs and for a hire car. Walker, of Felkirk Drive, Ryhill, admitted criminal damage. Rob Fones, mitigating, said there was a certain amount of provocation from the taxi driver who had effectively assaulted Mr Walker's girlfriend and then started swinging punches at Mr Walker. He said his client was a man of previous good character, a family man and a self-employed window cleaner. Walker was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation. They agreed a fee of £15 beforehand with the taxi driver for taking them to Station Road.
A horrific injury to a footballer has caused a match to be abandoned after leaving teammates so distraught they were unable to continue playing. Newhall United’s home game against Earlswood Town was called off after 33 minutes when Blues’ utility player Ricky Abbott (pictured behind) suffered what was thought to be a career-threatening broken left ankle — and possible serious leg injury — and was flown to hospital by air ambulance. His manager and club chairman, Bob Corner, said: “As he landed he went onto his stomach, banging the ground with his hand. We knew it was serious. “I saw another player go towards him and turn away and hold his hands up to his face and shake his head. “The ankle was sticking out of his leg. It was not very pretty to see and was a very bad injury. “It was just one of those freak accidents that happen now and again.” Mr Abbott, who is understood to be a window cleaner in his late 20s from the Castle Gresley area, was due to have an operation yesterday.
A Victorian man (Australia) accused of the drowning murders of his three sons was not coughing moments before their car plunged into a dam, as he claimed in his defence, a witness has alleged. Robert Farquharson, 40, has pleaded not guilty to murdering sons Jai, 10, Tyler, 7, and Bailey, 2, after his car left the Princes Highway at Winchelsea on September 4, 2005. Farquharson claims he had passed out from a coughing fit when his car veered off the road and into a dam where the boys drowned on Father's Day, in what the prosecution alleged yesterday was part of a "wicked and malevolent act of multiple murder". Mr Tinney said Farquharson did not display the demeanour on the night of a father whose children were missing - believed drowned - and that his explanation of what had happened constantly changed. He said a doctor would testify that it was "highly unlikely" Farquharson had blacked out from the coughing fit, known as cough syncope. But Mr Morrissey said Farquharson had been sick leading up to Father's Day in 2005 and doubted that a window cleaner from Winchelsea could make up a story about such a rare condition.
A lodger who strangled and kicked his Shropshire landlady to death in a drunken attack has been jailed for life. Stafford Crown Court heard Gintautas Psenaska admitted murdering Margaret Wycherley at her home in Castle Street, Oswestry, last May, Psenaska, 45, from Lithuania, will serve at least 16-and-a-half years. The court heard Mrs Wycherley was a chimney sweep and window cleaner who was well known in the town. Peter Haynes, QC, prosecuting, said Psenaska broke off from the "sustained" attack to ring his estranged wife.
Proposed legislation could be breakthrough for window cleaners: ST. PAUL - Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL- Minneapolis, has introduced legislation aimed at reducing deaths in the state’s window cleaning industry, which has experienced three fatalities in recent years. Davnie worked with members of Service Employees International Union Local 26 to develop the legislation, HF 3824.
The bill creates a stakeholders' taskforce to meet and develop safety standards for the industry and looks to amend the state building code to enhance window cleaner safety. The taskforce will develop training, education, and licensure standards for both companies and workers while coordinating any initiatives with OSHA regulations.
"Window cleaners need to have the equipment and training to do their jobs safely. In the past two years three workers have lost their lives. We must not allow one more death to occur," said Dino Crandall, a window cleaner and member of SEIU Local 26. Davnie said the taskforce will incorporate the concerns of cleaners like Dino who want to see their employers use sensible business practices.
“Window cleaners have suffered from hazardous work conditions for too long,” said Davnie. “This is a step toward correcting that problem. The men and women who keep our skyscrapers clean shouldn’t have to worry about faulty equipment or suspect safety guidelines.” Recently, SEIU Local 26 was locked out during their contract negotiations after they raised safety concerns at the bargaining table. Within a week they got an agreement that included a $3 wage raise over five years and a boost in pension funds.
Davnie joined the workers during the lockout for protests regarding the industry’s safety record. Across the United States, three to four window cleaners die every year. But in Minnesota, the rate is higher, with three deaths occurring in the last two and a half years. “The high rate of accidents related to window cleaning in Minnesota is unacceptable,” said Davnie. “Window cleaners perform a vital service for residents of the city and deserve our respect. We can honor the memory of the workers who passed away by ensuring their colleagues finally get proper protection while working.”
Cleaners said they are looking forward to getting started and are excited that someone in the Legislature has listened to their concerns. “We appreciate Representative Davnie for stepping up to author this legislation and make sure window cleaners can do their jobs safely,” said James Miller, a window cleaner and Local 26 member. Commissioner Steve Sviggum of the state Department of Labor and Industry has indicated his willingness to convene the stakeholders group, Davnie said.
Heed the fee: Writer and condominium marketer Daniela Andrews offers insight into condo living. This week: Maintenance fees. Maintenance fees (sometimes referred to as condo fees) are a monthly expense, paid by condo owners, that do exactly what the name sounds like - they help maintain the building. More specifically, they help maintain the common areas of the building, like the lobby, the parking garage, the exterior façade and any amenity areas that exist. Some people believe that, because of maintenance fees, condo owners have greater monthly expenses than homeowners, but this is a snare and illusion, for the fees cover many similar costs that homeowners experience, but in a more regular billing cycle. Maintenance fees don't only cover landscaping and snow removal, they typically also include exterior window cleaning and building façade maintenance, common area utilities and upkeep, common area insurance, garbage removal services and a reserve fund that gets built up to cover large expenses or repairs. A good rule of thumb is that anything outside the walls of your condo unit are part of common expenses (monthly fees) and anything inside the walls of the condo are billed to the individual unit owner.
Livin’ La Vida Verde: Latinos are the fastest growing ethnicity striving to buy and live green. Latest consumer research indicates that Latinos are surging ahead at shopping green and practicing eco-friendly efforts. More Latinos than non-Hispanic whites see global warming and climate change as real threats to our earth, facts which mirror current Latino buying trends, says Iconoculture. According to the report, which cites a survey by Eco Pulse, Latinos are talking with their kids about green responsibility, looking for greener products, and are making more of an effort to live green than other ethnicities.
Attitudes among Latino communities indicate a gap between them and their non-Hispanic white counterparts, the report adds, citing data from the National Resources Defense Council. While a vast majority of Latinos polled (81 percent) see global warming as a reality, only 69 percent of non-Hispanic whites agree. Furthermore, while 62 percent of Latinos deem climate change as something that is “very bad,” less than half of non-Hispanic whites (41 percent) think so too.
For example, green window cleaners are less trusted than the conventional, so Segev suggests an incentive: “Buy regular Windex, get the green for free—so they will be able to try it.” The best way for marketers to reach the various segments of Latino communities is to target consumers according to their acculturation levels.
Friday's report said that the ranks of the officially unemployed rose by 255,000 in April to 15.3 million. And those who have been without work for more than six months reached 6.7 million, accounting for a whopping 46 percent of all the unemployed workers. Early this year, Sean O'Donnell, 48, closed up his window-cleaning business in West Palm Beach, Fla. Many of his customers, he said, "died off or moved back in with their kids." Since then, he hasn't had much luck in the job market, even at fast-foot restaurants. "They say no because I'm overqualified." But O'Donnell said work was picking up for his wife, who is in real estate. And he sees signs thatthe overall economyis turning around. "I actually think things are getting better," he said.
Summer's looking good: Long-range forecast says next three months should see warm, dry weather. Andrew Tibbits and Nick LeBlanc of HighTower Ltd. take advantage of the fine window-washing weather yesterday at the corner of Main and Church Streets in Moncton, working high above unsuspecting pedestrians.
New website for the IWCA. The International Window Cleaning Association is a non-profit trade 501(c)(6) association committed to raising the standards of professionalism and safety within the window cleaning industry. Please take your time to fill in their latest survey concerning health & safety here.But as the latest figures show, things are looking up on the Costa Blanca with more people finding work than losing their jobs. Shops and businesses in the area have said that recently things have started to pick up with many telling me that the winter, although tough, had not been as bad as they’d feared. Recent trade fairs have seen good numbers of expats (and Spanish) not only visiting but also spending well, leading traders to believe that this summer could see things picking up again for all. And on the streets the builders, shop owners and business people of the region all told me pretty positive stories of how they are finding things.Jim McGregor, a window cleaner in Torrevieja told me that since the turn of the year he had seen an increase in not only new customers but also old clients that had stopped having Jim clean their windows and were saving money by doing it themselves. Said Jim, ‘I’m not getting carried away, but things have certainly improved this year – it’s still not as it was a couple of years ago, but its going the right way.’
As Jim said, we shouldn’t get carried away too much as traditionally in Spain more people do find work towards the summer but according to the figures, the trend has turned out slightly better than predicted. For two years, businesses, both expat run and Spanish, have suffered in the global crisis; although Spain is considered to be one of the worst affected. This being mainly due to the Spanish economy being based on tourism and construction – the two industries usually affected most, and first, when money gets tight for people.
Lefort is among 60 students who are currently enrolled in the college's Fire Science program. The program, which became a full time program in 2006, provides students with certifications in either Firefighter I or Firefighter II or earn an associate degree in Applied Science. "The service that this college provides and training these people do saves lives," said Kevin Brungardt, dean of academics. "If we didn't train then we would see a lot more of them being injured or killed in the line of duty." "If you lived in a big city like Houston or New York and a window washer was trapped 100 floors up, the specialized rescue team would perform a high angle rope rescue," Pander said.Why do we label people if they are different – different hair, skin and eye colour or if they love differently, or choose their friends from ‘the wrong side of the track?’ I promise you, you will have more genuine love, appreciation and respect from the cleaning lady, the window washer or the handicapped. Some of them didn’t choose their circumstances, but we, as the so-called educated, high-class citizens treat them like scum. Why not get to know them better. You will be surprised that they are smart, loving and compassionate people. They get hurt just like we do. They know how to make the best of each day. Material things are of no concern to them. They are honest with themselves and don’t wear masks like the rest of us. Anyway, what makes us such experts on human emotions? Aren’t we, the so-called upper class the one’s who are handicapped? We see things according to material riches and not emotions. I am tired of people judging others. I did it too, and just because I was afraid of what my family or friends will say if I go against their wishes.Oregonians See Slow Recovery Ahead: A poll of Oregon voters shows broad agreement that economic recovery is going to be a slow process. The poll was conducted for OPB, Fox 12 and the Portland Tribune. A good example is Caleb Boak He attends Salem Bible College part-time and runs a window cleaning business with his dad. He says things have picked up a little since last year - but people are still wary about spending money. Caleb Boak: "Window cleaning itself is not a necessity. People just use it with discretionary funds typically. So that has cut back quite considerably. But our other areas that are more necessary like power washing, and other things have increased." Boak and other respondents feel that jobs with technology companies and green businesses are likely to lead the state out of this recession.Maid services see little spike for spring cleaning: March through May is typically mayhem for Merry Maids, with spring-cleaning requests on the rise. But few customers are asking for extra services this year. Some regulars tack bigger jobs, such as window washing or refrigerator and oven cleaning, onto their regular appointments. But deep cleaning, already a casualty of more casual lifestyles, has suffered another hit from the recession. "We see that a lot of people are cutting back," says Mike Brown, manager of Merry Maids' Chicago and Evanston locations. He blames the economy and suspects people are either doing the work themselves or seeking a better price with a competitor. Merry Maids charges $96 per hour for a two-person team, but prefers to send out a PDA-toting estimator to provide a quote for a particular job.At the Maids, another national service, business is steady but spring hasn't brought a spike, says Tom Carlstead, general manager and owner of the Evanston franchise. For $159 an hour, a team of four maids cleans "every surface," from woodwork to ceiling fan blades, he says. Spring sunshine shed light on those dark, dusty corners to the point that Sharon Robinson, a pediatrician at Evanston-based NorthShore Medical Group, bumped her family's once-weekly cleaning to twice, at an additional $60 a week. "I want it done, but I want somebody else to do it," says Dr. Robinson, 37. Hiring spring cleaners could be considered a must for allergy sufferers plagued by cleaning agents, dust mites and mold, says Dr. Mary Kay Tobin, an allergy expert at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center: If you stir up all that dust yourself, "you overwhelm your system."
In my Inbox (USA only). Covers window cleaners: Handi-Men is where you'll find hundreds of service providers located in your own community. In addition, you can see their history and background, review their web site and look over feedback from previous customers. Users and visitors share their experience with others so that you can choose the service provider that's right for your job the first time around. Service Providers are aware that they have to keep their customers happy or expect to be dropped from Handi-Men.Com's listing! Better than Angie's List - BECAUSE IT'S ALL FREE! Listed Providers receiving three major complaints within one year are dropped from the Handi-Men.Com listings. Editorial review of all negative reviews for complaint resolutionThe family of George Emslie (pictured), of Allardice Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, paid tribute yesterday to the 84-year-old, who died on Wednesday after suffering from pneumonia. Mr Emslie was a well-known face around the town after working as a window cleaner for more than 40 years until he retired at the age of 83. He was involved with local Scout groups, Stonehaven Heritage Society, the fireballs ceremony and setting up what is now the Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club. “He was very well liked,” his son, George, said. “He was a font of information and advice, full of local knowledge.Consider time for training: From 6 April 2010, approximately 11 million employees in Great Britain will have a new right to request 'time to train'. This will be extended to cover employees in all businesses from 6 April 2011. As an employer, you are required to consider any requests and respond within a set timeframe. You can turn down requests when you have a good business reason to do so, including where you do not believe the training will help improve business performance. The new right closely follows the model used for agreeing requests under the flexible working arrangements. The right to request time to train will apply to all employees in businesses with 250 employees or more from 6th April 2010. It will be extended to cover employees in all businesses from 6th April 2011. Also here.City seeks answers on glass falling from mall ceiling: City officials want answers from the operators of a downtown mall after two large glass skylight panes broke, including one that shattered while shoppers mingled below. Kevin Griffiths, the city’s chief building official, said 20Vic Management Inc., the management company for the Core Shopping Centre at 8 Ave. and 4 St. S.W., informed the city about the incidents on Friday, a full day after the mall was evacuated when the second large pane in two days broke. “The glazing completely broke through and the area below where the incident occurred has been closed off,” he said. He said mall staff and customers were never at risk and workers assessing the first shattered pane were below when the second incident occurred. “There were fragments but there’s no way anyone could have been hurt if it hit someone,” Smith said, noting the huge suspended glass skylight, which spans three city blocks, is designed to withstand significant impact. “The glass did what it was supposed to do and the building is safe.” “It is the responsibility of building owners to ensure public safety and that’s our primary concern.”Car shatters OAP's shine: Pensioner Des Morgan had just finished lovingly cleaning his front window... when a runaway car crashed into it. He'd stepped inside minutes before the Mini rolled down a hill and hit his home in Neath, West Glamorgan. Reg, 76, who also lost a collection of glass decanters on the window sill, said: "It's been very traumatic."A window cleaner ripped out a taxi's radio system after a row with the driver, a court heard. Wakefield Magistrates heard how window cleaner David Walker, 30, and his girlfriend were returning from a night out in Wakefield city centre oValentine's Day in Ryhill but he later told them he'd charge what was on the meter. The couple asked why it was more expensive than normal and an argument ensued. It was alleged the taxi driver became aggressive and grabbed hold of Mr Walker's girlfriend causing bruising. Walker told the taxi driver to leave her alone and pushed him away. Punches were thrown by both men. The court heard Walker flew into something of a rage and took his frustration out on the car. Prosecutor Diane Gomersall said Walker "lost it". He damaged the car by kicking the door, smashing the window and ripping the radio system out. The victim requested £2,000 to pay for repairs and for a hire car. Walker, of Felkirk Drive, Ryhill, admitted criminal damage. Rob Fones, mitigating, said there was a certain amount of provocation from the taxi driver who had effectively assaulted Mr Walker's girlfriend and then started swinging punches at Mr Walker. He said his client was a man of previous good character, a family man and a self-employed window cleaner. Walker was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation. They agreed a fee of £15 beforehand with the taxi driver for taking them to Station Road.A horrific injury to a footballer has caused a match to be abandoned after leaving teammates so distraught they were unable to continue playing. Newhall United’s home game against Earlswood Town was called off after 33 minutes when Blues’ utility player Ricky Abbott (pictured behind) suffered what was thought to be a career-threatening broken left ankle — and possible serious leg injury — and was flown to hospital by air ambulance. His manager and club chairman, Bob Corner, said: “As he landed he went onto his stomach, banging the ground with his hand. We knew it was serious. “I saw another player go towards him and turn away and hold his hands up to his face and shake his head. “The ankle was sticking out of his leg. It was not very pretty to see and was a very bad injury. “It was just one of those freak accidents that happen now and again.” Mr Abbott, who is understood to be a window cleaner in his late 20s from the Castle Gresley area, was due to have an operation yesterday.A Victorian man (Australia) accused of the drowning murders of his three sons was not coughing moments before their car plunged into a dam, as he claimed in his defence, a witness has alleged. Robert Farquharson, 40, has pleaded not guilty to murdering sons Jai, 10, Tyler, 7, and Bailey, 2, after his car left the Princes Highway at Winchelsea on September 4, 2005. Farquharson claims he had passed out from a coughing fit when his car veered off the road and into a dam where the boys drowned on Father's Day, in what the prosecution alleged yesterday was part of a "wicked and malevolent act of multiple murder". Mr Tinney said Farquharson did not display the demeanour on the night of a father whose children were missing - believed drowned - and that his explanation of what had happened constantly changed. He said a doctor would testify that it was "highly unlikely" Farquharson had blacked out from the coughing fit, known as cough syncope. But Mr Morrissey said Farquharson had been sick leading up to Father's Day in 2005 and doubted that a window cleaner from Winchelsea could make up a story about such a rare condition.A lodger who strangled and kicked his Shropshire landlady to death in a drunken attack has been jailed for life. Stafford Crown Court heard Gintautas Psenaska admitted murdering Margaret Wycherley at her home in Castle Street, Oswestry, last May, Psenaska, 45, from Lithuania, will serve at least 16-and-a-half years. The court heard Mrs Wycherley was a chimney sweep and window cleaner who was well known in the town. Peter Haynes, QC, prosecuting, said Psenaska broke off from the "sustained" attack to ring his estranged wife.Proposed legislation could be breakthrough for window cleaners: ST. PAUL - Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL- Minneapolis, has introduced legislation aimed at reducing deaths in the state’s window cleaning industry, which has experienced three fatalities in recent years. Davnie worked with members of Service Employees International Union Local 26 to develop the legislation, HF 3824.The bill creates a stakeholders' taskforce to meet and develop safety standards for the industry and looks to amend the state building code to enhance window cleaner safety. The taskforce will develop training, education, and licensure standards for both companies and workers while coordinating any initiatives with OSHA regulations.
"Window cleaners need to have the equipment and training to do their jobs safely. In the past two years three workers have lost their lives. We must not allow one more death to occur," said Dino Crandall, a window cleaner and member of SEIU Local 26. Davnie said the taskforce will incorporate the concerns of cleaners like Dino who want to see their employers use sensible business practices.
“Window cleaners have suffered from hazardous work conditions for too long,” said Davnie. “This is a step toward correcting that problem. The men and women who keep our skyscrapers clean shouldn’t have to worry about faulty equipment or suspect safety guidelines.” Recently, SEIU Local 26 was locked out during their contract negotiations after they raised safety concerns at the bargaining table. Within a week they got an agreement that included a $3 wage raise over five years and a boost in pension funds.
Davnie joined the workers during the lockout for protests regarding the industry’s safety record. Across the United States, three to four window cleaners die every year. But in Minnesota, the rate is higher, with three deaths occurring in the last two and a half years. “The high rate of accidents related to window cleaning in Minnesota is unacceptable,” said Davnie. “Window cleaners perform a vital service for residents of the city and deserve our respect. We can honor the memory of the workers who passed away by ensuring their colleagues finally get proper protection while working.”
Cleaners said they are looking forward to getting started and are excited that someone in the Legislature has listened to their concerns. “We appreciate Representative Davnie for stepping up to author this legislation and make sure window cleaners can do their jobs safely,” said James Miller, a window cleaner and Local 26 member. Commissioner Steve Sviggum of the state Department of Labor and Industry has indicated his willingness to convene the stakeholders group, Davnie said.
Heed the fee: Writer and condominium marketer Daniela Andrews offers insight into condo living. This week: Maintenance fees. Maintenance fees (sometimes referred to as condo fees) are a monthly expense, paid by condo owners, that do exactly what the name sounds like - they help maintain the building. More specifically, they help maintain the common areas of the building, like the lobby, the parking garage, the exterior façade and any amenity areas that exist. Some people believe that, because of maintenance fees, condo owners have greater monthly expenses than homeowners, but this is a snare and illusion, for the fees cover many similar costs that homeowners experience, but in a more regular billing cycle. Maintenance fees don't only cover landscaping and snow removal, they typically also include exterior window cleaning and building façade maintenance, common area utilities and upkeep, common area insurance, garbage removal services and a reserve fund that gets built up to cover large expenses or repairs. A good rule of thumb is that anything outside the walls of your condo unit are part of common expenses (monthly fees) and anything inside the walls of the condo are billed to the individual unit owner.Livin’ La Vida Verde: Latinos are the fastest growing ethnicity striving to buy and live green. Latest consumer research indicates that Latinos are surging ahead at shopping green and practicing eco-friendly efforts. More Latinos than non-Hispanic whites see global warming and climate change as real threats to our earth, facts which mirror current Latino buying trends, says Iconoculture. According to the report, which cites a survey by Eco Pulse, Latinos are talking with their kids about green responsibility, looking for greener products, and are making more of an effort to live green than other ethnicities.Attitudes among Latino communities indicate a gap between them and their non-Hispanic white counterparts, the report adds, citing data from the National Resources Defense Council. While a vast majority of Latinos polled (81 percent) see global warming as a reality, only 69 percent of non-Hispanic whites agree. Furthermore, while 62 percent of Latinos deem climate change as something that is “very bad,” less than half of non-Hispanic whites (41 percent) think so too.
For example, green window cleaners are less trusted than the conventional, so Segev suggests an incentive: “Buy regular Windex, get the green for free—so they will be able to try it.” The best way for marketers to reach the various segments of Latino communities is to target consumers according to their acculturation levels.
Friday's report said that the ranks of the officially unemployed rose by 255,000 in April to 15.3 million. And those who have been without work for more than six months reached 6.7 million, accounting for a whopping 46 percent of all the unemployed workers. Early this year, Sean O'Donnell, 48, closed up his window-cleaning business in West Palm Beach, Fla. Many of his customers, he said, "died off or moved back in with their kids." Since then, he hasn't had much luck in the job market, even at fast-foot restaurants. "They say no because I'm overqualified." But O'Donnell said work was picking up for his wife, who is in real estate. And he sees signs thatthe overall economyis turning around. "I actually think things are getting better," he said.
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