Friday 18 November 2011

Another Bumper Window Cleaning News Edition

WINDOW CLEANER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2012: Organised by the FWC in conjunction with Quartz Business Media for Windex 2012. This competition is open to all window cleaners who are registered members of the Federation of Window Cleaners; and all employees of registered members. Employees must have been nominated by their employer; and only one employee per company is eligible to participate. FWC Executive members and their employees are not eligible. Short-listed finalists will be informed before the event and the winner announced at the innovation awards dinner on Thursday 8th March 2012 at the Ricoh Arena Coventry. Competition Prizes:
  • One-night complimentary dinner and hotel for two people
  • 24 carat Gold plated Squeegee
  • Framed certificate
  • Years free membership or, equivalent value gift voucher.
Click to download your entry Form: WINDOW CLEANER OF THE YEAR ENTRY FORM.

Canada: Window-washers high atop One London Place would have had a very cool job Thursday as winds from the northwest brought cooler weather and light snow. Friday’s forecast calls for a high of 5 C. The white flakes in the air Thursday should be taken as a call to prepare for what could be an active winter storm season. "It is a tap on the shoulder. Get ready," said meteorologist Geoff Coulson of Environment Canada. A warmer than normal Lake Huron sets up the London area for the kind of heavy snow storms that lashed the area a year ago when arctic air plunged across the region. Some areas north of London were hit Thursday with squalls and poor visibility. A snow squall watch was issued for Thursday night for the northern Huron and Perth counties and South Bruce. Coulson said the warmer Lake Huron will have more of an influence on Southwestern Ontario weather this winter than La Nina, a cooling of the surface of the Pacific Ocean reported Thursday by the UN weather agency.

Dramatic steeple rescue put new Morristown Fire Chief on hot seat: Just one month into his term as Morristown’s acting fire chief, Jimmy Schultz (pictured) found himself facing some tricky choices Thursday as two contractors awaited rescue from a stalled cherry-picker 120 feet above the United Methodist Church. The tallest fire truck ladders on the scene, from Madison and Morris Township, extended only 105 feet. Extending a portable ladder from the end of a truck ladder to the workers was risky. “This is an extraordinary circumstance,” said Jimmy, noting it’s been about 20 years since the last high-rise rescue in town. It  involved a window washer at the Headquarters Plaza complex. A fire truck ladder was just long enough for that job, he said.

Window cleaner injured in fall from scaffolding: A window washer suffered a broken leg when he fell about 20 feet from scaffolding Saturday while working on the outside of a bank building in Davenport, police said. Jeremy Griffin, 33, no address available, was working at the Northwest Bank & Trust bank building at 100 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport Police Capt. David Struckman said. The winds were high, so Griffin tied a guide wire to the scaffolding and then tied it to his van to keep the scaffolding from swaying. About 11:40 a.m., another vehicle passed by Griffin’s van and struck the guide wire, which sent Griffin plunging to the ground, Struckman said. Griffin was taken to Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, Davenport, for treatment. His condition was not available late Saturday. Struckman said the injury, a compound fracture to the right leg, did not appear to be life-threatening. The incident remains under investigation.

"Top Ten Places to Press Your Nose Against the Glass" - The SF SPCA is proud to partner with Macy's again in 2011 on the 25th annual holiday windows. Voted one of the "Top Ten Places to Press Your Nose Against the Glass" during the holiday season by USA Today, this tradition is one of the most beloved symbols of the holiday spirit in San Francisco. Last year, about 300 animals featured in Macy's holiday windows found new homes from the adoption center on the main floor, and more than $70,000 in donations was raised for the SF SPCA. All San Francisco residents and visitors are encouraged to come visit the adorable, adoptable animals in the Macy's Holiday Windows from Friday, November 18 - Sunday, January 1. Each holiday window is equipped with video camera that streams images to sfpsca.org/holiday, so animal lovers can watch the kittens and puppies from their computers throughout the holiday season. The streaming video from Holiday Windows is generously sponsored by KSFO Radio.

A former contestant on the Apprentice TV show is set to clean up after his new website scooped a prestigious national award. Mallow entrepreneur Kieran Walsh (pictured right) beat hundreds of other hopefuls from across the country to win the 'One To Watch' category at the 2012 Eircom Spider's Awards for his website Pigsty.ie. The website is the first in Ireland to offer a comprehensive national listing of cleaning services, featuring more than 106 businesses including domestic household cleaners, chimney sweeps and window cleaners. Competition judges said the website has "changed the way we now source a household cleaner" praising it for its accessibility and easy navigation. . Kieran said he came up with the idea for the website after he struggled to find a cleaner following his stint on the Apprentice. "Setting up a business has been challenging, particularly as the country is in the grip of recession. To be honoured on a national stage and listed among such well established sites is an amazing feeling," he said.

Small businesses dodging tax by dealing in cash, report finds: More small businesses than ever before are dodging the taxman by charging customers in cash, new research suggests. Up to one-in-10 companies could be taking cash-only payments in a bid to hide their full earnings from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), it is claimed. Sole traders who earn more than £37,400 fall into the 40% tax bracket, and for every job over £1,000 they could save about £500 if they avoided paying National Insurance and income tax. There is no law against receiving cash, but the onus is on businesses to make the correct earnings declaration.
Experts believe the cash-in-hand culture is being driven by a boom in entrepreneurs, many of whom lost their jobs in the recession and started-up on their own. Up to £50million could be being “squirreled away” by plumbers, electricians, window cleaners, gardeners and other sole traders every year. But a spokesman for Crunch Accounting, which polled 1,000 new and small businesses across the UK, said cash-only payments are liable to continue. “The fact is that cash-only payments are beneficial to everyone but the Inland Revenue. They present the trader with a lower tax bill, and also drive down cost. From our research, we believe cash-only payments are on the increase," she said. “Obviously, all consumers should strive to stick to the law, but it would take a consumer made of granite to argue with anyone who offers a job at a discount.”

Building a Future for Jobless: According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of jobless young people jumped by 67,000 in the three months to September to 1.02 million. If ever there was a time for youth job creation schemes, it's now. Bristol Together combines the talents of workers from two existing social enterprises, the Restore Trust, which trains young people in restoration skills, and Aspire, which previously organised job creation schemes in gardening and window cleaning. "The gardening and window cleaning were highly successful job creation schemes," explains Paul Tipler, managing director of Aspire. "For example, we have more than 2,000 window cleaning customers in the city, and a turnover of £80,000 a year.

Christchurch, NZ, earthquake zones have twilight tours: Graham White, who worked in the city for years as a window cleaner, said he has looked through every cordon fence, but being on the inside was a totally different experience. "All the buildings that I used to clean are gone, I'm gobsmacked by it, it's really been destroyed." The tours will run every Saturday and Sunday, until mid-December, with twilight tours also being held on Monday evenings from 14 November. Six buses will be used on the half hour tours, for which more than 7000 people have booked. Demand was so high CERA phone lines crashed this week. No-one will be allowed off the buses once they enter the red zone and strict safety standards will be in place.

Woman cut from car crash with window cleaners van in Guernsey: A woman had to be cut from her car after a head-on collision in Le Grand Bouet, St Peter Port, yesterday evening. The 36-year-old local woman sustained back and neck injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. All the emergency services were called to the crash, which happened at about 5.30pm at the junction with First Tower Lane. The woman was driving a red Honda towards La Vrangue from the Red Lion roundabout and collided with a white Vauxhall window cleaner’s van that was going the other way. The front and rear of the car were badly damaged in the accident.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of people are injured during fall cleanup activities. These injuries were mostly due to raking and climbing ladders. Who expected to have to add a layer of snow to the mix? Ladder injuries occur when people try to clean out their gutters, wash windows or check the integrity of their roof. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reminds consumers that ladder injuries are very common. They suggest cleaning your ladder of mud or dirt and checking for any loose screws, hinges or rungs. Make sure the ladder is fully opened, locked and angled to your target at about 75 degrees. Ensure you are on a firm, level surface. On step ladders, never sit or stand on the top shelf that is intended to hold a pail or supplies, as it will not support your weight.

OCS Employee Honoured for 50 Years of Service: OCS is proud to congratulate Frank Stevens who has worked with the company for 50 years as a window cleaning operative. Frank Stevens joined the company in 1961 when OCS was a well established cleaning company. At the time, he lived in Southampton, Hampshire, and built up a window cleaning round of retail outlets in the town centre. Today, 68 year old Frank still continues his rounds, supporting stores around the county of Hampshire with both external and internal cleaning. Since Frank began his career, the window cleaning industry has seen many changes which have brought untold benefits in terms of Health and Safety and service efficiencies for clients. The Bosun’s Chair has been replaced by abseiling; three part ladders by water-fed pole systems; and rope cradles – where the window cleaner’s partner literally pulled them up the building on a rope - by electric cradles.
Ted Jasper, Frank’s manager comments that he can always be relied upon: “He is a fantastic, model employee and I could do with another 10 like him!  He is a very dedicated worker and I can trust him to get on with things.  He is always keen to help out and sorts out any problems with no worries or grumbling.” Martin Gammon, Managing Director of OCS said: “The Company has seen a lot of changes over the last 50 years and it’s amazing to know that Frank has been with us the whole time.  People like Frank, enable us to provide first class customer service through their dedication and commitment and by really knowing the business inside out.”

No charges will be filed in the death of a Hiawatha teenager after a fistfight two months ago. Zachary M. Maloney, 18, died Sept. 6 after fighting with a friend in the parking lot of All Clear Window Cleaning, 1237 Lake Ave. NE. An autopsy revealed Maloney died from blunt-force trauma to the head, officials said. Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said there was no evidence to warrant the filing of criminal charges. “My decision was based on the investigative materials and witness accounts, which indicate the decedent initiated and pursued a physical confrontation with another, in which they were both voluntary mutual combatants,” Vander Sanden said.
According to the police report, Maloney and Ethan Cox, 19, exchanged words shortly after 6 p.m. and the altercation turned physical. Maloney fell to the ground, and the two young men wrestled until he began experiencing seizure-like symptoms. Friends took Maloney to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he died a short time later, police said. Maloney’s family was told he struck his head during the fall. Maloney and Cox were long-time friends and co-workers at All Clear, a window- and gutter-cleaning business.
Prosecutors determined Cox’s actions during the incident were reasonable and justified. Vander Sanden said there was no known animosity between the two parties before the fight. “The most that can be said is that the incident was a regrettable and tragic event that had consequences that were unintended and unexpected,” Vander Sanden said. “Under the circumstances, I don’t believe there is a criminal charge that applies.” Andrea Fernandez, Maloney’s mother, said the family is supportive of the county attorney’s decision.
“They were truly friends, best friends,” Fernandez said. “Our understanding, based on the information, is that it was just truly an unfortunate accident. I know there was no intent or ill will.” According to his obituary, Maloney enjoyed playing guitar, drawing, music and skateboarding with friends. “He was a very caring person,” Fernandez said. “Very loyal to his friends and very loving to people.”

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Pikake Mawae, a window washer, works on the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Asian-Pacific leaders gathering in warm, sunny Honolulu this week will be searching for ways to kickstart faster growth through freer trade, moving on from the gloom over European debt that prevailed days earlier at the G20 summit in chilly Cannes. In an era of debt crises and protests over inequality, the role of the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit may turn out to be just as much about confidence building as it is about combating protectionism. APEC's activities encompass a wide range of issues, including climate change, energy and food security, and politics. But the spotlight in Honolulu will be on its original mission: promoting growth through trade and closer economic ties among Pacific Rim nations from Chile to China.

City contracts, Fort Morgan: Three bids for annual service were received: $26,400 from Pro Cleaning, Inc. of Fort Morgan, $11,700 from Service Master of Fort Morgan and $10,200 from The Key People Co. of Loveland. Staff recommended accepting the lower of the local bids, which the council did. While the city has two part-time in-house janitors staff positions, only one is filled, and those positions' work is at a higher cost to the city than contracting with Service Master, Curtis said. Also, Service Master would provide more services for the money than the in-house staff could handle and likely would have more flexibility for covering emergencies, vacations or illnesses, Curtis said. "Level of service is really what we're looking at right here," Wells said. "Our people do a good job. But when we're down one person... that person is stressed to do 48 hours of work in 24." He called that unfair, and said that the contract with Service Master "addresses some of those issues." Community Services Director Patti Evans spoke for the Senior Center, Fort Morgan Library & Museum and the Armory. She said that level of service was also the key for these buildings, as "we've got quite a few people in and out of these buildings" and keeping them presentable is important to the city.
Evans told the council that of the two bids received, one was disqualified because the company had never cleaned a public facility before. "I appreciate the work you did," Mayor Terry McAlister told Evans. "Looking into the history of a bidder is very important" and can prove that the lowest bid may not always be the best one. The remaining bid was from Service Master for up to $4,200 to clean the Senior Center, up to $22,000 to clean the library and museum and up to $18,000 to clean the Armory. These figures include carpet cleaning, window washing and weekend cleanup after rentals as necessary. Human Resources and Risk Management Director Michael Boyer and City Clerk and Public Information Officer John Brennan presented the bids for City Hall. Service Master's bid was significantly lower than Pro Cleaning, Inc.'s bids for both monthly services and carpet cleaning, but slightly higher on window washing. But Service Master's overall bid total was within the $13,360 amount the city had budgeted for 2012. They told the council that of the two bids received, it was clear that Service Master would fit within the budget and the city could get basic services annually and still have money left in the budget for carpet and window cleaning.

Dutch pastor reaches out to domestic workers: “These poor Asian and African girls come to the Arab countries to make some money. At home they have children or other little brothers who still have to go to school. Or the parents are ill and somebody has to pay the medical bills. That is why they are here. In their poor home country they are being recruited by organizations that promise them a good salary and a free day every week. “I always say: They do not come, they are being brought. And after that they are being exploited. Immediately after their arrival they have to hand in their passports, they are often not even allowed to have contact with their compatriots, sometimes they are totally isolated, they are in fact prisoners, have to sleep in a room that really is a cupboard and they have to wait and see if they get something to eat. “I know of situations where girls get pregnant by their employer, or his son, and then suddenly fall down from the ninth floor balcony while window cleaning. So sad, you know, this careless girl: She accidentally fell to her death!”

London Guildhall employees hold international solidarity protest: On Monday 7th November at 10am, the cleaners of the prestigious London Guildhall held a noisy and lively protest against their direct employers, Sodexo, and also the City of London Corporation, who control the cleaning contract. Their demands are: dignity and respect at work from management, the reinstatement of victimised union rep Wilmer Cardenas and to receive the London Living Wage which is currently set at Living Wage 8.30.
There will be other solidarity demonstrations taking place by other cleaners, workers and students in France, Colombia, USA and around the globe protesting about workers' rights abuses by Sodexo in solidarity with the US based “Kick out Sodexo” campaign. This protest will be the third demonstration staged by Guildhall cleaners this year, whom have been unionised by the IWW, following a period in July where several migrant cleaners had not received weeks of pay and the contracting company Ocean failed to resolve it in a timely manner until successive organised protest demonstrations were held[4].
Raquel, a mother of two explains why she is taking part: “Every day I wake up at 5:00am and get home at 12:00 pm. I receive £6.08 per hour, and my life is spent if not at work then travelling on the Underground going from one job to another. The money I receive after tax and travel costs is not enough for me to survive and support my family, I have no extra help. Often I get more than 20 hours of work, I am one of the lucky ones as many of my co-workers struggle in misery on 4 to 6 hours.”
Chris Ford, an IWW organiser says: “The City of London Corporation has had plenty of bad publicity due to other recent protests. How can they ‘highly commend’ the GLA Group for its Sustainability Procurement Award[5] in 2009, but fail to apply those standards to its own procurement now in 2011? It should give itself a good news story by ending its hypocrisy on procurement and pay these cleaners the London Living Wage. “
John McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington supports the protest and says: "Low paid workers across the world are demonstrating that they've had enough and are not talking it anymore. Workers are on the march again and are demanding their rights and I am with them all the way."

Do you use gardening services or other home maintenance services like window cleaning? Schedule those services (which don't require you to be at home) during those prime theft hours. The typical house burglar is a male teen in your neighborhood—not a professional thief and 60 seconds is the most burglars want to spend breaking into your home. This suggests you only need enough security to thwart the regular person. Simple things like the "my scary dog can run faster than you" sign may be one of the most effective theft deterrents, other than—or in addition to—actually owning a scary dog. (Even a small dog prone to barking helps, though.) Regular "beware of dog" signs work too, especially if you add some additional supporting evidence of dog ownership, like leaving a dog bowl outside by your side door. The Washington Post suggests deadbolt locks, bars on windows, and pins in sash windows may be effective theft deterrents. It goes without saying to make sure all the entry points are locked (but, still, 6% of burglaries happen that way). Most burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Wikipedia also adds weekdays, and August being highest for burglary rates in the U.S.): Burglars look for homes that appear unoccupied, and residential homes, as you know, tend to be empty during those hours because people are at work.

The right buildings insurance can provide home comforts: Check if your policy has a home emergency section which means you are entitled to the services of a locally-approved tradesman. This is a double-edged sword. It can be great for the insurer to pre-approve such staff and call them in but it also means you are not at liberty to use your own initiative. Many homeowners are “leaving a gaping hole in their security when they move home”, says the AA. Three-quarters do not change their locks within a month of moving with half not changing them at all, representing a clear security risk. They say over 107m spare keys are in circulation including with window cleaners, builders and ex-partners. If moving home, remember to also change the alarm code.

Doylestown Biz Offers Free Housecleaning for Heroes: Disabled or elderly veterans, police officers or firefighters who live within 15 miles of Doylestown may apply for a free house cleaning through the nonprofit Cleaning for Heroes. Cleaning for Heroes is the only non-profit dedicated to providing no-cost house cleaning services to our disabled or elderly community heroes and their families. The organization accomplishes this mission by providing free house cleaning services to help make their lives easier, but doesn’t stop there. Cleaning For Heroes also provides other services such as window cleaning, carpet cleaning, air duct cleaning, landscaping, pest control and much, much more.

Ben Miller, 25, stole an Army ID card belonging to a former colleague and then knocked on the doors of up to 14 pensioners asking for donations – hoping to cash in with Remembrance Sunday looming. He stole just £40 – sometimes collecting as little as £1 – but has been locked up for four months. Miller told his victims he had been shot while serving in Afghanistan and as a result had a false knee. He actually had no physical injuries and had been discharged from the Army in January on medical grounds after suffering from depression. While serving with the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster Regiment in Afghanistan he saw a colleague killed by a roadside bomb and another was shot dead. At the time of the offences he was working as a window cleaner.
The court was told that on October 28 police were called to an address in Cattlin Way, near Miller’s home, following reports that he had knocked on the doors of up to 14 pensioners claiming to be collecting for Help For Heroes. They were alerted after one resident refused to believe Miller and when he checked with a local warden, he realised Miller had been door-knocking the previous week. The court was told that since being discharged, Miller had been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. His psychological problems had affected his judgement and led him to embark on a crime spree. Investigating officer Det Con Simon Hurdley said: "Without exaggeration, this was a cowardly and shameful thing to do. For the sake of just £40, he completely dishonoured those soldiers and their families."
"If it carries on like this," says cockney comic Micky Flanagan of his newfound success, "I'm seriously considering signing off." Flanagan is a former East End window cleaner who has scaled the standup ladder to nosebleed heights these last 12 months. And deservedly so: his is an unpretentious, cheerfully direct working-class voice that taps into a high-yield seam of blokeish, impish humour. His show, which harks back to a time when he – and the UK – were more patriarchal and less pampered than today, panders to traditional tastes. But Flanagan's spiv delivery brings the material to amusing life, and his infantile-delinquent personality is easy to love.

High unemployment continues to provide an opportunity for crooks to take advantage of eager and even desperate job seekers. Craigslist, Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com and now even Facebook are all breeding grounds for scammers. Some job seekers have been surprised to find they have gotten a job without having to do an interview. However, they became suspicious when the employer then asked for personal information to fill out necessary paperwork. A job applicant should never give out his or her Social Security or bank account numbers over the phone or by e-mail. Aside from paying for a uniform, it's rarely advisable for an applicant to pay upfront fees to get a job. An enterprising crook set up shop in a local office building and advertised positions for window washers at an attractive salary. Applicants who were hired were told they had to pay for a drug test. After paying the money, they never heard from the crook again. He also stiffed the office building for rent.

A businessman who built up a courier service empire spanning the North-West has died aged 46. Father-of-four Anthony John Wolstenholme started selling biscuits on a market stall, before setting up Direct Courier Services Ltd, and a string of other successful businesses. He collapsed at home and, after several days in a coma, his family took the agonising decision to turn off his life support machine. He died last Saturday in Airedale Hospital, close to his family home in Salterforth.When he left school, Mr Wolstenholme worked at Bookers Cash and Carry for a short time, before setting up his own small business selling biscuits at markets in Todmorden and Sowerby Bridge. He then bought a window cleaning round and began delivering parcels and post early mornings and in the evening.

JFlint Products are eco-friendly: CATHEDRAL CITY — JFlint Products Co. has opened the Perez Road Cleaning Supplies Store at 66-805 Perez Road, F-42, in Cathedral City. The store serves local window cleaners with window cleaning supplies, pure water cleaning systems, and pressure-washing equipment. Company President Jeff Flint said in a news release that the company supplies eco-friendly products that don't contain harsh chemicals or acids, and sells mold remediation and sealant products.

Wade loves hanging around: Symptoms of acrophobia or a fear of heights are nausea, a thumping heart rate and trembling limbs, but Gold Coast man Wade Perry doesn't even break a sweat. Mr Perry scales the tallest buildings of the border region attached to nothing but a system of safety ropes and gets paid to do it. He is a window cleaner with Getting Hire and when he spoke to us he was hanging off the side of a building at Bond University. "I'm not bothered by the height," Mr Perry said. "Whether it's one storey or 80 storeys it's all the same." "We spend our lunch breaks looking out at the best views from the rooftops," he said. Mr Perry said his job kept him "on edge" but that was part of the attraction too to just "get away from it all."

Couple opens window cleaning service: Kim and Derrell Chapman have opened Fish Window Cleaning at 202 Shelley Drive in Tyler. The business provides services for commercial and residential customers throughout East Texas, including Longview, Marshall, Kilgore, Henderson, Gladewater, White Oak and Hallsville. Derrell Chapman is the president and CEO of First Federal Bank of Texas in Tyler. He is a certified public accountant and graduate of Texas A&M University. Kim Chapman is a graduate of Angelina Community College and has worked in the long-term care industry. Before opening their business the Chapmans completed four weeks of training at Fish Window Cleaning headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.

The first striptease Queen: For many people, living at an address which is honoured by an English Heritage blue plaque would be a source of pride. Not so apparently for the residents of Wentworth Court in Surbiton, Surrey. The proposed recipient of the blue plaque honour is Phyllis Dixey who was undoubtedly a pioneer in her field. Phyllis, who lived in flat 15 in the late Thirties, was Britain’s first Queen of Striptease but current residents of Wentworth Court would rather not have a blue plaque saying so. The head of the residents’ association Nigel Bruce said: “It would certainly raise the eyebrows of passers-by.”At 16 she joined the chorus line in a “living tableau” revue presented by impresario Wallace Parnell, which featured scantily dressed girls. Parnell refined her speech and dress and eventually became her lover. When Phyllis learned she was only one of many she tried to gas herself but was rescued by a window cleaner.

Tartu Scientists Create 'Smart Glass' - Scientists at the University of Tartu have created a glass surface that can be rendered opaque at the flick of a button, allowing it to be used as window shades. The secret of the creation lies in a special spray-on gel, which after encountering the glass surface forms a five to 10 micrometer coat. Upon encountering an electric field, the gel changes its optical properties, ETV reported. So far, the gel has been applied to small square pieces of glass, which have passed all laboratory tests successfully. Scientists are now, however, trying to figure out how to apply the same technology on larger surfaces.
According to Ilmar Kink, head of the Nanotechnology Development Center at the university, one option is to develop a special spray booth, which would apply the gel in an even coat. The glass can be used in the construction of office buildings and shopping malls. "From a technological standpoint, we see no reason that it couldn’t be used even on skyscrapers," said Kink, adding that if everything goes according to plan, the processed glass will be in mass production in a year.

The cost of a dog licence has just gone up from £5 to £12.50, the first increase since 1983. And that money goes to maintaining the work of Derry City Council’s Dog Warden Service, which plays a vital role in the city. “But still there are dogs who get out for one reason or another if a binman or window cleaner let them out for example. “And any dog which is out loose on the streets can be picked up by law by the dog wardens. “The best way to reunite a dog with its owner is for it to be fitted with a microchip or simply a collar. “If we can’t identify it that way then it ends up here at the dog pound where it will be properly fed and watered and looked after while we try to get it rehomed.”

Bird deaths on campus prompt window-design project, art exhibit. More than 800 birds have died on Main Campus this year. After a few months of raising awareness, a well-known problem often overlooked by students, staff and faculty is making a breakthrough in January in Tyler School of Art. For approximately four years, Temple’s grounds department has been keeping track of the number of dead birds found on Main Campus. This year, between 800 and 1,000 migratory birds have lost their lives at Temple because of collisions with glass. This is a direct result of the low cost, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing tall glass buildings that have become common in architecture. “It’s not a Temple problem,” grounds department superintendent Glenn Eck said. “It’s a modern construction-methods problem.”
Philadelphia is directly in the center of traditional migratory flyways, so birds that die because of these fatal impacts are not accustomed to the city-life structure, and don’t notice the windows. A list of 31 bird species, including the yellow rail, northern waterthrush and the indigo bunting, have been found dead on Main Campus due to window collisions. “Coming into the city to take this job, I was surprised by the types of birds that I was seeing lying dead on the ground,” Eck said. The reflective characteristics of glass makes it invisible to birds, who see trees or plants reflected in the window, but not the glass itself. This problem has prompted faculty members, students, the Philadelphia Zoo and Audubon to get involved at Temple, aiming to promote a change.
The old, traditional solution to making glass visible to birds was to place hawk cutouts on some glass buildings around Main Campus. These two-dimensional predatory bird images are still being used in hopes of scaring away birds that would otherwise keep flying, until impact. “[The hawk cutouts are] a little inconclusive,” Eck said. “Let’s put it this way: It wasn’t the magic bullet.” Ornilux bird protection glass, originated from Germany, has patterned, UV reflective coating. This expensive glass is visible to birds and virtually unnoticeable to humans. “If there were to be solutions, they would have to be solutions that we could afford at Temple,” Sandra McDade, director of the office of sustainability, said. Because Ornilux is so costly, surface-care film has been created with small horizontal lines about one inch apart, that deters birds from going any farther because they know they couldn’t fit through.
This surface-care film was tested at the Philadelphia Zoo on the Big Cat Falls exhibit, which used to be extremely collision-prone. “They’ve had literally, effectively 100 percent turnaround since they put the film up,” Eck said. Senior biology major Haley Gilles got involved in a research project during Spring 2011 through the Creative Arts, Research and Scholarship Program, where she is testing this patterned film on windows in Beury Hall. “It’s definitely helping,” Gilles said. “The window film is a solution to the problem.”

Bird-safe buildings, windows catching on: (Click picture to enlarge) A bird, a white-breasted nuthatch, had crashed into a window and fallen dead on their deck. It was spring, which is migration season, and soon the thunks became an everyday occurrence. "We'd hear it and cringe," Lutz recalled. "It made us re-think buying the house." Within a month, birds from 11 different species, some that had migrated from as far away as Central America, had crashed and died at the couple's home. "We had to do something," Brophy said. So Lutz crafted a solution using screening and clear decals, which has reduced their bird casualties to virtually zero. "It's not pretty, but it's been 100 percent effective," Brophy said.
Retrofitting their home to eliminate feathered fatalities has worked for Brophy and Lutz. But a growing chorus of bird enthusiasts is advocating avian-friendly architecture at the design stage as the best prevention. It's a national movement that started in Chicago and has spread to other major cities. Big expanses of glass are generally bad news for birds because they reflect sky, water and habitat, attracting flying species until it's too late for them to put on the brakes. Window collisions kill at least 100 million birds and as many as 1 billion birds in the United States every year, according to Laura Erickson, author of "101 Ways to Help Birds."

Where to put bird feeders: Feeders should be placed close to natural cover like trees and shrubs, which help provide birds with a safe staging point on their way to your feeder, Blake said. Birds are more likely to fly tree to tree — where they have shelter and protection from predators — to check out your feeders than they are to fly across a wide expanse of open space — where they are visible to predators. Windows are another consideration. Window strikes are a common problem for birds because they see the reflection of the landscape in the window and think it’s a safe route to travel. If you’re placing a feeder near a window, the rule of thumb is to either place it less than 3 feet or more than 30 feet from the window, Blake said. If the feeders are within 3 feet, the birds don’t have enough momentum to harm themselves if they do strike a window. If they are more than 30 feet away, they are less likely to hit the window in the first place, Blake said.

Every Thursday morning, Shakira and her classmates build and experiment in the Transformative Learning Technologies Lab at Stanford University. The lab’s director, Assistant Professor Paulo Blikstein, believes that hands-on activities and powerful machinery will prove a more engaging window into traditional academic material. He shared an anecdote about a 9-year-old who responded unenthusiastically when she was shown an illustration of a window-washer and asked how she might improve his situation. After a two-hour workshop she was asked again, and produced a detailed schematic. “Going from ‘I don’t know’ to a cleaning robot with five arms, I think is pretty remarkable,” Blikstein said. “Just imagine if they start to have this kind of experience of invention and creation since 9 or 10 years old.”

£2m of work target is possible, claims town business networking group: The Harrogate organisation has already generated lucrative work for members and aims to continue. The White Rose group has 30 members who meet at The Crown Hotel every Thursday. Membership secretary and photographer Niki Denby said: “It does sound like an ambitious target but, if we can recruit just ten more business people who can be part of our weekly meetings, we’re convinced it’s possible to hit the £2m mark. “A vet, a will-writer, a hairdresser, a window cleaner, an estate agent or a travel agent are all great examples of the sort of people we’re looking for. There is a selection procedure to go through but we know the more reliable people we can find, the better chance we have of hitting our target.” The White Rose group is part of the Business Networking International movement. Members work to find referrals for each other, handing them over at the weekly meetings.

Bodybuilding: World is not enough for Mr Universe ace - Dominic Castellano has been tipped for the top after impressing at the Junior Mr Universe finals. The 20-year-old, from Nantwich, qualified for the Mr Universe finals by winning the Junior Mr England title earlier this year. And in a sport where age is everything, he did himself proud up against a host of international rivals up to 12 months older, at the showpiece National Amateur Bodybuilders’ Association event in Southport. Kelvin Hind, a fellow bodybuilder who trains Dominic at his Peak Physique gym on Nantwich Road, Crewe, said: “Dominic has the potential to go far. “It takes a long time to build muscle so for him to finish just outside the top six this year is a real achievement. “Dominic will be able to compete in the under 21 junior section again next year, while those that beat him won’t. He’ll have a great chance.” Window cleaner Dominic embarked on a strict 17-week schedule of diet and training to get in top shape for the competitions. Dominic was up against competition from Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and China and, although only the top six are ranked, Kelvin says he was comfortably amid the best 10.

Jim Donovan of Donovan Glass: This local glass guy from the shop around the corner was on a ladder installing the plate glass, as he’s done for most shops in town. So buy local and go say hello to JD.
1. Any relation to the plumbers?
JD: I’m the Donovan who’s not a plumber. They are my cousins. They call me Jim Glass.
2. How did you get into the glass business?
JD: I started washing windows. It’s a long story but I was washing the windows and an old timer here showed me how to cut glass. I didn’t want to step on any toes when I was going to open a business in town, but Franklin Glass said as long as you don’t do auto glass, we’re good.
3. Can you point out which windows you’ve done here?
JD: Everyone. There’s hardly a commercial window in town that I haven’t touched. Our philosophy has kind of been to keep a five-mile radius. It’s good for me and it’s good for the area. If something goes wrong, we’re close enough to fix it. If people shop hard enough they can probably find a better price but they realize it’s not worth it.

Friends of a popular Morpeth karaoke star have paid a moving tribute to the man they knew as Little Elvis. Former window cleaner Michael Marshall (pictured, alias Little Elvis, sings karaoke on stage) died in hospital in August, shortly after an altercation outside the Corbridge Larder in Sanderson Arcade. Sadly, many of the 52-year-old’s friends in the town and surrounding villages were unaware of his funeral arrangements in County Durham so could not attend the service. But now they have paid their own heart-felt tribute to the talented singer. About 60 people gathered at the Black Garter pub in Newcastle, where Mr Marshall was a big attraction for the Saturday night karaoke regulars, to sing one of his favourite songs, The Wonder of You, together in a gesture of respect. His friend and neighbour Geoff Lough said: “It was our way of saying thanks for all the friendship and pleasure he gave us. “Michael was a remarkable character who was loved by everyone who turned up that night, not just people from Northumberland, but also the Tynesiders who used to look forward to seeing him.”
The son of a Vickers Armstrong engineering veteran, Mr Marshall moved from Scotswood to the Spennymoor area as a youth and trained as a fishmonger, before taking a series of other jobs. While living in Longhorsley he worked at Linden Hall hotel, later moving to Widdrington where he was a window cleaner. Mr Marshall had been planning to record some of his favourite karaoke songs on CD shortly before his death. Close friend Tommy Dixon said: “The world’s smallest window cleaner at 5ft 2ins, that was typical of Michael. “When we would go off on our motorbikes Michael wanted to come too so he bought himself a small one and caught up with us eventually. He may have been a little bloke, but he is a big miss in our lives. “Shortly before his death he was planning to record a CD of some of his favourite songs. It is a terrible shame that he was taken from us before that happened. “It would have been a wonderful way of remembering him.”

‘Doctors could not find my heartbeat’ A window cleaner had the shock of his life when an X-ray revealed his heart was on the wrong side of his chest. Charlie Naish, 24, from Bermondsey, was taken to hospital on Monday after his motorbike was in collision with a lorry. He went to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Stadium Road, Woolwich, where a chest X-ray revealed his heart was in the wrong place. The condition is known as dextrocardia and affects one in 12,000 people. Charlie said: “The doctors put pads on my chest and at first couldn’t find a heartbeat. “Then they did an X-ray. They held up the result and thought they were holding it the wrong way round. “They did another one and then told me my heart was on the wrong side. One of the doctors said he had never known that before. “I’m completely astonished. None of my mates believe me, so I get them to put their hand on my chest and they can’t feel a heart beat. “I’m going to get people touching my chest all the time. “I’m still shocked about the accident and really, really lucky to survive.” Complications can occur when other major organs are reversed. Doctor Balvinder Wasan, a consultant cardiologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “I’m really surprised by this. I’ve never known this condition to be picked up so late in life. “You’d think someone would have picked it up along the way.” He said the condition was harmless.

MIG Construction Services buys American Davit: Lexington, Tenn.-based MIG Construction Services LLC has acquired American Davit and Anchors Inc., a company that sells anchoring products used to hold window washers as they rappel down buildings. Financial details weren’t disclosed, but Nashville-based American Davit has annual sales of $3 million and six employees. Andre Gist, president and CEO of MIG, says he can see that growing to $15 million in the next three years by manufacturing American Davit’s products in MIG’s Lexington facility. The company’s suspended maintenance and fall prevention systems, which include suspension cables and automated pulley systems, cost between $600,000 to $1 million.

Clean the Windows, or Buy New Ones? Question - We live in a prewar co-op on the Upper East Side that is offering shareholders the opportunity to exchange their old windows for new ones, at a cost of $50,000 to $75,000. We chose not to do it at this time. The management now says that our windows cannot be professionally washed. I’ve heard there is something wrong with the safety bolts that window washers use on the outside of the building. Must I now spend an enormous amount of money to change my windows just to get them cleaned, or is it the responsibility of the co-op to fix whatever needs to be fixed on the outside of the building?
Answer:  Steven Sladkus, a Manhattan co-op and condominium lawyer, said that under most proprietary leases, the co-op is generally responsible for maintaining the building’s facade, and that this responsibility probably would extend to any safety bolts attached to the facade. It is within the board’s discretion whether to repair the safety bolts. If they are not required for washing the new windows (which may be cleanable from the inside), and the board elects not to repair them, the writer may have to buy new windows in order to have them cleaned.

New Zealand Window Washers: Regarding the busker who supposedly has to return tax on the proceeds - as reported in your column two weeks ago - we received advice from the IRD around a similar issue, about window-washers who take donations. The IRD advised that because there is no contract between the parties, and the paying party can give as much as they like, proceeds from window-washing were considered donations and therefore not taxable. Similarly, if I sit on the side of the street with nothing but an upturned hat and "$ please" sign, no proceeds from that activity would be considered income. That seems fair to me. Window-washers and buskers use the same government services as the rest of us. And I know of at least one busker who made way more than most of us one Christmas season.

Police warn residents of bogus window cleaner in Harlow: Police are warning Harlow residents to be on their guard after a bogus window cleaner tried to con people out of money. At approximately 10.15am on Monday, October 24, a man visited a number of residents in the The Chantry area stating he was the brother of their window cleaner and was collecting money owed from the recent cleaning of their windows. Most residents declined to part with any money, as many did not use a window cleaner, others were aware that their window cleaner always collected his money in person. At one home the man was told to go away, but before doing so, he entered the porch area and snatched £13 from cash left on the windowsill. The victim shouted at the man and made a scene, the man returned and handed back the money stating that he thought it was his and quickly left. Investigating officer, PC Joanna Barnes said: "I need people to be on their guard, I don't want people to fall victim to this man, please call us if you notice any suspicious activity such as this, we would rather attend to find something is all in order, than turn up a day later to find someone has become a victim of crime." The man is described as white, aged 25 to30, around 6ft tall, medium build, short mousey coloured hair, wearing a grey T-shirt. Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Joanna Barnes at Harlow police station on 101, or 0300 333 4444 if calling from outside Essex, or Crimestoppers anonymously.

FERNDALE – A man suspected of burglarizing a downtown office was caught four hours later after police say an officer who saw him on a surveillance videotape spotted him walking along the street five blocks away from the crime scene. The suspect, Robert A. Perry, 31, of Shelby Township is also wanted as a parole absconder after doing prison time for unarmed robbery. He is jailed on $75,000 cash bond for the Nov. 10 burglary at an office in a building at 195 W. Nine Mile Road and is due in Ferndale 43rd District Court at 1 p.m. Thursday for pre-exam conference. “He was wearing the same clothes he had on during the burglary when one of our officers saw him near Woodward and College Street,” said Ferndale police Detective Sgt. Patrick Jones. “He had five hypodermic syringes and there was a warrant out for his arrest for absconding from parole.” Police were  called to the office building about 10:30 a.m. They reviewed a surveillance video that showed the suspect entering an office through a hallway window inside the building, police said. Perry is accused of stealing a CD player, television, DVD play and other electronic equipment from the office and carrying it away. The suspect was also tripped up because he had approached the building manager a week before to inquire about washing windows, Jones said.

Penrith's Morrisons supermarket was forced to close when a woman was hurt by glass falling from the roof. The 59-year-old, believed to be from Temple Sowerby, was injured when a skylight shattered near the till area and parts of the pane fell onto customers below. The woman was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle by ambulance and a second person was treated for shock at the scene. Investigations are still underway but the supermarket reopened this morning. North West Ambulance Service said it received reports that a window had collapsed and fallen on to a woman’s head and an ambulance was on the scene within seven minutes. The nature and extent of her injuries were not clear but it is understood she was taken to hospital with a head wound. Police reports state that the window seemed to collapse and “explode”. Why the glass gave way is still being investigated.

Natie Kirsh, the London-based SA billionaire, today confirmed that his £285m bid for one of London’s tallest buildings, Tower 42, has been successful. Asked if such a large investment in a single property was not risky at the present juncture of the UK and world economy, he said: “No. It is a fantastic building in the heart of the City. It is fully let with 300 tenants and a waiting list of corporates wanting to get it. It was built by a bank, not by a property developer. The bank was building its own head office and wasn’t fussy about lettable space. Every part of the building has huge window space. It is built in the shape of a 3-leaf clover. Each floor is 3 000 square feet.” According to Wikipedia, Tower 42, originally named Natwest Tower, was for 30 years London’s highest building. Now it ranks fifth and second in the city. The 42-storey building is 183m (600 feet) high. It has an automated mail train and external window washing. The building was extensively damaged in the IRA’s Bishopsgate bombing.

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