My heart goes out to all the window cleaners who have been caught in the latest tornados, twisters & storms in the U.S. Twister death toll 318; most since 1932 outbreak: Authorities say the death toll from the devastating tornado outbreak across the South has climbed to 318, making it the deadliest day for twisters since the Great Depression. Alabama was in the path of the most destruction from Wednesday's storms. Authorities on Friday raised the number of confirmed dead to 228. More than 30 lost their lives in Tuscaloosa, which is home to the University of Alabama. Two students are among the dead. In March 1932, 332 people died, all in Alabama. In April 1974, a series of twisters killed 315 people in 11 states. The largest death toll ever in the U.S. from twisters was on March 18, 1925 when 747 people were killed in storms that raged through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. In that outbreak, a single, 219-mile-long tornado killed 695 people.
A deal to save the Meadowlands Racetrack could be in the homestretch after a key union’s executive board today voted to accept an offer from New York developer Jeffrey Gural, who wants to lease the financially troubled facility from the state. The unanimous vote by the executive board of Sports Arena Employees Local 137 of AFL-CIO sets the stage for Gural to present his plan to Gov. Chris Christie, who had threatened to end live and simulcast harness racing by May 12 without a union agreement. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak today said he would limit reaction until the administration learned more about the vote, but noted: "It sounds like a very positive development." Today’s vote overrules a decision by the full union membership to refuse to consider Gural’s proposal nearly two weeks ago. The union, with 250 members representing tellers, cleaners, box office workers, window washers and money-room employees, had said it would not consider Gural’s proposal because it called for a 20-percent pay cut and eliminated seniority from assigning shifts to tellers.
MIDDLETOWN — Besides umbrella sales, it’s hard to find a business that has benefited from this month’s record rainfall. If your business is somehow connected to the outdoors, it’s been all wet in April. From golf courses, to window washing companies to lawn service businesses, all are reporting dismal sales. Blame it on Mother Nature.
Cleaning industry focus: More than 21,000 jobs up for grabs: cutbacks and tough times. And if you think these jobs are dull or dead end, you may be surprised. The variety of roles and opportunities is endless and they can easily fit round the rest of your life. “Every type of business needs a cleaner, so you could be working in a small shop, a big hospital or even a grand palace,” says Darra Singh, of Jobcentre Plus. And the training opportunities are great. “Cleaning is beginning to be seen as a skilled job with real career prospects,” said Richard Beamish, chief executive of Asset Skills. “There are now solid opportunities out there for young people to get the right training and carve out rewarding careers for themselves. “We have developed the cleaning apprenticeship and a range of other vocational qualifications in consultation with the industry. These are helping to raise the profile of cleaning as a job worth having, with clear career routes involved.”
WHERE ARE THE JOBS? Walk into your local Jobcentre Plus or check vacancies out online here and you will find in the region of 15,800 vacancies. These range from cleaners and domestics to window cleaners and road sweepers. We found thousands of jobs starting at £5.93 an hour (the national minimum wage for those over 21).
Car Week: Miscellany celebrates all things motoring - Windscreen wipers: Mary Anderson is credited with inventing the first operational windscreen wiper in 1903 – she originally called her invention a window cleaning device for electric cars.
A Pencoed man involved in a seaside rescue with a friend on Easter Monday says he didn’t want to be a hero and would do the same for anyone. Eight people, including a brother and sister, were rescued by Porthcawl RNLI lifeboat, Rose of the Shires, on Monday, April 25 in the water off the River Ogmore, at Ogmore-by-Sea. David Gibson, 41, of Hendre Road, Pencoed, became involved in the incident after he and his friend, Graham Pugh, of Clydach Vale, saw mother chase after her two children – a boy and a girl – who were having difficulty in the sea. Father-of-two Mr Gibson said: “I swam in, but when I realised how strong the current was, I swam back out and told Graham not to swim in. “I told someone to phone the RNLI and grabbed the dingy. The adrenaline was pumping so much, I was sprinting and swimming to get to them.” Mr Gibson, who owns a window cleaning business, added: “I don’t want to be a hero, I would have done that for anyone.
Fallbrook Window Washing Co. provides high quality service with a smile: Finding an excellent service that does not skimp on friendliness and courtesy is hard to find; however, Fallbrook Window Washing Co. has been providing those qualities to home and business owners in Bonsall, De Luz, Rainbow and Fallbrook since 1973. Rick Williams, the owner of Fallbrook Window Washing Co., joined his father Eric in the business nearly 40 years ago, and has worked hard to offer the best window washing service possible. However, this business is not a one-man team. Jan Williams and Jamie Stewart, Williams’ wife and daughter, help manage the office and schedule appointments. "We have a tag team," said Williams. "My wife and daughter are invaluable to the business as business managers, customer service, and support. With my son Eric working with us, our business has been in the family for three generations."
As part of the window washing service provided by the Williams team, Williams physically goes to each prospective property to offer a free estimate. "It’s important to meet the people interested and explain my services to them," said Williams. "Not only do I want to give an accurate quote, I want them to see who will be working on their property." Fallbrook Window Washing Company’s service includes the washing of all windows, inside and out; the cleaning of the window screens and the vacuuming of the window tracks. Williams stated that Fallbrook Window Washing Company’s attention to detail is what allows the company to provide stellar work that is only accomplished by someone who specializes in window cleaning. "Most housekeepers wash windows by hand with a rag, basically smearing the windows, which can be seen when the sun shines through," said Williams. "We use soap water and squeegees, leaving windows residue- and spot-free." In order to have pristine windows year long, Williams recommends that clients have the
windows professionally cleaned quarterly, touching them up by hand in between appointments. "If customers are going to have a special event, we offer a partial service, in which we clean the most important windows, such as the dining room, kitchen and family room," said Williams.
For the Williams family, providing superior window washing services is not enough; as longtime residents of Fallbrook, they consider getting to know their customers essential. "Some of my customers tell me that they’ve known me since I was knee high to a grasshopper," said Williams. "I have had the pleasure of seeing some customers every few months over the span of almost 40 years, so they have known me my entire working life. That’s the pleasure of working in Fallbrook; you become a part of the town." In addition to window washing, Williams serves his community as a volunteer firefighter in De Luz, and was one of the brave firefighters who battled the Rice Fire in 2007. Currently, Williams also has a personal dog training service, and volunteers as a puppy trainer for K-9 Companions for Independence, which trains canines to help disabled individuals live a full and independent life. This commitment to serve the community is what drives the Fallbrook Window Washing Company to excellence. "I enjoy being a part of Fallbrook, running into folks I know," said Williams. "I am proud of the reputation I have in town, and I would not trade that for all the gold and silver in the world. People know that we are friendly and courteous."
I recently installed some film on a friend’s townhouse over by the beach. It all started when she mentioned that she was taking a few days of vacation to sew custom slip covers for fabric-covered chairs in her dining room—a room that faces west and takes direct Florida sunlight from mid-day until sunset. When she finished, she proudly showed me her work and although it was impressive, I was more curious why she would go to so much effort. Then she showed me the older sun-faded slip covers, which led to a discussion about UV fade and my work in the solar control industry—window film to the rescue! I’ve been touting the benefits of window film for many years and, although I’ve seen it many times, this experience was a perfect example of how serious sun fade is from a consumer’s perspective. And, regardless of what I know about window film or how long I’ve been in the business, this was a reminder about how damaging effects of the sun generate legitimate selling opportunities.
It did not take long before I found myself giving a full-fledged passionate presentation for the product we all love. I displayed how the film worked and told her about product options, making sure I listed all the additional features and benefits—such as improved appearance, reduced glare, and of course, added protection against glass breakage. When I was the director of marketing for Bekaert, we used to say that window film had a “bundle of benefits” and when you think about it, how many products can people buy that have so many added benefits above and beyond the primary one that motivated the purchase decision. During our conversation, I felt my passion for the product energize as she realized window film was the perfect solution for the problem. Like most consumers, she was simply not aware of window film or its long list of valuable benefits (By the way, I made sure I did not over sell or create any unrealistic performance expectations in the area of fade reduction).
A couple of days later, I brought over a sample of a popular dual reflective film, solar specs and a BTU meter to show and tell the window film story. I’m not sure if it was the film-on-glass sample, or the BTU demo that did it for her, but at one point, all she wanted to know was how soon I could get the film installed, surely with the protection of her new slip covers in mind. I’m not a window film dealer installing film every day so I took my time making sure I cleaned the glass thoroughly. I even included a cleaning of her outside windows because I have always felt that doing so is good way to increase the job completion “wow” factor and it’s an additional profit center for proactive dealers. In this case and since I was helping a friend, I didn’t ask for any money, but I did get a really great home-cooked meal out of the deal.
NIC student takes education to the street: Shawn Wood is a 27-year-old entrepreneur enrolled at North Island College who is putting his schooling to good use this summer. In NIC’s business administration program for two years, Wood decided to open his own business. Operating a College Pro Window cleaning company, he purchased a franchise from the well-known company. “Being in the business field, I will be able to apply all the practical knowledge I have learned to my own company. My intentions are to hire as many college students as I can. “I want to help others earn their way through school as well as myself,” he adds. “I want to make a difference in the Comox Valley. “By offering free services to needy non-profit business, I hope to promote both myself and the businesses. “I have nothing but high hopes as I canvas door-to-door for clients over the next few weeks trying to get houses booked for May.”
Acrotech Invites Franchise Partners For Their Window Washing Business: Window washing isn’t an easy job for most people and organizations. But, it is nevertheless something that needs to be done to maintain the hygiene. Your home will most certainly have glass windows, and they will definitely get dirty due to the weather elements. You would either have to clean them yourself or get them cleaned from professional cleaners. Even commercial office premises dread the thought of window washing, gutters cleaning, and power washing because the maintenance staff is not adequately trained to do a good job, and sometimes they do not have the right equipment as well.
But cleaning the windows is not a problem anymore, at least not in British Columbia Thanks to Acrotech that has emerged as the leading service provider in the Vancouver area, and elsewhere in the state. Offices, commercial properties and individual homes in British Columbia are all turning to the company when they want their windows cleaned and maintained. The company offers many advanced services such as power spraying, gutter cleaning, pressure washing, power washing, roof cleaning, moss removal and others.
Acrotech is now taking in new franchisees for the window cleaning services. The company representatives are saying that the market is huge, because both businesses and individuals must get their windows cleaned. And all of them need to hire professional services, because it is almost impossible for most homeowners and property managers to clean the windows themselves. The company feels that there is not much competition as very few businesses offer the modern approach to window washing like Acrotech. Most of them do not have the high-end equipment as well. So it seems that after becoming a big success in Canada, Acrotech is finally ready to move in to the US market.
It certainly seems like a good business opportunity for those who want to grow with a business leader and that too in a niche that is growing. There is no need to have prior experience because Acrotech is promising a lot of support for their franchise partners. It took Acrotech more than five years to perfect the technologies, product approach and services offered, but the franchises can hope to gain right from the first day. Working with the leader, they can learn about the use of modern technology and the best-practices.
Those who are interested to become a franchise will need to fill out a “Request Info” form that is available at the company website. For any queries, businesses can also call up Acrotech. Once Acrotech has received all the applications, they will scan through them and decide about their franchisee partners.
Acrotech is taking in new franchise partners because the business wants to emerge as a global brand, which is recognized beyond Vancouver and Canada. The young and dynamic company wants to dominate the market niche of window washing, gutters cleaning and power washing.
About Acrotech: Acrotech is the market leader in window washing and maintenance services in Vancouver, Canada. The company employs modern gadgets and professional cleaners to serve individual homeowners and businesses in the area. Acrotech is now inviting franchise partners for various areas of the US. Please visit Acrotech.com to learn more about the company, the window washing services, and the business opportunities.
PVC Wizard franchise offers a sparkling ‘window of opportunity’: A bright new business opportunity awaits visitors to this year’s British Franchise Exhibition, in June – when specialist conservatory cleaning company PVC Wizard conjures up some excitement. PVC Wizard, headed by successful Lancashire businessman John Feeney, is about to launch its UK-wide roll out as a franchise network – and it will be the first specialist conservatory and PVC cleaning company to appear at the exhibition, at Manchester Central, on June 10 and 11. Although the official launch will take place at the exhibition, the PVC Wizard team is already attracting a great deal of interest from people keen to snap up franchise territories. “There is a clear gap in the market for our service, and our eye-catching brand offers a unique window of opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to join us across the UK,” said John. “Based on the excellent trading figures of our existing franchise operations, we’ve developed a very attractive franchise package with a strong support structure and exciting marketing campaign,” he added. And with more British householders choosing to improve their existing homes, rather than move during the recession, potential sales are forecast to remain strong. John, who previously designed and built conservatories, has worked at some of the biggest conservatory installer firms in the country. And that’s where he first came up with his bright idea for business…eight years ago.
He explained: “I was seeing conservatories installed every day but there was no thought given to how they might be cleaned. PVC manufacturers like to say that their installations are maintenance-free, but this is not really true as anyone with a grubby conservatory and stained window frames will tell you.” John added: “I realised the potential of setting up a professional conservatory cleaning company in a field of work that traditionally has attracted here-today gone-tomorrow operators. It’s a service rarely offered by window cleaners and it can be a dangerous and messy job for homeowners. “We were inundated from the first month because of our system of cleaning and the specialised products we use to bring weather-beaten conservatories back to their original pristine condition, inside and out.” Initially run under the company name of Specialised Conservatory Cleaning, the company has just re-branded as PVC Wizard as part of its franchise roll out across the UK as a household name in conservatory cleaning.
Top Dawg Franchise Announces Best Franchise Business Opportunities in the Cleaning Industry - PRLog (Press Release) – As a leading provider of free and complete information on the best franchise opportunities, Top Dawg Franchise recently announced its most popular residential and commercial cleaning company picks. Many of these franchisors offer comprehensive cleaning jobs, including professional window cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning and restoration, green home maid assistance, as well as HVAC and duct cleaning and maintenance. Hailed by Entrepreneur Magazine as the #1 Growth Franchise in Commercial Cleaning for five straight years, JAN-PRO is easily one of the largest and best recognized commercial cleaning companies featured in the Top Dawg Franchise website. Aside from JAN-PRO, Top Dawg Franchise also offers free franchise information on established cleaning companies such as Stratus Building Solutions, Eco Maids, Chem-Dry Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, and Ductz International. It allows potential investors to choose from among hundreds of the best franchise business opportunities available on its user-friendly website. Options are arranged alphabetically or according to state, industry, or minimum required investment.
Sonia Viles shows some of the lost property handed in at Wellington Central police station. Ever checked out of a hotel and left your birdcage? Or wondered what an unmanned canoe paddle was doing on the train seat next to you? Scarves and jerseys are among the most common items to haunt lost property boxes – but are far from the strangest. Probably the most surreal moment in executive housekeeper Denise Thornton's 37-year career was the time the window cleaner called to report a body in the hotel garden. A panicked Ms Thornton ran out of the James Cook Hotel expecting to find a bloodied corpse – but was instead greeted with a grinning window cleaner holding a deflated blow-up doll. At least one mystery was solved. Three days earlier, a room cleaner had found a large, empty cardboard box with a picture of an attractive doll called "Shirley". "He brought the box to me giggling his head off. He said: `I don't know where she's gone, but here's the box'," Ms Thornton says. Musings as to her whereabouts were silenced. "There was Shirley, she had been pushed out of the window at some stage and she was lying in the garden very deflated."
Bravery award Stockton dad after sea rescue: A courageous dad who ran into a rough sea to rescue an elderly man has been awarded one of the country’s top lifesaving honours. Gary Lennon risked his life when he swam in choppy waters to save a confused man who had walked into the sea at Redcar. But the modest window cleaner from Hardwick, Stockton, says he only “did what anyone else would have done”. Gary was sitting on steps on the Esplanade, with wife Jane and daughter Natasha, last September, when they saw an old man wade into the sea. “It’s all a blur really. I just thought ‘I’ve got to get him out’,” said Gary, a 40-year-old dad-of-two. “I ran down the beach stripping off to my boxer shorts. He was quite far out and I had to swim to reach him. “I swam back with him and pulled him onto the beach.” Jane could only stand and watch in horror. The University Hospital of North Tees ward clerk said: “At one point I couldn’t see the pair of them. “It was awful for Natasha. She kept screaming ‘My dad, my dad’.”
The man, in his seventies and suffering from dementia, had been on a day out with his family. When he wandered off, a police search was launched. When Gary emerged from the sea he found himself surrounded by a crowd of people applauding him. But he was more embarrassed because he was still in his boxer shorts! Gary, of Tithe Barn Road, said: “People say you’ve risked your life but you don’t think about it. I think anybody would have done it.” Wife Jane disagreed. “He doesn’t see himself as a hero, but clearly everyone else does,” she said. Son Macaulay, 15, a pupil at Our Lady and St Bede school in Stockton, and daughter Natasha, 18, are very impressed. Natasha, who works with her dad, said: “It went straight on Facebook. I’m really proud of him.” Now Gary is to get a commendation from the Royal Humane Society for his bravery after Cleveland Police recommended him for the award. Society secretary Dick Wilkinson said: “Gary was the right person in the right place at the right time. “Without his prompt action, though, the incident could have had a far less happy ending. He richly deserves the award he is to receive.”
Window-cleanding business opens: Tom Zupancic has opened Fish Window Cleaning at 195 Lehigh Ave. No. 13A, Lakewood. The company provides window cleaning, commercial and residential, to customers in Brick, Jackson, Lakewood, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Toms River, Asbury Park, Belmar, Howell, Neptune, and Manasquan. Before opening his company, Zupancic managed regional and global IT teams for Credit Suisse. Fish Window Cleaning has 239 locations in the United States and was named to the 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing businesses.
Residents face some early water restrictions: Residents of North Cedar face early water restrictions this year due to the ongoing rehabilitation work on two wells that serve the area. The restrictions began on Friday and will continue to May 20, which means there's less water at this time for everyone in that area to use. The Stage 4 water restrictions include no washing of vehicles, driveways or sidewalks, no filling of pools and hot tubs and no window washing.
High hopes rust away in Australia - The world's tallest residential building was to be the Gold Coast's shining beacon, but the towering steel structure has been marred by claims it is rusting. Only six years after its completion, Q1 is allegedly riddled with corrosion. The body corporate representing the owners of the tower's 526 apartments is now suing luxury Queensland developer Sunland Group for millions of dollars worth of repairs to the 80-storey tower. It is alleged the steel structure's protective coating was never applied correctly. The corrosion became a feature of one resident's window frames only 12 months after she and her husband moved in. "We were one of the first to move in and I noticed the rust pretty quickly on the outside of our window," said the resident 'Julie', who requested not to be named. "It wasn't a great deal [of rust], but the building wasn't even 12 months old." There were also problems with the coating of the steel frame of the balcony. Although the frame was re-coated with what Julie was told was the correct protective material, the same problem still exists. "When we first moved in [I noticed] the inside [frame] of the balcony just wasn't done properly. They eventually came back a re-coated the balcony, but even today I can't wipe [the edging] down, because [the coating] just peels off," she said. "It's like silver paint coming off on your hands. Even if I'm cleaning the windows I try not to [clean] too close to the edge because the [coating on the steel frames] will go all over my windows." Julie said she felt duped by the developer and sales agent.
The Many Revenges of Kip Flynn, by Sean Dixon: A fire-breathing, tattooed flaneur takes the title of Sean Dixon’s second novel. One of Dixon’s great strengths is his ability to tease out evocative characters from the streets and alleys. He is able to pump up fleeting players until they float like balloons through the streetscape, so charmingly free-floating you nearly don’t notice their weightlessness. Still, it is often a joy to soak up the hustle and bustle through Dixon’s eyes. At a certain point he quotes William Blake — “Everything that is is holy” — and it’s a maxim he works hard to prove, with his evocative and appreciative descriptions of everything from the alien-tripod Ontario College of Art and Design building to heady asides into urban planning to finely captured moments between two strangers on a window-washer’s rig.
Today from the seattlepi.com archive we have the story of Seattle’s first streetcar, which began service in 1884. The P-I’s first known printing of the streetcar image in the P-I came Sept. 23, 1909 when the driver, George Washington Williams, recounted what it was like to drive the route. In any case, the streetcar line had some tough times with mud. “It was worse than the picture shows,” Williams said in 1909. The gradients were estimated at 4 percent to 8 percent, and Williams – then 29 – had to carry a 4-by-4 to put the car back on the track when it derailed. The basic fare was a dime, and longer runs were 25 cents. A profitable day brought in $6, and Williams, an African-American, was paid $50 a month. Williams appears to have worked on the streetcar line for 14 months before changing jobs. In 1909 he was working as a window washer. Click here to read a PDF of Williams’ recollections about the 1884 Seattle streetcar.
By Christopher Todd Matthews
One hand slops suds on, one
hustles them down like a blind.
Brusque noon glare, filtered thus,
loosens and glows. For five or
six minutes he owns the place,
dismal coffee bar, and us, its
huddled underemployed. A blade,
black line against the topmost glass,
begins, slices off the outer lather,
flings it away, works inward,
corrals the frothy middle, and carves,
with quick cuts, the stuff down,
not looking for anything, beneath
or inside. Homes to the last,
cleans its edges, grooms it for
the end, then shaves it off
and flings it away. Which is
splendid, and merciless. And all
in the wrist. Then, he looks at us.
We makers of filth, we splashers
and spitters. We sitters and watchers.
Who like to see him work.
Who love it when he leaves
and gives it back: our grim hideout,
half spoiled by clarity.
1 comment:
Poor guys, our prayers go out to all of them..
Post a Comment