Window Cleaning News

Northern Illinois Windows honored as clear choice for window cleaning: Many in McHenry County and Northern Illinois are familiar with the outstanding quality of window cleaning provided by Northern Illinois Windows. On July 7, Home State Bank and Star 105.5 made that acknowledgement official by naming the McHenry based company Business of the Week. The award officially commends Northern Illinois Windows for "Providing Residential and Commercial Customers Crystal Clear Views for 25 Years!" Bill Thomas, the owner of the company, said quality has always been their trademark. That includes a thorough knowledge of proper window-cleaning techniques and unparalleled reliability. "Our people are bonded and insured," he said. "They arrive at your home or business wearing NIW approved uniforms and driving a truck with the Northern Illinois Windows logo. Above all, they conduct themselves in a professional manner."

Many homeowners contract with NIW to clean their windows, inside and out, in the spring and fall. However, the company is available for window cleaning throughout the year. Commercial window cleaning is generally done on a more regular basis - once a week, or every two or four weeks. While window cleaning helps to set a professional image for businesses, window tinting can help to reduce glare, protect products and furnishings from the sun's rays and reduce energy bills by limiting the amount of solar-generated heat that comes in windows. "We value the recognition," Thomas said. "But, the real reward is when a customer calls us back or refers us to a friend. When that happens, we know our hard work is appreciated."

Dare-devil window cleaners smile for the camera (eventually) 250ft off the ground: Window cleaners working on Manchester’s tallest building didn’t seem too impressed when a hotel patron started taking these pictures. The daredevil cleaners were clearly more concerned about manoeuvring their cradle 250ft above the ground outside Cloud 23 bar at the city’s iconic Beetham Tower. But the workers soon came round to the idea of being centre of attention and began to smile for the camera, as later pictures show. Cloud 23 supervisor Natalie Yemm said: “It’s quite a shock being so high up to see men outside your window. The same men do it all year round. When it’s perfect weather they take every opportunity to get up there.”

Clean Town is a directory dedicated to connecting residents of a particular area with quality cleaning services operating in that area. They not only list cleaning services, instead as active members of the industry they work closely with business owners to help them improve their services. They run a business blog that demonstrates their dedication to add value to business owners. Clean Town is a local area directory that helps connects homeowners with professional cleaning service providers.

If someone is looking for window cleaners or any other types of domestic or commercial cleaning services, one may visit the directory website.

Online cleaner hiring platform Hassle.com: Customers simply type in their area code and browse through cleaner profiles and customer reviews before shortlisting the cleaners that best suit their needs. The process, from landing on the site to booking a cleaner, takes less than 60 seconds and costs €12 per hour in Dublin. It gives cleaners in Dublin a chance to bid for work in their local area via the online platform. This allows them have control over the hours they work and enables them to have access to a steady flow of jobs eliminating the need for cleaners to use shop window advertising, listings or flyers.

Finding work via the marketplace takes out the agency ‘middle man’, enabling the cleaners to earn more and focus on their clients, and also removes the chance of late payments as the cleaners are paid on a daily basis. Coleman, who gave up a career at PwC and taught herself to code to build the first version of platform, believes Hassle.com is a great opportunity for cleaners in Dublin to gain more customers. “We’ve seen cleaners progress from one or two cleaning jobs a day to being fully booked and in constant demand. We're excited about delivering these job opportunities to cleaners in Dublin and are confident that consumers will benefit immensely from our service too.

Claim suppression, refers to employers’ concealment of or failure to report workplace injuries to the workers’ compensation board (WCB). The practice is widespread enough that the WCB of Manitoba commissioned an independent research report last May to examine the incidence of claim suppression. And that has to do primarily with managing the financial fallout stemming from workplace incidents. Preece reports that the WCB has nine different rate categories based on the level of risk. The average Manitoba employer currently pays $1.50 in premiums for every $100 in wages spent. For employers with a minimal risk rating, “you can pay as low as 14 cents for $100 payroll,” Preece says. At the other end of the risk spectrum, an employer hit with many workplace injuries and accidents could pay as much as $36 for every $100 in payroll. High-risk employers include those in the logging and window-cleaning sectors.

During the last two months window cleaner Chris, of Bluebell Close, has raced in the Paris, Belfast and Liverpool marathons, raising money for the National Autistic Society in the process.

Marathon man Chris set for fresh challenge: Chris Storey of Corby has completed three marathons so far in 2014. During the last two months window cleaner Chris, of Bluebell Close, has raced in the Paris, Belfast and Liverpool marathons, raising money for the National Autistic Society in the process. The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago, is no stranger to physical feats of stamina. He also trekked Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains in February. Next up is the Three Peaks trek on home soil this summer before he turns his attention to Wales’ largest mass participation event, the Lloyds Bank Cardiff half marathon, on October 5. And while the exercise helps him with his own condition, Chris, who is a member of Corby Athletic Club, insists the main motivation is raising money and awareness for the National Autistic Society.

He said: “I was diagnosed with Asperger’s two years ago and I want to help give something back to the National Autistic Society. Chris, who has a three-year-old son, Alexander, added: “I love running. The training and keeping active helps me cope with my own condition as I am very hyperactive. “But I really wanted to help give something back to the charity, share my experience, raise money and heighten awareness of autism. Running the three marathons was a challenge but it was rewarding. I’m quite good at half marathons so I plan to get into shape with a few 10ks. The aim is to do it in one hour, 27 minutes.” Lloyds Bank is proud to continue its support of the Cardiff half marathon which is Wales’ largest mass participation event.

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The recent byelection results should be of no concern to Stephen Harper, especially in the socialist riding of Trinity-Spadina, where former Toronto city councillor Adam Vaughan won. I’m actually surprised the Conservatives managed to get 2,000 votes, and that they beat the Green party. That’s remarkable, since I didn’t see one lawn sign belonging to the Conservative candidate — whoever he or she was. In fact, I thought that someone named White Shark Window Cleaning might win, because it looked to me like he had as many lawn signs as the Liberals and NDP combined.

Sneesby used to work for a modular building company and developed the Archipod in the late Noughties, when the trend for homeworking was starting to gather momentum. “I worked at home myself, and found there were too many distractions – from window cleaners to people simply knocking on the door. My clients are varied and include solicitors working part-time to people just wanting a garden hideaway to read and chill out. But the demand for my pods has been increasing steadily, and I am expecting orders in 2014 to be up on last year.”

High wire workers with Tecumseh Window Washing clean the south facing windows of CIBC building on Ouellette Avenue just prior to Monday’s fireworks display. In fact, north facing windows were cleaned first, just in case rain showers hit the area. Click picture to enlarge.

Downtown Falcons Soaring In Des Moines: American Enterprise is an ordinary building with some extraordinary tenants–and chances are, you never thought to look. “Since 1993,” says Iowa DNR biologist, Pat Schlarbaum, “when the peregrine falcon discovered their alcoves, their cubby holes at the top of their building, it was just a perfect nest site. And they’ve been here ever since.” It’s not always the same falcon pair that nests here, but this one has some chicks, and it’s time to drop in for a check-up. The parents fly nervously overhead as the DNR-contracted window washing crew carefully removes their fluffy young. “Just two this year,” says one member of the crew, holding the chicks in a small plastic cage. Waiting below are veterinarians who give the noisy falcon chicks a checkup and slip identification bands around their ankles.

Spiderman Swings Into Action at Texas Children’s Hospital: Three-year-old Nasir Lester was watching television in his Texas hospital room, recovering from his latest round of chemotherapy when he heard the news: Spiderman was in the playroom. He jumped up and walked to the playroom, something his mother hadn’t seen him do since he was diagnosed with acute phenotype leukemia at the end of April, she said. Lately, he has only wanted to be carried. “You should have seen his eyes light up when he saw Spiderman in the playroom,” said Nasir’s mother, Rashaunda Lester. “It was amazing. That’s his favorite character.”

Like many other children at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Nasir is a few hours from home in Tyler, Texas, so sometimes he gets sad and misses his family. But he was all smiles this day. Nasir got a high-five from the masked hero, who sat down with him to toy with some Play-Doh. Then, Spiderman was whisked away, but not for long. He reappeared on the other side of the glass window, suspended by cables outside. Sometimes, Spiderman needs to take a break from fighting crime to wash a few windows. “He’ll have that memory for the rest of his life,” his mother said. Nasir has finished chemotherapy and will remain in the hospital for another two to three weeks until his white blood cell counts are back to normal. But for now the toddler can’t stop talking about his new friend. He told his family on the phone that night all about meeting the superhero, and woke up to ask his mom whether he was coming back. “He’ll come back again,” she told him. “He went to help people. He’s out helping people.”

Batman (Lorne Ashley of SkyReach Property Services) cleans windows Wednesday at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

Superheroes fight grime at IWK Health Centre in Halifax: Superman, Spiderman, Batman and Robin took time out of their superhero schedules to fight crime — sorry, grime — at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax on Wednesday. Young patients gathered and cheered when the superheroes scaled the wall and cleaned the windows. Superman, also known as Chad Ingraham, said he would normally fly for a job like this, but provincial safety regulations require the use of a harness. All four heroes work for Skyreach Properties Services and regularly clean the IWK windows. The idea to super size it came from Batman, also known as Loran Ashley.

"We did some shopping around. There aren't a whole lot of places, other than during Halloween time, to get good costumes. But we found a good one in Sackville," he said.

Batman was accompanied by Robin, who sometimes goes by the name Mark Snaglewsky. The superheroes said window cleaning was a worthy diversion. Kids lying in bed sat up and smiled when they saw the masked men sliding down the wall. Robin said he had a different experience. "All I got was hecklers," Snaglewsky said as the other superheros laughed. "Robin! You're not a real superhero." The layers of spandex amplified the day's heat. "It's a humid day, that's for sure. We're definitely sweating," said Spiderman, also known as Tyler Shepley.

Jennifer Galliot said her kids, especially three-year-old Corey, appreciate the effort. "Oh, he was so excited. They're his heroes. He dresses up as Batman and Superman and Spiderman every day. Ironically, I took his costume off right before we came down. But every day he has his costume on," she said. The IWK Health Centre invited the superhero window cleaners to return next summer. Barring villainous plots to overthrow the world, the four plan to be back.

Glass ranks as one of the most important materials of our age. You have only to think about smartphones, or drinking glasses, or look out of the window to realise that glass in its various forms is omnipresent. Fibre-optic cables transport our emails and research work out into the world, and buildings without architectural window glass are hardly conceivable nowadays. Glass plays an important role in everyday life without us being aware of its complex structure.

The most common types of glass are based on silicon dioxide. Its structure is taken as the prototype for amorphous networks. The term glass is used synonymously for amorphous materials here. The material properties can be modified by adding different additives to glass. But although researchers have been investigating glass for many decades, we have only a vague idea of its atomic structure. This information in particular is crucial for the characterisation and understanding of materials, however. Clarifying the atomic structure of glass is one of the most important, yet unsolved issues in science.

Ray Yee, plant manager of glass manufacturer PPG Industries, talks about the process to make window glass, in front of the furnace where sand and other ingredients are used to make it. The Fresno plant will soon make a new kind of glass using oxygen to melt the sand.

The Fresno plant of PPG Industries is one of only six production facilities in the world to use oxy-fuel furnace technology. Now Fresno will be a producer of specialty glass Starphire, which will be manufactured using the oxy-fuel processes. PPG, a Pittsburgh-based producer of specialty glass and plexiglass, developed Starphire nearly 20 years ago, according to Fresno plant manager Ray Yee. Starphire is a specialty glass that has architectural uses, like in office buildings featuring large glass windows. Until recently, it has been produced only at the company's main facility in Pennsylvania.
Fresno's oxy-fuel system eliminates emissions of nitrous oxide in flat glass, which Yee said is common in glass production, by using almost solely oxygen to generate heat in the sand-melting process. "It's a cleaner, hotter fuel with no NOX (nitrous oxide)," Yee said. Starphire is known for its clarity and lack of green tint, which Yee said is common in other glass. PPG will not be taking on any new employees in Fresno, but will instead divert some of the employee power used for flat glass to produce Starphire glass. The PPG Fresno facility has been operating for around 45 years. The plant, at 3333 S. Peach Ave., has 150 employees and produces 500 tons of flat glass annually. In 2013, the company's net sales were $15.1 billion, with glass accounting for 7% of the total.

Mr Leadsom also warned banks to speed up plans to save the cheque. In the Budget, the Government unveiled plans to cut clearing times. She said: “You’ll be able to photograph your cheque, text your bank and they will pay it in for you, and you can tear up your cheque. “It meets the needs of the small to medium enterprise, the window cleaner, the sole trader but it also meets the need of the elderly who were the people who were really going to be harmed by the demise of the cheque.”

How would you clean the glass? Most Breathtaking Resort Pools! Go for a swim in the sky at the Joule Hotel's rooftop pool in Dallas, Texas that literally gives you the sensation of swimming off the edge of the building. Designed by Adam D. Tihany, the glass pool extends eight feet beyond the hotel and offers incredible views from the plexiglass window located at the end of the pool. Perfectly heated year-round, order a trendy drink and retreat on one of the elegant lounging chairs for the ultimate vacation.

A chef has been forced to quit his job because of an uncontrollable fear – of baked beans. Rob Griffiths, 31, left his job as a pub chef in Milton Keynes because he felt faint every time he saw the food. The ex-chef believes his rare fear - technically known as leguminophobia – was a result of his brothers throwing beans at him as a child. ‘I get shaky and I just have to run if they’re anywhere near me,’ he said. ‘I was a pub chef and breakfast was hard. ‘Staff had to prepare the beans while I hid in the back. Mr Griffiths, who now works as a window cleaner, said he can’t even go near the beans – which he calls ‘orange devils’ – when they’re in tins in the supermarket. ‘It is very distressing,’ he admitted.

Two Scunthorpe United fans are campaigning to get more people to support the Iron. Stuart and Susan Maw are offering a bus service to Glanford Park, from Winterton, for all home games. They have chosen TJS Coaches, from Brigg, as the provider, so the bus can pick up from Brigg and Broughton, as well as Winterton. Mr Maw said: "My window cleaning business will subsidise the first home game, as a trial to see how much interest we get. "If it turns out to be popular, we shall keep it going helping to share the ambitions of the club." Mr Maw said the bus is now booked for the home game with Preston, and the price for a return seat will be £2.50. He said: "All money made will go back into funding these buses, and offering a free bus for those who travel regularly."

Man Sentenced to 30 Days for Catching Rain Water on Own Property Enters Jail: Gary Harrington, the Oregon man convicted of collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his rural property surrendered Wednesday morning to begin serving his 30-day, jail sentence in Med    ford, Ore. “I’m sacrificing my liberty so we can stand up as a country and stand for our liberty,” Harrington told a small crowd of people gathered outside of the Jackson County (Ore.) Jail. Several people held signs that showed support for Harrington as he was taken inside the jail. Harrington was found guilty two weeks ago of breaking a 1925 law for having, what state water managers called “three illegal reservoirs” on his property. He was convicted of nine misdemeanors, sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined over $1500 for collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his property. Harrington says he is not diverting the state's water -- merely collecting rainwater and snow melt that falls or flows on his own property. Harrington has vowed to continue to fight the penalty, stating that the government has become “big bullies” and that “from here on in, I’m going to fight it.”

Scots postman tells of horror attack as Royal Mail launch campaign against dangerous dogs: Postman Liam MacCallum, 26, from Giffnock, Glasgow, was hurt in a dog attack. He said: “I was delivering the mail when I went up to a door and I could hear a dog barking. Next thing I knew, a big German Shepherd dog came out the door at me, grabbing my hand. “It then jumped up and went for my face. I managed to break free and started running down the road. “It chased me for a few hundred metres before some window cleaners saw what was happening and scared it away. It was horrifying. I was covered in blood and pretty shaken up. I had to go to hospital to get stitches in my face. It has left a scar.

Residents in revolt over ‘toxic’ dust from new Dagenham development: The Lymington Fields development was given the go-ahead for another 292 homes and a school on the brownfield site in Chadwell Heath at a council planning meeting on Monday last week. The proposal passed despite objections by residents saying that work to compact toxic soil on the former landfill site has shaken crockery from cabinets, cracked walls and often covered cars and windows in dust.

Winifred Road resident Paul Simpson said: “A couple of days when I was home during the day it was really loud. The glasses in the cabinet were going ‘bang’ and a couple of them fell out. “My front windows are covered in dust and we have the window cleaner coming in two or three times a week.”

Window Cleaner Shot & Killed: (Jacksonville, Fla.) - The father of the man shot and killed outside Nippers Beach Grille on Thursday, Jimmy Carter, said he's thankful the community has been supportive of his family. Investigators said Zach Tipton was involved in a fight in the parking lot that escalated, and someone pulled a gun and shot him. He died at the scene. The shooter has not been arrested. Carter told News4Jax that his son was not in a gang, but did recently join a motorcycle club. Carter said he is still trying to piece together what happened, but told News4Jax from what he understands, Tipton was involved in an altercation that escalated when he was trying to leave Nippers parking lot on his motorcycle. "I understand he was shot above the eye, somewhere on the side of the head and somewhere maybe on possibly the neck. They said it was four shots fired, and I think from what I hear he was hit 3 times," said Tipoton's dad, Jimmy Carter.

Nippers hosted a fundraiser over the weekend to help Tipton's wife and children. It was one of several fundraisers that helped pay for Tipton's funeral expenses and left his wife and kids with some money to get back on their feet. Tipton and his wife, who were Hilliard Middle-Senior High School sweethearts, started a glass window cleaning business together in Fernandina Beach. They have three children. "He was a great father, great father, great son, I couldn't have asked for any better," said Jimmy Carter.

Dubai: For almost two and a half hours June 19, their lives hung literally by a thread – mid-air and in full view of hundreds driving past them down the busy Sharjah-bound Al Ittihad Road.

Dubai: For almost two and a half hours June 19, their lives hung literally by a thread – mid-air and in full view of hundreds driving past them down the busy Sharjah-bound Al Ittihad Road. Bangladeshi cleaners Mohammad Rashid, 22, and Mohammad Bulbul, 21, saw their nightmare end only after a dramatic rescue operation. They were stuck in a cradle on the 13th floor of a residential building in Al Nahda when its wires snapped around 4.30pm that day. “We were so high up in the air and the cradle was so small, that every time I looked down I thought I would fall and die,” Bulbul told XPRESS, still visibly shaken and recovering from the fatigue moments after being rescued by Dubai Civil Defence. The Civil Defence launched the rescue operation around 4.40pm and managed to bring the workers down at around 7pm.

“It was an extremely tough exercise. They (Dubai Civil Defence) first thought of breaking open the window in front of us, but then decided against it. Instead they began pulling us up from an open window a couple of levels above us after we were all secured tightly. It was like climbing a high mountain against gravity and so physically very demanding. It took about two hours, but their hard work eventually paid off as we emerged safe,” said Rashid, the more confident and calmer of the two. “I wasn’t scared because I knew if death was inevitable, so be it. I was focusing on staying composed in the face of the tough conditions,” he added.

A comment from the Dubai Civil Defence wasn’t available but according to eyewitnesses gathered at the time when XPRESS reached the site, the two were plucked out of danger after some real life drama. “It wasn’t as simple as it looked in the end. They were stuck there all the while the rescue team was trying to work out a strategy. The scenes were as if taken from a movie,” said an onlooker. Bulbul and his colleague had hopped on to the trolley as on any other work day that afternoon to clean the windows of the Al Nahda building. They were to complete all three lines of windows of the 28-floor building. “It was business as usual for us. We started after 3pm just after our mid-day break, knowing we would be done by around 6pm but all hell broke loose when the wire connecting the cradle snapped, just about 90 minutes into the job at the half way stage,” recalled Rashid. “Hopefully it will never happen again.”

It is Cleveland’s most enduring murder mystery, and July 4 marks the 60th anniversary of the brutal slaying of Marilyn Sheppard (pictured). The 1954 bludgeoning death of Sheppard and the arrest and conviction of her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard, still resonates with visitors to the Bay Village Historical Society. BVHS member Eric Eakin, who helped put together a display on the Sheppard case, told Fox 8, “it was just such a one of a kind thing, where all the stars aligned to have a handsome guy, his beautiful wife murdered in her bed, and still no one knows who did it.”

After serving 10 years in prison, Sam Sheppard’s conviction was overturned in 1966, on the basis that sensational coverage of the case prevented him from getting a fair trial, and he was acquitted in a second trial. Sheppard’s claim that his wife was murdered by a bushy-haired intruder, was the inspiration for the television show and movie, “The Fugitive”. Sam Sheppard died in 1970, and 30 years later, his son filed a wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against the State of Ohio, claiming the murder had actually been committed by a window washer and convicted murderer, Richard Eberling.

Family pay tribute to cyclist killed on A354: The family of a cyclist killed in a road accident at the weekend have described him as a “ray of sunshine who was adored by everyone”. Gary Kelly, 49, died when his bike was in collision with a delivery lorry on the A354 between Coombe Bissett and the Rockbourne junction at 10.33am on Saturday. He suffered head injuries and died at the scene. Mr Kelly and a friend were enjoying one of their regular mountain bike rides when the accident happened.

In 1983 he founded Town & Country Cleaning with his brother and the family ran the business, providing window cleaning, domestic and business cleaning services for clients across south Wiltshire. When one of his friends became ill with cancer Mr Kelly pushed him up to the summit of Mount Snowden in a wheelchair, raising £1,000 for the Cancer Backup charity. “That was the sort of person he was, Gary would do anything for anyone. Within ten minutes of meeting him he made you feel like you’d known him a lifetime,” said his brother Mark. “He made the most of every day – he used to tell us he felt he’d lived a full life.

Posthumous bravery award for Luton PC Jon Henry: The young daughter of one of Luton’s bravest and best – murdered policeman Jon Henry – has received a posthumous award for bravery on her father’s behalf. She added: “PC Henry attemped to apprehend an armed suspect in order to protect the public and paid the ultimate price. He demonstrated extreme bravery and will remain in the hearts of our community as a courageous and noble man.”  PC Henry, 36, had been on duty less than half an hour on June 11, 2007, when he was stabbed twice in the chest in Luton town centre. He had been trying to disarm a knife-wielding man who had just stabbed a window cleaner in the back.

A Plainfield Township man serving a New Jersey state prison sentence for a gas station robbery was brought to Pennsylvania today to face burglary charges. Cody Hanisak was arraigned today by District Judge John Capobianco on charges of burglary, criminal conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. He was sent to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $25,000 bail. On the night of Feb. 4, 2013, Hanisak, 29, and Sarah Brittain's crimes spanned both sides of the Delaware River, according to court documents. Hanisak and Brittain, of White Township,  are both serving New Jersey state prison sentences after they displayed a fake handgun and robbed a Shell Gas Station on Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg about 2 a.m. Feb. 4. The duo then headed to the 4000 block of Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Township, Pa., where Hanisak broke into the home of John and Eileen Rossini about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 4, court documents say. Hanisak had cleaned the couple's windows in the past, records indicate.

Brittain told township police that Hanisak, who is a former employee of George Hanisak Window Cleaning LLC but was not performing work on behalf of the company at the Rossini home, said he had to stop at the Freemansburg Avenue home to pick up a ladder he'd forgotten the last time he'd been by to do work, according to court records. Brittain told police she waited in a van while Hanisak went inside the house, according to police. He allegedly ransacked the home while the couple was sleeping. Brittain told police Hanisak was carrying more than $2,000 worth of items from inside the home, including a purse, jewelry, flat-screen TV and two iPads, according to court records. The Rossinis awoke about 6:30 a.m. to find their front door open, their TV gone and the home ransacked.

Man wanted after 83-year-old woman was robbed in her own home: An elderly have-a-go pensioner grabbed a burglar in her sitting room then bravely chased him out of her flat. The 83-year-old woman was at her home in Heywood when the robber walked in and brazenly snatched some cash as his victim was talking on the phone. But the plucky OAP grabbed the villain’s arm, forcing him to drop some money before he escaped and fled from the scene. She still followed him as he made off, chasing him out of the complex. Police have now released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the break-in, at a block of flats on Todd Street in Heywood. It is thought the thief had raided another flat in the same block before getting into the elderly woman’s home. The offender had managed to sneak into the Todd Street complex through the communal entrance as some visitors were leaving.

He first went into an apartment and told an 82-year-old man he was the window cleaner and asked for payment. The elderly man had no money so the offender left empty-handed. The crook then walked into another flat where the 83-year-old woman was on the phone. As he reached over her and took cash from a cupboard, she grabbed his arm. He dropped a coin before running from the flat. The woman chased him but he disappeared out of view on Todd Street. Det Con Nick Price said: “Thankfully no one was hurt in these incidents but the offender clearly went into the block of flats with the intention of getting cash from vulnerable residents who were living there. We would urge anyone with information or who recognises the man in the image to contact police. “I would also advise all residents to remain vigilant and keep doors locked. If someone calls at your home without an appointment make sure you ask for ID and if still unsure ask them to come back at a time when you can have a friend or relative with you.”

Highbury burglars who posed as window cleaners jailed:  Two burglars who posed as window cleaners to steal tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods from homes have been jailed for a combined eight years. Darren Spencer, 38, and Steven Ward, 36, both of Highbury, worked together and with other accomplices to trick their victims, who included an elderly stroke victim and an MP. The elderly lady – from whom Spencer, of Aberdeen Park, stole £5,000 worth of jewellery in October last year – had another stroke just a month after the burglary and is now scared to answer her door.

Spencer, who had previously served three years in prison for burglary in 2012, asked for 10 other burglary offences to be taken into account, while Ward, of Panmure Close, committed both his burglary offences while out on licence. Both said they stole the goods to fund drug habits. Sentencing them at Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Jane Sullivan said: “There was a great harm caused to the victims both in terms of financial and sentimental value of the items taken. Both were present when an unnamed MP’s home in Islington was burgled in January, when Spencer made off with earrings worth £700 while Ward attempted to distract the victim by knocking on the window.

Bogus workman jailed for five years: Samuel Davey stole cash and personal documents from the homes of his victims in Halesowen and Dudley – one of whom was 93, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday. The 25-year-old, of Snowdon Grove, Halesowen, had posed as a window cleaner and told another victim he was fixing a fence next door before stealing money in two separate distraction burglaries. But police tracked him down after his DNA was found on towels and a pen at their properties.
Mr Burn said he had targeted the home of an 85-year-old woman in Alma Street, Halesowen, less than a month before. He said the woman had answered the door to Davey, who had asked if she wanted her windows cleaning. Mr Burn said Davey claimed he needed to come into the house to measure up the windows and was allowed inside. The court heard that he took out a tape measure and asked for a hot drink and to borrow a blue pen. Mr Burn said: "While the tea was being made there were occasions the defendant was not kept under observation.

A window cleaner who left a partially blind man with fatal injuries after punching and kicking him outside a pub has been told by top judges that his “stiff” jail term was not a day too long. Craig Leighton, 27, “jabbed” disabled Kevin White, 52, after the older man touched his face. The victim was knocked to the ground outside the Prince of Wales pub, in Tilehurst, and Leighton followed up with a kick to his head. Mr White died in hospital six days after the attack on April 20, 2013, after his skull fractured when his head hit the pavement.

Leighton, of Coombe Road, Tilehurst, was jailed for six-and-a-half years at Reading Crown Court, after being convicted of manslaughter in November last year. Yesterday, he asked Lady Justice Macur, Mr Justice Openshaw and Judge Neil Ford, QC, sitting at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, to reduce that sentence, claiming it was far too long. Lawyers for Leighton, who was cleared of murder, argued the facts were akin to a so-called “one punch manslaughter”. Neither the punch, nor the kick, were hard or caused any significant injury, it was submitted.

It was also said Leighton should not have been penalised for the fact of Mr White’s disability – as he had not known about it. Lady Justice Macur, dismissing the appeal, said Leighton must have been aware his victim was vulnerable when he attacked. “It must have been obvious that he was an older man, unsteady on his feet, and had been drinking,” she added. “The single punch knocked him straight to the ground and Leighton must have heard the crack of his head hitting the pavement, as others did. “Nevertheless, after that, he kicked him to the head. This was a seriously aggravating feature, as was the fact that he fled the scene.” Throwing out his complaints, she concluded: “This was a stiff sentence but, in our judgement, it was not manifestly excessive.” Leighton was also refused permission to challenge his manslaughter conviction.

The Sky Is The Limit

The Sky Is The Limit For High-Flying Window Washers: Columbus, Ohio - As the first rays of sunlight beam down on the windows of the city’s skyscrapers, crews get to work. The first order of business is to get out of the shop and get to the glass. “This is a big market out here; everything that has a window is a potential customer,” Columbus Window Cleaning Company President Lynn Elliott said. The company calls those on the front line “airmen,” because they are not happy until they anchor thousands of feet of half-inch nylon rope and take the leap of faith over the side of the building, 10TV’s Jeff Hogan reported. “That’s what it is,” said Director of Operations James Waddy. “There’s no turning back now. Once you’re over there, you’re over, bud.”

What is peaceful for the workers would paralyze others with fear. To minimize that fear, the window washers are trained in high-rise rescue to get themselves out of trouble. They spend hours in weekly and monthly safety classes. The attention to detail could be the difference between life and death, window cleaning specialist Chad Williams said. “Unless you have done it, don’t say that you can, because men get killed,” Williams said. Wind is one of the “airmen’s” biggest enemies. “If it’s too windy, there’s nothing you can do. You could be lined up here, and if it’s windy out there, it could blow you clear over there,” Waddy said. 

A turf-war exists between the window washers and falcons. “Out of nowhere, they’ll be dive-bombing,” Waddy said. Window washing is a job for those who like a vertical challenge – a mid-air ballet holding a bucket of water, Hogan reported. Window cleaning specialist Allen Wood said people are captivated by what they do. “I guess we blow their mind,” Wood said. “They don’t see too much of this too often. They see somebody hanging down, rappelling 600 feet on a rope. It’s kind of like a wow issue, you know.” Elliot said that she was happy with her life in the sky. “There is nothing better than this,” she said.

Window Cleaners Hit The Heights

Photo of the Day: Window cleaners share a smoke on the 33rd floor. Click to enlarge.

Cleaners hit the heights — of buildings and business: It’s a long way down. So long that falling means death. But that’s a carefully controlled risk that the employees of an East York company take when they’re washing the windows of high-rise buildings across the GTA. The company, Skyreach Window Cleaning, is located at 2857 St. Clair Ave. E., near O’Connor Drive. The owner, Kevin Stanley, worked as a part-time window-washer in his student days in Toronto. This early job motivated him to start his own company in 1987, and now it has grown to be one of the biggest window-cleaning outfits in the region.

For this CEO, acrophobia was never an issue. Not even when he was 1,815 feet up, cleaning the CN Tower when he was just 18 years old. Stanley considers himself a bit of an “adrenaline junkie.” But while he used to clean windows with his employees, he keeps his feet on the ground these days. “See, my hands are nice and soft!” he joked. But while high-rise window-washers appear precariously perched to the uninitiated, Stanley says that industry experience and ongoing technological innovation minimizes the risk. “The best way we do it is by safety training, and that’s why we care, because the customers ask for that,” said Stanley.

No matter how safe the work is, however, not everyone can clean the outside of a skyscraper. A fear of heights can often get in the way. “That’s one of our problems when we start hiring employees. A good chunk of the population is scared of heights, so we have to sift through the remainder of those who are not,” he said.  Stanley said that his company tries to be environmentally friendly. All of their basic cleaning solutions are biodegradable. And the employees help out with jobs that would be extremely difficult to do without the special equipment and experience that window-washers have.

Skyreach assists a charity to place high-definition cameras in the nesting areas of falcons. “We’ve gone over the wall many times with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, and we help band the little chicks and grab them off the ledge and put them into bags,” Stanley said with a smile. Stanley’s biggest competitor is actually his brother, Roger, who opened Scarborough’s Solar window-cleaning 10 years before Skyreach. But the two brothers share a competitive streak, and Stanley said there’s little chance that they’ll ever join forces.

Three young peregrine falcon female chicks, named Jennifer, Janet and Skyreach in honour of the window cleaning company.

Peregrine falcons keeping a low profile: While experts from the Peregrine Foundation search for the new nesting site, three female chicks were banded Monday afternoon at the Mississauga Executive Centre on Robert Speck Pkwy. It's the oldest nesting site in the GTA. "We found three very healthy looking, feisty chicks," Nash said of the banding, which was done by biologist Mark Heaton of the Ministry of Natural Resources.While the peregrine parents were distracted, the chicks were removed from the nest, taken on an elevator ride down to the lobby of the office building, and banded. They were then returned to the nest. The eldest chick, at 28 days, was named Jennifer. Her younger sibling, born a day later, was named Janet. The youngest chick was named Skyreach, in honour of the window cleaning company that provides platforms for volunteers to stand on while they distract the parent birds and keep them away from the nest until the chicks are banded and returned.

I Was A Highrise Window Cleaner In Chicago

I was a Highrise window cleaner in Chicago (by "Up_High"): Questions asked by the general public to a high rise window cleaner in Chicago. Grammatically modified & sorted for easier reading.

What is the craziest stuff you have seen going on in offices?

I've seen a man receiving oral pleasures from a female co-worker. I've seen a man jerking off in a vacant suite, nightmares for a week. And for some reason on this one building they decided to not black out the bathroom windows, so I've seen some screwed up shit there as well, lol.

Nightmares for a week? You must not be from the internet!

Well, seeing a guy jerk of online is different. in a sense You are prepared to see him fappin' away, but in real life outside of reddit, its unexpected and forced upon you, lol.

Awesome! What about your coworkers? Did they have any good stories?

So many... lol. When my boss was in his 20's about 30 years ago, he worked for a highrise company too. His boss would constantly follow them and spy to make sure they were working. So him and his co-workers came up with the idea to steal a manikin and clothe it then hang it off the buildings. According to his story, this worked for months, lol.

Oh, I traveled to Indiana for some work for a week. The first day on the very first drop I climb over and I hit in my head very hard. I figured a piece of concrete fell of the building due to it being an old building. When I looked up everything looked very normal, so I was just really confused. About 10 seconds later a falcon comes flying at me, claws first. I don't think I have ever been so terrified in my life. This falcon was about the size of a full grown water melon and was pissed. He kept flying inches from me for at least 5 minutes and the whole time I am screaming bloody murder. The guy at the hot-dog stand is staring at me like I'm retarded. Eventually the people inside opened the window and I had to crawl inside, lol. That week trip ended very abruptly & I went home, lol.

I've always wondered, how do you tell the difference between a falcon and a hawk?

Falcons are endangered and this building actually made a wooden home for it, but a couple years prior to this a different window cleaner was attacked and actually was cut and had about 20 stitches. So with what ever logic they decided to move the home across the street to a different building rooftop. However they forgot falcons can fly.

Any other "holy shit" moments while on the job?

Sure :) Some buildings are very hard to set up straight rope drops. So you have to improvise and create different sling lines and things to straighten your ropes out. I made a mistake one day and didn't pull out the slack out of my line. So when I went to climb over, I had about an extra 10 feet of slack left. That slack rope fell across my middle finger on top of the parapet wall. All of my weight was on the rope, pulling down on my finger. This building had no ledges or any thing to place my feet on to lift my weight up, so I was stuck there for about 5 minutes helplessly while my finger lost all blood flow. Finally, my co-worker came and helped pull me back up the wall onto the roof. My finger was flat as paper. I for sure thought I was going to lose it. But it regained blood flow and was fine after a few hours. I wished I took a picture of it.

Did anyone in the buildings ever jump out from behind a curtain and scare you?

Ehh, maybe once or twice, but usually it was the opposite. I have literally scared people so bad that they have fallen out of their chairs.

Have you dropped anything? Is it possible to get fired for sweating (or vomiting) so badly that you are literally raining onto people on the ground below you? If so, there is really no point in my applying for a job like this.

I have dropped 2 things in my 5 years of doing this. The first day I dropped my squeegee, thankfully I was on a small building facing an alley, so no harm done. The second thing I dropped was my cylinder. I was preparing to climb over and I accidentally kicked it off the roof about 15 stories down and it came within 2 feet of hitting my co-worker. Most highrise workers use what we call "idiot strings", that are just bungee cords that we attach to all of our tools so in case we do drop them they wont fall and hurt anyone. I can't say that I have ever seen anyone vomit or sweat so badly that it rains onto people. Most people who do this have very strong stomachs.

How many buildings does a single window cleaning team service? Are there buildings that are so big that they are constantly being cleaned?

Nice question, It all depends on size and the number of the crew/company. My crew consist of 4 people. We could knock out almost any building within 1-3 days. So we probably service between 50-80 buildings a year. However a lot of these are repeated twice or even 3 times a year. Yes, many buildings are so large that they are constantly being cleaned. a good example of this is the Trump Tower in Chicago. They almost have a crew their every other week.

I heard that the Golden Gate bridge is painted year round because it takes so long. Would you ever take on that job, I bet being over the ocean would be nuts!

I would, it's a easy and fun job. Last summer me and one other had to pressure wash a 15 story bank top to bottom, every inch. It took us about 1 month, and then we had to seal the building and wash the windows, lol. I personally don't mind long term job sites but they do become boring quickly.

What made you want to work the job? You must have some serious cojones.

Well, I was fresh out of high school and I had to get a job. I was good friends with the owners son, so I figured I would give it a shot. After about 3 months of working low rise (stores and houses) I was moved up to highrise and after another month or so I was promoted to supervisor. And yes my balls are quite large. ;)

Have you ever been flashed?

Yep! best day of work ever, haha.

Can I get some pro tips on cleaning glass. I work for a glazing contractor and we stick to industrial glass cleaner and paper towels. Razor blades and occasionally denatured alcohol. I have a squeegee and fluff bar, but want some tips for using them without making a mess.

Sure, Believe it or not, Dawn dish soap is the best for cleaning glass. This applies for residential, Industrial and store fronts. Fill a 5 gallon bucket about 3/4ths and then squirt a fairly small amount of dawn or whatever dish soap you prefer. Stir it up with your mop (fluffbar). Wet both sides of your mop then proceed to wet and scrub the window. Depending on the glass, scrape it with your razors and apply any necessary acids. Then squeegee it off. Obviously it's kind of hard to explain how to squeegee, but the main goal is to put your squeegee on the glass once, On once and off once, and take the least amount of swipes as possible. I'm right handed and I start around the far left mid of the window and go up to the top left corner to the top right corner, down to the bottom right corner back up and left-right my way down 'til I'm finish. You will probably have better luck 'youtubing' a tutorial. But realistically, You have a mop soaked with water, your bound to spill water. Just bring towels/rags with you and try your best to be neat. I hope I answered your questions :)

Was there anyone on your crew with a fear of heights?

Good question. Quite a few people who had no experience would apply for the job thinking that it was easy or didn't take any balls. So we would give them the benefit of the doubt and give them a shot. We would set their gear up and have them ready to jump over the building. Many of these people would just walk away... and we would never hear from them again. Some would break down in tears, and even one guy pissed him self.

Just how dangerous is this job? I don't recall ever hearing about a window cleaning accident. And if it is dangerous, I am guessing you're getting payed well. How much do you make... let say... per month?

If you know what your doing, it's a pretty safe job. However the simplest mistake will really hurt you. If you 'youtube' window washers or something a lot of accidents will probably show up. On the contrary, pay is rather low for the risk. In a month before taxes and insurance I would make roughly $2500 - $3000.

Ever do anything exciting on the lift-thingy?

I did most of my work off of a bosom chair. Basically, I hang from 2 ropes and sit on a chair the size of my ass. I have done some crazy stuff on that though, lol. Some Tony Hawk 900's and crazy swat jumps, so much fun.

I was thinking more inappropriate stuff but that was an interesting response. I think I would shit myself if I was sitting in a chair with two ropes hanging off it cleaning a window on huge skyscrapers.

Well, as much as I would love to fool around with a girl on a skyscraper, I don't think too many girls would be down for that, lol. 99% of buildings we service are office buildings, so I think they might be angry, haha!

Ever see any good parties? Any banter?

Ive seen a boat party, they came back later at night when it was dark and the boat was packed. This was in Wisconsin.

Whats the hardest stuff to get off windows?

Probably oxidation. The acid we use burns thru skin and is the worst! I accidentally spilled some on my hand once, my skin is still scarred.

Ever wash the windows for the Willis Tower (all though you probably still call it the Sears Tower)? Any pics of that? The Skydeck is too damn expensive.

The will tower has automated window washing... if your lucky or patient you will see a rather large black box going up and down the building. I think renaming it was stupid and pointless. Most people still call it the sears tower and will probably always call it that. The SEARS tower has automatic window cleaning machines that scale the buildings.

I work on 209 W Jackson (Jackson and Wells). Done anything around there?

55E. Jackson, I do the Chicago theater across from Fox News. I actually might do 209, Is that a Marc reality building? If so I probably do it. I have quite a lot of Marc Reality's.

I'd love to come up with you once, just to see what it feels like.

I no longer do highrise or live in chicago ;( I moved to New Hampshire.

Which building(s) gave you your favorite view?

There's a 20 story building in Itasca that sits over a lake and you can see the Chicago skyline in the distance. I'll post pics when I get home. Here's an album of some of my favorite pictures.

How do you handle extreme weather (like strong winds, show storm, etc.)

Wind is a hell. Anything over 15 (wind speed) is NOPE. We will work in light rain as long as it doesn't effect our work. Once heavy rains come our gear becomes soaked and potentially ruined. Snow doesn't really effect us, although cold does. Once it becomes freezing temps. we have to use chemicals to prevent the water from freezing. Extreme heat also hurts us, Imagine turning your stove to high and dropping some water on it, it dissipates instantly. This is what happens when we apply water to windows in the summer sun ;( even if its not that hot out.

About 6 years ago, my crew was in Lafayette, IN, working on a 20+ story building. The weather was rather nice out, but a storm came in very fast while they were near the top of the building. By the time they got half way down it was pouring rain and the winds were 20mph+. Their ropes became tangled and they were stuck. The wind was so strong that it was pushing them around the corners of the building. Long story short the local fire department came along with ambulance and had to rescue them. They were to high for the ladders to reach them so they instead broke the windows out and pulled them inside. Pretty scary stuff.

First I must say you are so handsome... Do you always see some awful things in office?

Thanks, lol... I don't see too many awful things. We service mostly office buildings, so mostly just chubby guys typing away.

Wow, what are you doing at the moment?

I moved to New Hampshire last fall and I am studying to be an architect.

Why would you ever quit that job!?!?

Because its a dead end job.

How long does it take to clean an entire building's windows? (If you're comfortable answering this) how much did you get paid?

Each building is different in size, glass counts, shape, etc. There are so many different variables to account for, but with a crew of 4 experienced guys I can finish most average buildings within 2 days. I worked for a non union company and was making 15/hour.

Have you ever caught anyone naked or in the act of doing something illegal?

I caught a guy jerking off in a vacant suite once... that was pretty disturbing.

I work retail and have really bad dreams about work. Unable to close a sale, unhappy customers yelling at me for something I don't know even though I did... you know, weird dream shit. Do you have dreams about falling? Every time I think about heights, my asshole clinches up. Just a fun fact.

I never had full dreams about that kind of stuff. However I did day-dream and imagine shit quite a bit. But mostly right before the first time I ever climbed over. After that I became rather cocky while I was hanging. I did a lot of things that would have OSHA up my ass if they knew.

How do I get a job doing this? I can't seem to find a way to get into this industry?

Almost none will hire you for highrise if you have no experience. I suggest finding a company and start on low rise. Do that for about a year or until you have become very good and fast at washing windows. From there you should request to be put on highrise, if you're good enough I'm sure they will be more than happy to train you. But yeah, it's not something you can just do, there's a few prerequisites.

How's the pay? Seems like a pretty chill job if you can handle it, dangling from ropes while you listen to tunes. Ever thought you were going to fall? Ever heard of anyone falling?

I was paid $15/hour out of a non union company. Union makes $17+ starting. So I was being shorted quite a bit for my experience. Yeah, there's been a few times where I almost pissed my self. I would climb over the ledge and I would keep falling for 3-10 feet. Sometimes, if you do pull out enough slack you just sink, and its a really weird feeling, lol. There's nothing you can do but look down and pick a spot to land, lol...

My friend also worked as a high rise window cleaner. Back in the 80's. I asked him what was his biggest memory. He told me that while he was cleaning the window of a large high rise apartment building and through the window he could hear the phone ringing (before cell phones)....he saw this woman running out of the bathroom with her pants down to her ankles just to answer the phone....he saw this and she saw him where she jumped down b/w the bed and managed to pull her pants up. Needless to say he felt embarrassed for her but thought it was a funny sight.

Ya, I haven't seen to much of this type of stuff because we do 99% of office buildings, but every so often you will catch someone in the act doing something they shouldn't be.