Window Cleaning News

Spider-Man washes windows at Tennessee children's hospital: Dressed as Spider-Man, a window washer with American National Skyline greets Le Bonheur Children's Hospital patient Orlando Farmer, 3, as he rappels down the outside of the building, in Memphis, Tenn., Wednesday October 17, 2012, while cleaning the hospital's windows. Window washers with American National Skyline, Jordan Emerson, left, Steve Oszaniec, center, and Danny Oszaniec don superhero costumes before rappelling down the outside of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Click to enlarge.

The award winning short documentary ‘Paraíso’ made its Chicago debut at the Chicago International Film Festival yesterday and it was a treat to see Nadav Kurtz’ movie on the big screen. Kurtz is hoping to take his movie about three unassuming Mexican immigrant window washers all the way to the Academy Awards and he just might.  Chicago’s own Cruz Guzman, Jaime Polanco and Sergio Polanco may be on the red carpet since the Academy this week announced the field of Documentary Short Subject contenders had been narrowed to eight and “Paraíso” was one of them. 

The eight short films were selected from a pool of 31 films and only three to five of the eight selected will earn an Oscar nomination.  The nominations will be announced on January 10, 2013 and the 85th Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, February 24, 2013.

This ten minute visual treat has been winning its way through the film festival circuit and hopes to win here in Chicago, the city of its birth.  The film short was directed and produced by Kurtz and features employees of Corporate Cleaning Services atop some of Chicago’s most iconic buildings cleaning, philosophizing and laughing.  The movie is presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

Skyfall: Body-harness could be high-rise window cleaners' lifeline - There are stringent measures that should be followed to secure the safety of window cleaners of high-rise buildings. One of the most important measure is the required lifeline. "Window cleaners should always be attached with a lifeline to the building. This is very important," says a high-ranking figure of Trakhees-EHS, the regulatory arm of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) Dubai. This was in response to the recent accidents involving window cleaners in Abu Dhabi. Recently two Asian men died after their scaffold crashed from the 15th floor of a building located on Khalifa Street in Abu Dhabi. The accident took place only a week after the rope of a glass-cleaning scaffold broke, and the window cleaners had to be rescued from the 15th floor of a building in Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi. In case anything happens to the equipment it is important for the window cleaners to have the extra safety option, explains the Trakhees spokesman. "That is why the lifeline should be attached to the building, and never to the cradle."

However, safety of the equipment is important too and there are extensive guidelines on how this safety can be achieved. "In any case regular inspections must be carried out and the date and results of the last inspections should be mentioned on the cradle." On the website of Abu Dhabi Police Abdullah Hamad al Tamimi, Head of Customer Service and Public Relations Division of Civil Defense Abu Dhabi was reported as calling upon maintenance companies working in the field of constructions and building cleaning to always keep their equipment and cranes in good conditions. Experts say that the use of a suspended cradle is the safest option for window cleaning of high-rise buildings. "Use of this type of equipment is one of the safest ways to clean windows and metals of buildings; however, things can still go wrong sometimes," says a Trahees report titled 'Safety in Window Cleaning and External Façade Maintenance Using Suspended Access Equipment (Suspended Cradles)'.

The Bank of Canada spent a sizable sum of taxpayer green to unveil its new green $20 banknote. Canada's central bank spent the equivalent of nearly 2,000 new $20 bills - or close to $40,000 in total - to announce the new polymer banknote and display a seven-storey image of it on the Bank of Canada's headquarters in downtown Ottawa. A seven-storey image of the front and back of the $20 bill was installed in May - at the cost of about $38,472 - on the bank's east tower to show off the new banknote and announce it will officially go into circulation in November. Broken down, the central bank paid $35,832 on the design, production and installation of the two images on the glass office tower, according to the documents. The images were printed on a product called "Clearview," which displays the note from the outside, but is transparent to people inside the building. An additional $2,640 was also paid to a window washing company to clean the building's glass tower and help prepare the display between the second and eighth floors. The bank paid an additional $452 to a party rental company for a tent that was used for the outdoor news conference with Carney and Flaherty.

Planes, caves and skyscrapers among fearless skydiver Felix Baumgartner's fabulous feats: Before his epic freefall from the edge of space, Felix Baumgartner was best known for completing an unprecedented flight across the English Channel. Born in Salzburg in 1969, the Austrian daredevil grew up dreaming of flying and becoming an astronaut.Two months of intensive preparation went into an illegal attempt to jump from the 450m-high Petronas Towers in 1999. Baumgartner disguised himself as a businessman, faking security guard IDs and hiding his parachute and camera in an improvised briefcase, before climbing onto a window cleaning crane to leap to a new world record, falling eight seconds at 170km before opening his parachute. Among his many achievements pushing the boundaries of skydiving, Baumgartner set a record for the lowest BASE jump in history, leaping from the 29m high hand of Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue. In 2003 he became the first person to skydive across the English Channel, using a specially made carbon-fibre wing. He twice set world records for the highest BASE jump from a building, from Malaysia's Petronas Towers in 1999 and Taiwan's Taipei 101 in 2007.

WELLAND - It’s time for the nominees to shine. Here, The Tribune showcases one of the 48 nominees who received a nod from Welland-Pelham Chamber of Commerce through its annual Ruby awards. Friday’s awards ceremony, taking place at Lookout Point Country Club in Pelham. Eco-action award of Excellence award nominee - S.O.S. Cleaning Solutions began operation in 2004, as a mom and pop operation. Today it is a multifaceted company offering a wide variety of services, including window cleaning and janitorial services, employing 15 people. With the need to protect our planet S.O.S. Cleaning Solutions became an eco-friendly cleaning company. All of the cleaning products and methods it uses are environmentally safe, making the company tough on grime, but easy on you, your family and our planet.

Cycling from Normanton to Blackpool- Mark’s wreath challenge: A dad is to cycle 180 miles with a wreath on his back as part of an unusual fundraising quest to mark Remembrance Day. Mark Reather will ride from Normanton to Blackpool and back again to raise money for the Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal. The 38-year-old of Kestrel Mews will lay a wreath donated by the RBL’s Normanton, Altofts and Whitwood branch at the popular seaside town, before then cycling back with a wreath from the RBL’s Blackpool branch in time to lay it at the cenotaph in Haw Hill Park, Normanton, at 11am on Sunday, November 11.

RBL volunteer Mr Reather, who runs his own window cleaning business, has been inspired by his late father Malcolm, who was also a dedicated volunteer. He said: “I wanted to do something for the Royal British Legion and raise funds, and with my dad being involved, it makes it extra special. “I also want to raise its profile for younger people. I am looking forward to the rides and have been training in the dark to prepare myself.” Mr Reather will set off on his Cenotaph Cyclothon Challenge from Normanton precinct at around 10am on Friday, November 9. He will lay a wreath in Blackpool at around 2pm the following day. Other local branch members will also attend. He will then set off at 2.30am on the Sunday to get back to Normanton in time for remembrance services.

Long time Mercer Island boys soccer coach Steve Newman died last week. Newman, 58, served as the coach of the Islanders boys team for the last 17 years. Newman was a Newport High School graduate, played soccer at SPU for three years before becoming a professional player. He played professionally for four seasons, including playing with the Seattle Sounders in 1979. He owned and operated Steve’s Window Washing for 35 years, serving local businesses and homes, including many on Mercer Island.

TV TALK: Budding actress Addy Stafford — the daughter of NBC-5 news anchor Rob Stafford and his wife, Lisa — will appear on the Oct. 24 episode of the new, locally-made NBC drama series “Chicago Fire,” playing an accident victim whose friend is killed when a window washer’s cart falls from a high rise on their car. The incident was based on the tragedy from several years ago — when a similar accident occurred at the John Hancock Center.

Andrew Morrow jailed over death of 12-year-old Daniel Mooney (pictured): A disqualified driver who killed a 12-year-old boy by driving dangerously has been jailed for eight years. The judge said Andrew Paul Morrow, who has 72 previous driving offences, posed a "significant risk" to the public. The 33-year-old from Vara Drive, north Belfast, pleaded guilty to causing the death of his pillion passenger, Daniel Mooney, in Mountcoole Park in May 2011. The court heard Morrow drove away on his scrambler motorbike after the child had fallen off the back of the vehicle. The schoolboy was thrown under a parked 4x4 vehicle and died from head injuries.

Morrow (right), a window cleaner, admitted charges of failing to remain at the scene and failing to report an accident. He also pleaded guilty to causing the schoolboy's death by driving while disqualified and without insurance. Jailing Morrow at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Corinne Philpott QC labelled him as a dangerous offender. She said that despite going through the courts numerous times to amass his 72 convictions, he has "failed to pay any heed to the driving laws".

Hector Lopez, 54, lives in a 3,600-square-foot colonial home in Oakland, N.J., in western Bergen County. He drives a Cadillac Escalade. The audit indicated he owes much of his good fortune to arrangements of questionable ethics and legality. His dwelling is owned by a Linden, N.J. window washing company and Local 8A-28A contractor, Total Building Services Inc. Lopez claimed in court papers filed in May 2009 that he had been planning to buy the house. Yet a probe by the New York Daily News published over a year later, based on audit records submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, could not find any evidence of a deed transfer. That wasn't the only red flag. Lopez also footed at least $20,000 of the cost of the Escalade by dipping into the union strike fund. He used his union-issued American Express card to charge numerous items unrelated to union business - in January 2008 alone the tab was nearly $4,400. His $148,000 annual salary, while not outlandish, was $40,000 more than allowed by local by-laws. And his weekly $445 per diem expense limit was $200 above the allowable ceiling. It was hard to avoid concluding that Lopez had been ripping off his union. Lopez publicly denied as much.

The U.S. Department of Justice, after reviewing evidence of a joint IRS-Labor Department investigation, came to the same conclusion. On the morning of September 18, federal agents arrested Lopez at his New Jersey home. Later that morning a 15-count, 29-page indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging him with a variety of offenses. Most seriously, Lopez had accepted over $740,000 in kickbacks over a seven-year period from a third-party administrator of the union's health and welfare benefit fund in return for assurances that the administrator's contract would be retained. While prosecutors did not specify any names of accomplices, they are certain he received the payments and then laundered much of the money. If convicted on this charge alone, Lopez faces up to 20 years in prison.

Cromer man fined for benefit fraud: A Cromer man was overpaid about £2,000 in council tax and housing benefits after failing to tell a council that his wife was working. Last Thursday, Robert Emery apologised to magistrates for the crime, which he said was “not done deliberately”. He added that he had learned from his mistakes and promised that it would “not happen again”. Emery, 51, from Bond Street, Cromer, pleaded guilty to the offence, which related to the period from May 10 2010 to July 10 last year, when he appeared before Norwich magistrates on Thursday. Prosecuting for North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), Cara Jordan said that Emery had been overpaid £2073.14, and still owed the council £591.81.

She said that he had been claiming benefits since 1993 and had been a self-employed window cleaner. She added that he knew that his wife’s working would affect his entitlement to benefits. Emery, representing himself, said that he had had family problems and that he had gone bankrupt. He said: “That period of time was the worst two years of my life. “I was trying to pay credit card bills and other bills and I was juggling too many balls. “It was not done deliberately. I had gone 50 years without getting into trouble. “I have tried to turn my life round and it won’t happen again. I have learned from my mistakes.” Magistrates decided to fine Emery £65 and a £15 victim surcharge. He must also pay £100 costs.

Arches, contemporary glass new trends in front doors: In recent years, the front door has evolved in both design, material and form. The biggest change in the local market has been the switch to fiberglass as the most popular door material rather than steel or wood, local installers say. “Fiberglass has come a long way,” said Pat Fay, an assistant manager of the Fenton showroom of Wilke Window & Door. Fiberglass won’t rust and dent the way steel doors can, Fay said. The finish can be smooth and paintable or textured and stainable. There is less maintenance required than a natural wood door, and fiberglass can cost a fraction of the price of wood, he added. Ryan Giamalva, the general manager at Berry Door & Window, says the cost of a door will also be impacted by the amount of glass in the design. “The glass design will dictate what door slab we go into,” he said. One of the latest design trends changes the traditional rectangular shape of a door. “A round top or arched top product is in higher demand these days,” Fay said. “It gives a very gorgeous look to a home.”

Senate, House Candidates Hobnob with Voters at the Manchester Senior Center: Independent Matthew Corey also called for a more limited role for the federal government. A longtime Manchester resident, Corey owns a window cleaning business and an Irish pub in Hartford. He stated he decided to run for Congress because he was concerned about the direction the country had taken. "Are we going to create an entitlement society, or a society with opportunity for all?" he asked, adding, "Government's role is to keep it fair, not to be in the way."

Tighe, who works for a window cleaning service in Vernon, NJ and lives in Wantage, acknowledged difficulty of being a Democrat in a strongly Republican area, but then quoted the late New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia: "There's no Democrat or Republican way to clean streets." His top priority, aside from listening to people from all levels of government and assisting residents with government, would be support for Sussex County Community College. "I wouldn't be standing here before you this evening if it wasn't for the 2 1/2 years I spent there," he said. Tighe said unemployment was "obviously" the major problem and said infrastructure projects would be one way to put people back to work. He also picked up the theme, noting that even if the two Democrats were to win, they would still be a minority on the freeholder board. "It's not about being a Democrat or Republican, it's about putting the residents first," he said.

Tired of evading demonic monkeys and bouncing off of moving platforms? Then it’s about time you tried scaling massive, danger-riddled skyscrapers in Pocket Climber. As its name suggests, Pocket Climber is an endless climbing game that will put your reflexes to the test. Your job is to safely guide your character up the walls of huge skyscrapers that are littered with obstacles like angry tenants, window cleaners, and the occasional hostile gorilla. Your character climbs upwards all by himself, but you can swipe left and right across the screen to help him dodge obstacles. Some obstacles will be in plain sight while others will pop out of nowhere, so you must always be prepared to move quickly. You can also swipe upwards to leap over gaps in the walls. Try to collect as many coins as possible on your way up to unlock power-ups, utilities, and new characters. The game includes a total of five power-ups, two utilities, and one additional character to unlock along with leaderboards via Game Center.

Chris Halliwell: dangerous predator who could have more victims - Described by police as a “very dangerous man”, it is feared Chris Halliwell could be behind a string of disappearances of young women in the Wiltshire area and beyond dating back more than a decade. Operating as a cab driver, he was able to cruise the streets late at night without suspicion. Originally a window cleaner, Mr Halliwell lived in a rented flat on the County Road in Swindon before moving into a two-up two down terrace in nearby Broad Street.

Pervert scoutmaster Stephen Daniell spared jail after making boys strip naked:  A former scoutmaster who behaved indecently with boys while on a camping trip has walked free from court. A judge told Stephen Daniell it was more in the public interest that he be placed on a community order with sex offender treatment. The 48-year-old window cleaner was controversially allowed to go on holiday to Center Parks in Elveden Forest, Suffolk, while on bail by Judge Stephen Byers. But the trip was cancelled by the family resort when bosses heard about the convictions. A sexual offences order, he added, would restrict Daniell's community and voluntary work.

Sentencing Daniell to a community order with 120 hours' unpaid work, Judge Byers said parents of the boys had entrusted them into his care, trust and protection. "Had you touched them I would have had absolutely no hesitation in sending you to prison, and for quite a long time. "I am able to avoid sending you to prison. In fact, I take the view it is in the public interest that you should be placed on a community punishment and rehabilitation order, because the Thames Valley sex offender programme is a very good programme indeed. "Those placed on such a course very rarely re-offend, whereas those sent to prison quite often re-offend. I take into account that since 1998 you have been convicted of no offences at all." Daniell was also ordered to pay £1,200 costs.

Former soldier Joshua Ducusin believes he may have found the help and services he needs to turn his life around after attending the Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down on Saturday at the Santa Maria Fairpark. The 34-year-old served as an Army combat medic from 1998 to 2001 when he was given a general discharge. A Ventura native, Ducusin has lived in Santa Maria for eight years, some of it in homeless shelters. Now living in a low-income apartment, Ducusin described himself as a “professional window washer” to make ends meet.

The first local Veterans Stand Down, organized by 5th District County Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, sought to connect homeless and unemployed military veterans with social services, legal and employment assistance, medical care and other services in one location. Three meals, showers, haircuts, new shoes, and clothes were all provided for free. Their families were also welcome. Veterans who are homeless, or unemployed and struggling financially were given first priority for services. Ducusin, who was stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, Korea, and the Philippines, said Army doctors diagnosed him with a bipolar disorder but he refused to take medication.

He was discharged early from his enlistment and lost some of his benefits, he added. Ducusin is seeking to change his discharge from general to honorable to access money for college. Without health insurance, Ducusin had gone years without a dental checkup and he planned to have his teeth checked Saturday at the Community Health Center mobile dental unit. He also received a flu shot and was checked for skin cancer by Dr. Michael Moats. a local dermatologist. Jane Martinez, a volunteer, cut Ducusin’s hair. At a Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services (ADMHS) table, Ducusin said he is a “functioning alcoholic,” estimating he spends $1,000 a month on alcohol, cigarettes and medical marijuana. Ducusin said the event was a positive experience and gave him optimism for his future. “It helps me to realize I still have a long way to go,” he said. “This brings me hope.”

Criminal system changes welcomed:  A former offender who "broke the cycle of crime" and went on to start his own successful business is welcoming a reform of the Manx justice system. Ian Rayner (pictured talking to UK home secretary to back a new rehabilitation scheme) said offenders should be made to contribute to the island's economy instead of "draining it". There are currently about 100 inmates at the island's prison, each costing about £60,000 a year. Mr Rayner said: "I am sure there is plenty of work available on our small island to hand over to the prison." He added: "In some UK jails, prisoners get involved in manufacturing which seems to work well and it also helps to keep people active while they are inside. "I'm sure there are some prisoners who wouldn't be regarded as a high security risk and they could actually work in the community under supervision, I really don't know why they don't do it." The government proposals include finding methods to deal with offenders outside the system by finding alternatives to arrest and imprisonment. In 1985 Mr Rayner, who now runs his own window cleaning business, was sentenced to three years in prison for drug offences and subsequently spent time at Victoria Road prison in Douglas.

York City's Central Market project nearly finished (YORK, PA): Folks over at Central Market like to call this a "once-in-a-lifetime" or a "once-in-a-generation" project. But when it comes to the type of cleaning done at the iconic structure recently, it's more like a once-every-125-years job, said Casi Babinchak, the market's chief operations officer. As part of the $1.9 million project under way since April to modernize and preserve Central Market, workers have scrubbed places that hadn't been scrubbed in a very, very long time. Today, the market's skylight windows and ceiling beams are dirt-free, possibly for the first time since 1888. "I can't imagine it's been done like this since the market was built," Babinchak said. "I don't know how they would have done it." If it seems a bit brighter in Central Market these days, thank the window washers.