Window Cleaner Mourned

The number of tributes left to Steve Burton have grown substantially over the weekend.

Steve Burton murder probe: Tributes to ex-Derby window cleaner flood in as woman charged with murder - A woman has been charged with the  murder  of Steve Burton, who died at his  Chaddesden  home on Friday. Julie Titheridge, 38, of Selkirk Street, will appear at Derby Magistrates' Court today. She was arrested on Friday morning after police were called to Selkirk Street at 4.30am, where Mr Burton was found injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Floral tributes built up over the weekend following his death.

Photos of the popular father, and items belonging to him have been placed at Sussex Circus, Chaddesden, where he liked to spend some of his time. Yesterday, friends of Mr Burton said they could not comprehend what has happened. Graham Hunt, 70, of Buckingham Avenue, Chaddesden, said: "He was a great guy and a really nice person. "I always used to call him 'chap' and we would always speak. "It's so tragic. I left my flowers and I think it's great to see so many."

One message said: "Well Steve, the last time your corner was decorated it was back in March for your 50th birthday. I hope you're reunited with your mum and dad." Toyah Manning, 32, lived a few doors away from Mr Burton on Selkirk Street. Looking at the tributes, she said: "I think this will become a shrine. It will be weird seeing these here instead of Steve. "I think he would absolutely love this. There are some lovely flowers here and I think they will stay here quite a while."

Other tributes were paid to Mr Burton on n social media sites. One read: "R.I.P Steve ...we were having a laugh the day before ....god bless mate you'll be missed by many xx." Rich N Lisa Fenton said: "Amazing guy – worked some of the same streets and always had a nice word RIP." And James Horrocks wrote; "R.I.P uncle steve. You were a brilliant uncle to me and helped me with everything I had. And he helped me if I had a problem with anything."

Donations have already been given in Mr Burton's memory and one post suggested: "I think a memorial bench should b made 4 him such a lovely man was liked by every1 such a sad time." This was echoed in another message when someone wrote: "I think all the people should pull together and get a bench in memory of steve n put it on his spot on circus."

Floral tributes to Steve Burton have been left in Chaddesden.

A sea of floral tributes have been left in Chaddesden as residents pay their respects to popular father Steve Burton. He was found dead during the early hours of yesterday and police  arrested a woman on suspicion of murder. Emergency services were called to the house in Selkirk Street, where the 50-year-old lived, at about 4.30am. But the former window cleaner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hours of door-to-door inquiries and forensic officers gathering evidence followed as his saddened neighbours watched from their doorsteps. Two of his stepdaughters visited the site where floral tributes had been placed at nearby Sussex Circus, Chaddesden. Danielle Brown, 22, of Spondon,  found comfort in the colourful array of flowers and messages of support. She said: "I will remember him for liking a drink and wearing his hat. We were really close. "I used to visit him in Chaddesden a lot and he really was great."

Mr Burton's former partner, Nadine Hatton, 43, said she was stunned when she heard he had been found dead. She had been with him for 12 years and they had children Charlie, 20, and Carly, 16 when they were together. Nadine, of Derwent House, Huntington Green, Chaddesden, said: "I could not believe it when I heard he'd gone. "It's very shocking and I feel really sad and distraught. "He was a good father in his own way and was very kind. He was a very well-loved man and had a lot of friends in the area. "My children are being very quiet and have gone into their shells."

Nadine said Mr Burton found a lot of comfort in spending time at the floral tribute spot in Sussex Circus – a place where he met up with friends She said: "My children are beautiful and look like him with similar features. "I will miss him for the rest of my life."

One of his other stepdaughters, Amy Brown, 23, said she has found it difficult to get her head around the enormity of what has happened. Amy, of Berwick Avenue, Chaddesden, said: "It's devastating and I am going to find it very tough. I found him an inspiration. "I know that his memory will live on."

Community members also paid tribute to Mr Burton. Lorraine May, of Banger Street, Chaddesden, had known him for 16 years and was in tears when looking at the flowers. She said: "This tribute area will become like a garden of flowers because of the love people had for him. "He was a harmless man and everybody knew him. "Life will go on but he will be very missed."

Steve Burton, very popular window cleaner.

Scott Winson, 28, who lives in Derby, said Mr Burton was one of his best friends and spoke to him for the final time on Thursday – hours before his death. The 28-year-old said: "He was known as the Clint Eastwood of Chaddesden and you could not meet a nicer bloke. "I only spoke to him on Thursday and he was asking about my kids. "He was very outgoing and was really game for a laugh." "This will be a massive loss to Chaddesden and Derby because he was so well-known locally. "I'm very upset, it's such a shock. "Life will not be the same without seeing him around. "His death is incredibly tragic. He did not deserve to die like this."

Yesterday, as police officers investigated his death, parts of Selkirk Street were cordoned off and forensic officers spent time inside the property. Parents and residents said it was a shock to see such police activity in the area when they were taking their children to school. A police spokesman yesterday said: "A team of detectives will be working on the case and forensic specialists have been examining the scene." Kirsty Sharpe, 26, of Selkirk Street, said: "A friend called me to tell me what happened. You see things like this on the news but you never expect it on your street. "My message to his family is I'm very sorry for your loss and everyone is thinking of you."

Chris Herrod, 23, of Selkirk Street, said the incident could prompt him to move. He said: "It's usual to have police here on this street. It's not nice and we want to move." Sophie Kerry, 20, also of Selkirk Street, said: "This morning the police knocked on my door and told me there was a big incident. I was shocked." Selkirk Street resident Vicky, 26, who did not want to give her full name, said: "I got a bang at the door at 6.45am from the police. "Steve was a lovely man and was always friendly."

Window Cleaning News

A never ending window cleaning job

Dubai’s Ziggurat City Will House A Million: Dubai wants to build one of the wonders of the earth – a massive flat-topped pyramid where a million people can live in a self-sustaining environment. A city within a city, dubbed Ziggurat after the temples of ancient desert peoples who first lived in the Middle East, the base will be almost a mile square. With roots in history, the building is definitely at the cutting edge of science with green technologies that do not run on fossil fuels and a transport system that runs vertically and horizontally. The futuristic building is expected to be open in time for the Cityscape Dubai exhibition in October 2013. Cityscape is the region’s largest and most prestigious real estate event that attracts thousands of delegates from around the world each year.

A 15-year-old boy working as a window-washer fell to his death from the ninth floor of a building on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at a construction site in the central Israeli town of Bnei Brak. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the boy at the scene, but were unable to do so. The young man’s family has been involved in criminal activity. Two family members were arrested recently for serious crimes, and another relative was arrested in a separate incident. Despite the family history, the Dan District Police believe after a preliminary investigation that the boy’s death was an accident, not the result of foul play. The boy worked with his father at the site near the Bnei Brak- Ramat Gan border, where two apartment towers are in their final stage of construction.

Keeping New York workers safe in the heat: New York workers need to take precautions to keep themselves hydrated and healthy in the summer heat and humidity. This summer is turning out to be a particularly steamy one for many parts of the country, and while the temperatures haven't been "record high" in New York, there are still countless workers exposed to hot and humid environments on a daily basis. What many employees - and in some cases, their employers - don't realize is that heat-related illnesses can result in serious injury and even death.

What are heat-related illnesses? Sometimes when the body is exposed to hot and humid conditions, it simply cannot cool itself enough. When that happens, heat exhaustion and other heat-related, on-the-job injuries can occur. According to information about heat illnesses provided by the New York City Department of Health, heat exhaustion can cause nausea, vomiting, clammy skin, weakness and dizziness. When the body's temperature spikes suddenly, heat stroke is possible. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, and it can cause death if not properly treated. The NYCDH also gives some guidance about the warning signs of heat stroke, which include excessive sweating, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, confusion, hallucinations and light-headedness.

Who's at risk? Obviously, those working outside in the summer heat, including construction workers, landscapers, roofers, painters, window washers, delivery persons, law enforcement professionals and utility workers are at high risk. People working inside with no air conditioning or little ventilation, metal workers, restaurant chefs and those in commercial bakeries (and other factory positions) can also succumb to the heat.

Heat-related illnesses are more common in the elderly, those unaccustomed to the heat (like new hires who have not yet built up a tolerance or workers returning from an extended break), those taking medications that make them more susceptible to heat (antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines are notorious for this) and those who have pre-existing medical conditions.

Prevention: They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is definitely true when it comes to preventing heat-related illnesses. Employers and workers who understand the dangers associated with excess heat and humidity can take steps to ensure that their bodies are not overcome by the stress of hot, humid weather. The most important thing that any outdoor worker (or one in a heated indoor environment) to remember is that water is absolutely crucial. Drinking at least one cup of cooled water every 15 to 20 minutes can go a long way toward keeping the body's temperature under control.

Wearing loose-fitting clothing and a hat to protect the body from the sun's rays can also be beneficial. Another helpful hint is to avoid alcohol and caffeine when working in the heat; both of these actually dehydrate the body, so they can diminish the effectiveness of proper water consumption. Taking breaks in the shade often, using fans or air conditions whenever possible, and wearing light-colored clothes will also help put the body in an optimum position to fight the heat and humidity. 

Suncream and cosmetics spark allergy epidemic: Millions of people are being exposed to toxic chemicals in everyday products ranging from shower gel and deodorant to make-up and suncream, doctors have warned. Skin experts say that Britain is in the grip of a skin allergy epidemic which could reach crisis point if more is not done to slash the amount of the preservatives – known as MI and MCI/MI – being used.

Dr John McFadden, consultant dermatologist at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, said: “The time for action is now. We are in the midst of an outbreak of allergy to a preservative (MI) which we have not seen before in terms of scale in our lifetime. “Many of our patients have suffered acute dermatitis with redness and swelling of the face. I would ask the cosmetics industry not to wait for legislation but to get on and address the problem of MI allergy before the situation gets worse.”

Dr David Orton, president of the British Society of Cutaneous Allergy, said: “Data suggest that rates of allergy to these two preservatives are now nearing 10 per cent – and in some cases higher – this is clearly far too high and is an unacceptable situation. “The last time a preservative had this type of effect it was banned by the EU. Although the relevant bodies in Europe have set up a review this all takes time – in the meantime the number of people coming to see us with this allergy is only likely to rise.

“We would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss this issue with representatives of the UK cosmetics industry so as to take immediate steps to protect UK consumers.” The MI – methylisothiazolinone – and MCI/MI – methylchloroisothiazolinone aka methylisothiazolinone – are found in abundance in personal care products including moist wipes, cleansers and shaving foam as well as products such as washing up liquid. MI is also present in window and floor cleaners, air fresheners and paint. It is also used in the paper, metal and oil industries.

This week, at a City Hall reception in London, party guests roasted – surrounded on all sides by windows that didn't open; and, when windows don't open in summer, they turn into heating panels. Ever since the Romans first inserted glass into wall apertures, the window has got more sophisticated. First came the casement window – with its thick glass divided up into tiny chunks by lead strips. Then came the most sophisticated window of all – the sash window, imported from France in the late 17th century, allowing minute adjustments, with the sashes balanced by cords and weights, and the air circulating through both a top and bottom opening if needed. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, window panes got thinner and thinner, and lighter and lighter, allowing fewer glazing bars – until you got to the stage in the late Victorian period when you could have a single pane of glass over another single pane. And then, suddenly, over the last 20 years, we regressed and sealed our windows permanently shut. Why?

First health & safety working at height workers - Mary Smith: Legendary knocker-upper, picture from 1905. Mary Smith was a notorious character in the east end of London, allegedly earning sixpence a week for shooting peas at the windows of local market workers in Limehouse Fields to get them up in time for work. Knocker-uppers were reportedly on duty in towns and cities across the country between 1870 and 1945!

San Antonio Window Cleaners Needed (Deadline today) - The upcoming TV season sure is shaping up to be a special one for San Antonio viewers. It's to feature real, hard-toiling Americans and, according to casting producer Bonnie Clark, San Antonio is one of the cities selected for the hunt. The idea is that hard work deserves a reward. The ads and online documentary will be produced by the team behind the reality series, “Dirty Jobs.” Those chosen to appear will be paid. A description of what the casting folks are looking for: stories from dedicated workers who know what real labor is all about — ranchers, commercial fishermen, mechanics, factory and construction workers, window washers ... you get the picture.

They're also looking for people who have made a difference off the job: rescuing animals, building a park playground, any deed that showcases sacrifice, integrity and plenty of heart. Busch Beer and the ads' producers hope to come to San Antonio in August to film those chosen. Deadline to apply is July 10. Interested? Send an email to Clark (bclark@pilgrimstudios.com) with the following: name, age, location and phone number. Also include a recent photo and a description of how you really “earn it” at your current job or volunteer effort. Applicants must be older than 25.

Hugh O'Brian reflects on journey from Hollywood window washer to star: When he was a 17-year-old Marine on weekend leave, Hugh O'Brian made easy money washing the storefront windows on Hollywood Boulevard. It was 1943 and O'Brian would go up and down the 6600 block of the boulevard, earning extra cash for his labors -- money he said he generally used to help pay for dates. But it was his fame as an actor that permanently cemented his relationship with this famous street. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated in 1960 -- 6613 Hollywood Blvd., smack in the middle of the neighborhood where he once washed windows.

Sitting on a recent afternoon at a sidewalk table with his wife, Virginia, outside the Lucky Devils gastro pub in the middle of the block, the 88-year-old actor said he has been drawn again and again to this stretch of the boulevard. "I don't remember what kind of store this was back then," he said, "but I used to get $2 to do windows like these. It was good money back in 1943."

Motorcyclist's 528-mile challenge in aid of Hoddlesden boy Sam: Window cleaner Andrew Smith, who is originally from Darwen, will complete the 528-mile round trip for the four-year-old Hoddlesden boy, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer, in January.

His parents are hoping to be able to take him to America for treatment but need to raise £250,000 to be able to do so.

Father-of-two Mr Smith, 52, who now lives in Salford, said he was inspired to take on the challenge on his Honda Blackbird after reading about Sam’s story in the Lancashire Telegraph. He said: “My mum lives in Hoddlesden and she visits me once a week and brings the papers with her. “I read about Sam and I thought it was a fantastic appeal, so I wanted to raise some money.” Mr Smith expects it will take him around four hours to get to Torquay, where he will have a two-hour rest before starting the journey home again. He has not yet set a date, but expects to complete the challenge at the end of August. Donate here.

DDB MudraMax - Outdoor wins big at Outdoor Advertising Awards (MUMBAI): Outdoor Advertising Awards 2013, which concluded recently, saw DDB MudraMax - Outdoor as the clear winner. The agency once again proved indomitable by bagging eight Golds, five Silvers and four Bronzes and the coveted 'Campaign of the Year' and 'Innovation of the Year' titles. The Campaign of the Year title was given to Volkswagen's campaign titled 'Post-It' and the campaign for Adventure 18 titled 'Window Washers' bagged the Innovation of the Year. Commenting on this exuberant win, DDB Mudra Group COO Pratap Bose said, "This is the fourth year where we have dominated this award function with a sack full of awards. It's a great result for the brave clients that we work with and a great thumbs up for the best Out of Home team in the country."

New York-based ABM is stating that if energy savings, measured annually, don't completely cover the cost of the work, as promised, including new equipment, they'll cut the town a check for the difference. ABM started as a window-washing company in San Francisco more than 100 years ago. It now offers such services as electrical and lighting, electrical testing, facilities engineering, janitorial services, landscaping and energy consulting.

Lucky escape for window washer - Man accidentally rams car into store-front property: The store front of Rent-A-Center was damaged after a man driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee struck parked vehicles before crashing into the business Wednesday near the intersection of W. Loop 281 and Gilmer Road. Police say the Longview man was backing out of a parking space when he lost control of his vehicle. Mike Stacy, manager of Big 5 Tires next door to Rent-A-Center, was on the telephone about 9:30 a.m. when he heard what sounded like a car peeling out of the parking lot. “He left the parking (space), and the vehicle was wide open on the accelerator,” Stacy said, describing the noise coming from the Jeep’s engine. “You could tell from the noise the accelerator was all the way on the floor.”
Witnesses saw the Jeep dart backwards across the parking lot and strike a car, pushing it into a van parked in the next space. With the accelerator still on the floor, Stacy said, the car continued traveling in reverse toward the Capital One bank building before it veered and entered the roadway on Village Drive. Stacy said at one point it appeared Barnes’ Jeep was headed straight into traffic on the loop. The vehicle then hit a small tree and re-entered the parking lot — still in reverse — back to its original parking spot before plowing through the Rent-A-Center’s front, floor-to-ceiling windows. Stacy said it was a miracle no one was hurt since there was a person sitting in the van Barnes damaged, people were walking in the parking lot and a man was washing the window the Jeep drove through.

The Mom thing hits me like a bolt of lightning when I least expect it. Like the other day when I was sitting in a meeting at work watching as a couple ropes swayed to and fro clicking and clacking against the 11th floor windows. I knew a window washer would make his appearance soon, but when his little wooden seat dropped down to my level of vision, my heart skipped a beat. He looked so young that I gasped. “There’s a mother somewhere who worries every day if her son will be safe when he goes to work.”

Students with a talent for IT, electronics or engineering are being sought for the 2013 Bright Sparks competition. The competition, created by The Skills Organisation, is designed to encourage young people, between 11 and 18, to experience electronics by developing and refining an invention before submitting a prototype for judging. This year the panel of four judges – all industry experts in their own right – has strict criteria for selecting a winner. “We’re on the lookout for technical excellence; innovation, including originality and commercial potential; and passion, involving personal engagement,” says Petersen. “It’s important to us that a Bright Sparks entrant has a balance of these three factors in their project.” Previous Bright Sparks award winners have gone on to win awards at national and international levels. The 2012 overall winner, James Watson, took his Rubik’s Cube-solving robot to the International Science Fair in Singapore, while fellow winner Sohail Abdullah (pictured) was selected to attend the prestigious INTEL ISEF Fair in Arizona where his robotic window cleaner placed third among 1500 entries. The awards were first held in 1998 and, Petersen says, the technology has changed markedly in that time, as well as becoming cheaper and more accessible.

Visitors are attracted to a performance by intelligent robots during the four-day 2013 China International Robot Show, which- opened on Tuesday in Shanghai.

Shanghai center to showcase robots: Expo plans to feature machines for dull or complicated assignments. The consumer robotics market is set to have a quick takeoff in China with the nation's first service robot exhibition center scheduled to open in Shanghai by the end of July. A robot-led automation boom is taking place in China as more companies use industrial robots for manufacturing and equipment operation. The market value of industrial robots in China surpassed 1 billion yuan in 2012, up 67 percent from the previous year, said Zhao Xinmin, head of the statistics department at the China Machinery Industry Federation. Service robots have long been a niche market, however, where overall revenue only reached 7 percent of that for industrial robots in 2011, IFR data showed. According to New York-based consulting firm ABI Research, the global consumer robotics market is poised to hit $6.5 billion by 2017 from $1.6 billion in 2012. ABI also said Asian companies are fueling new momentum in the industry by delivering newer task-based products such as window-cleaning robots.

The glass memory has been compared to the "memory crystals" used in the Superman films, which contain recorded holographic video and data saved by his parents.

Glass allows scientists to recreate superman's memory crystals: A new type of computer memory similar to the “memory crystals” used by Superman in the films has been developed. lasers to record and retrieve data from pieces of glass. They claim it could allow up to 360 terabytes, equivalent to 580,000 CDs, to be stored on a single piece of glass the size of a standard CD.  The process uses a laser to reorder the atoms in the crystal structure of the glass. The size and orientation of the tiny structures the laser creates adds extra information in addition to their location. These structures change the way light passes through the glass, meaning it can then be read back.

This means huge amounts of data can be stored. The scientists say that because the glass is stable and heat resistant up to 1,000°C (1,800F), it could also be used to ensure information can be kept safe for long periods of time in archives. Professor Jingyu Zhang, who led from the University of Southampton, said: “We are developing a very stable and safe form of portable memory using glass, which could be highly useful for organisations with big archives. “At the moment companies have to back up their archives every five to ten years because hard-drive memory has a relatively short lifespan. It is the first time researchers had been able store a document in glass using the device and then read it back. Previously the scientists created glass storage that could store the equivalent of a Blu-ray Disc – up to 50GB of data – but they now can store more than seven times that.

The scientists presented their latest work at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics in San Jose.

The recording process, which is done by focusing a laser to imprint tiny dots called "voxels" into the pure silica glass. The process makes the glass slightly opaque and polarises the light as it passes through. This can then be read using a optical detector. The glass memory has been compared to the "memory crystals" used in the Superman films, which contain recorded holographic video and data saved by his parents. Professor Peter Kazansky, supervisor of the Optoelectronics Research Centre at Southampton University, added: “It is thrilling to think that we have created the first document which will likely survive the human race. “This technology can secure the last evidence of civilisation: all we’ve learnt will not be forgotten.”

A Hackensack man and his sister have been indicted by a Bergen County grand jury  in connection with a pair of pellet gun shootings in which a man was hit and a young girl was narrowly missed. Nicholas Battaglia, a 25-year-old pizza maker and window washer, apparently was taking potshots at people “for fun,” Detective Capt. Thomas Salcedo told CLIFFVIEW PILOT at the time of the mid-March shootings. The victims were in the area of a Pizza Hut parking lot at Essex and State streets across from Battaglia’s apartment, Salcedo said. “At the time we didn’t know whether it was a drive-by or from a stationary position,” the captain said.

Detectives canvassed the area and hit on Battaglia’s apartment. They knocked and immediately spotted the box for an air rifle inside, Salcedo said. The .177 caliber Crosman Air Rifle — same as the model pictured above — was recovered, authorities said. Battaglia was taken to headquarters, along with his sister, 30-year-old Rebecca Battaglia. Nicholas Battaglia remains held on $75,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail. He faces six grand jury counts related to possessing, pointing and shooting the rifle His sister remains free on two grand jury charges of trying to hide the rifle and keep police from arresting him. Both are due back in Superior Court in Hackensack for conferences on July 17.

Community Alert: The RCMP are warning people about young people going door-to-door offering window cleaning services. In situations where unsolicited services are offered, you need to be wary that it might be an unsavoury character scoping out your residence. Never invite a stranger into your home, and always do reference checks on any contractor.

Percy Main serial conman locked up for cruel scam of Gateshead pensioner: Despicable doorstep trickster Philip Lamb was out of jail just months before he was preying on the vulnerable again. Lamb has a shameful history of posing as a window cleaner to trick his way into the homes of the elderly to steal from them.

And he’d only been released after serving half of a five-year prison sentence for a matter of months when he struck again. This time, the 30-year-old, whose own dad is severely ill, posed as a handyman and knocked on the door of an 84-year-old disabled woman and offered to clear out her gutters. The housebound pensioner, who lived in sheltered accommodation in Felling, Gateshead, initially refused to let him in, saying she thought that he was a conman. But it didn’t stop the career criminal from gaining her trust and worming his way in.

And it was while the victim was fetching him a bucket and water, that the shameless fraudster stole her handbag, a court heard. The woman only noticed her bag was missing after Lamb had left and contacted police. Now, Lamb, of Balkwell Avenue, Percy Main, North Tyneside, who pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling at Newcastle Crown Court, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years. Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, said Lamb was caught after police matched DNA to the bucket of water.

Branding Lamb a “serial burglar”, Recorder Keith Miller said: “You’re not a stranger to these courts, far from it. “You’re not a stranger to offences of burglary. You appear to be a serial burglar.” He added: “According to probation records, the circumstances for the matter for which you received five years was you called at the address of an elderly woman and asked if she wanted her windows cleaned. “You asked for her to fill you a bucket of water and you stole cash. The same report indicates a pattern of the deliberate targeting of elderly of vulnerable victims.

“According to the latest victim, you knocked at her door at about 3pm. “She wisely had a chain on the door so she could open it slightly without opening it fully. You asked if she wanted her gutters cleaning. She said the organisation that runs the sheltered accommodation carry out the work on her behalf. “You persisted and said it would only cost her £3. She continued to dispute the need for you to do the work, stating she doesn’t normally have to pay anything. She told you she thought you were a conman and you said ‘certainly not’, but that is precisely what you are.

“She eventually agreed and got a bucket of water for you then you asked for some soap. “She got that and remembered she needed to give you £3 and went to get the money out. “You then tried to confuse her, stating she had given too much money and you gave £1 back. It was after you went that she realised her shopping bag was missing from the side of her chair. “In the bag she not only had her keys, bus pass, rail card, purse, her pension card, spectacles, a bank card, £40 to £50 cash and her rosary beads. I’m sure the latter had particular importance to her. I’m equally sure she looked after all those items in the bag.”

The court heard Lamb committed his latest burglary in May, just five months after he was released from prison in December and while he was still on licence. She said: “He maintains he didn’t know beforehand that the victim was vulnerable as he was not in a clear state of mind.” Ms Hedworth also told the court Lamb, whose girlfriend is standing by him, was planning on giving £100 compensation to his victim.

Jailing Lamb, Recorder Keith Miller said: “The victim has lived in her house for 19 years and she now is frightened and is glad that the locks were changed, otherwise she would not be able to sleep in that property. I have gone at some length through what happened and the way the victim has been affected by it because, sooner or later, you’re going to have to realise that you must change your ways. The sentencing for this sort of offending only gets higher and higher.” Lamb fleeced an 81-year-old woman after posing as a window cleaner during the 2010 offence.

Woman Attacks Boyfriend With Windex, Car: A woman is accused of running down her boyfriend outside a store she was already banned from before attacking him with a bottle of window cleaner and standing over him with a box cutter. New Castle City Police say they responded to the BJ’s on Sunset Boulevard around 2:30 p.m. Monday for the report of a domestic incident between a man and a woman. Police say they found Adrienne Dorman, 21, of the 500 block S Dupont Highway standing over her 21-year-old boyfriend with a box cutter in her hand. BJ’s staff told officers that Dorman had already been banned form the store because of previous fights with her boyfriend.

The duo got into a fight in the parking lot this time over a cell phone. Witnesses told police Dorman intentionally struck her boyfriend with her car, sending him airborne. As the man lay on the ground, Dorman allegedly sprayed him in the face with Windex and began to go through his pockets. Police officers said they found her standing over the victim with the open box cutter. Officers were able to disarm Dorman and take her into custody. She was charged with second-degree assault, trespassing and related charges and released on $10,4000 unsecured bond. She was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and ordered not to drive a car. Her boyfriend was treated at a local hospital for leg injuries. Also see: A Use For Spray-On Window Cleaner.

Justin Bieber urinates into restaurant mop bucket then decries ... President Bill Clinton? Justin Bieber acting out of control and as if he can do anything he wants continues, as TMZ has video of the pop star urinating into a mop bucket in a restaurant kitchen. TMZ is told the clip was shot earlier this year when Bieber and his entourage were leaving a nigihtclub by exiting through the restaurant kitchen. And instead of using a restroom like a normal person, Bieber decides to pee in some poor janitor's mop bucket while laughing like an idiot. And his "Wild Kidz" entourage buddies act like this is a moment to remember. Then on the way out of the restaurant, Bieber sprays window cleaner on a photo of President Bill Clinton that hangs on the wall, shouting, "F*** Bill Clinton." So, have we started an office pool yet for the total implosion of Bieber? Whatcha got?

Window Cleaning News

Window washer Larry Newbern pauses in view of City Hall, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Philadelphia.

Jason Kubla from Class Glass is part of a two-man team which cleans the hospital tower windows every six months. At this point, he is hanging outside the third floor. Harrison County.

Washing Windows for profit: It didn’t take Koron Mays too long to figure out that he could make a lot more money washing windows than he could as a medical assistant. “I went from $13.50 an hour to about $79 an hour,” said Mays, who now owns Koron’s Professional Window Cleaning and Power Washing. Of course, the window washing business is a bit more sporadic and physically demanding but Mays is okay with that. He figures if he provides excellent service he’ll get more jobs and he doesn’t mind the work. “It’s a matter of getting more accounts,” Mays said. “I’d like to keep growing and eventually be able to add some employees.” He’s now in the middle of his busiest season – summer and early fall – and hopes he can establish himself more solidly in the mid-valley. Mays, who started washing windows in Jefferson in 2009, briefly moved his business to Sandy and even did turns in Las Vegas and Florida. Those weren’t the places he wanted to be, however. “My arrangements for an office building didn’t work out and I was happy to come back to the mid-valley,” he said. Although he maintains some clients farther north, Mays does most of his business in and around Albany. “I haven’t been back very long but it has worked out,” he said. “I’ve got around 80 customers.”

Not surprisingly, the bulk of his business revolves around washing windows – all sizes and shapes – but he also offers power washing of decks, driveways and home exteriors. Glass restoration service for windows with hard water or rust stains is another service. Residential customers are his bread-and-butter. He says it takes about an hour and a half to clean the windows in most homes. He will also do windows in commerical buildings. He does it with an emphasis on being green. Koron says he has made an effort to use cleaning products that are all environmentally friendly. Mays has called the mid-valley home most of his life. He had studied to become a medical assistant before opting for the possibility of a career and, of course, more money. He has put just as much effort into his new profession as he did in studying as a medical assistant. He said both jobs are detail oriented and he has taken that skill from his old line of work.

Mays keeps up on the latest technology and techniques. Most important to him is customer service. “I’m not trying to get the job done as quick as I can and move on,” he said. “I want it to be done right. I want the call back.” Mays is confident enough in his work to offer a money-back guarantee for customers. “If the customer isn’t satisfied then they don’t pay,” he said. Flexiblity is a big part of his business. Everything is by appointment but he is open every day except Sundays. He will adjust hours to fit the customer’s schedule as best he can. Currently his only employee is his son Cole. He’s hoping to add more if the business takes off like he expects. “I want to make this my life’s work,” he said.  “I’d like to be able to build it to the point I can leave it to someone when I retire.”

Window cleaner plans party night for Sheffield charity: Window cleaner Allan Gee is marking his 65th birthday in style - with a party in aid of a South Yorkshire children’s hospice. The former DJ, of Dronfield, is planning to party Sixties style, as well as raising money for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospital in North Anston, near Sheffield, at the same time. He has booked The Small Fakers, a tribute act to 60s favourites the Small Faces out of his own pocket to appear and now wants to raise as much cash as possible for the charity. Allan, who has fostered seven children with his wife Pat, alongside raising their own family, said: “With my 65th birthday coming up I wanted to do something special. “I’ve seen the Small Fakers eleven times and they’re brilliant. They’ve built up quite a following and I’m hoping that by selling tickets to see them we can celebrate and raise money for a good cause.” The event takes place on Friday, October 19, at Dronfield Contact Club - which has waived its usual hire charge for the party. Sarah Champion, Bluebell Wood chief executive, said: “This promises to be a fabulous evening and a great fundraiser for Bluebell Wood. “It is only through the support that we receive from the community and people such as Allan that we can continue giving the vital support to children in our region who will not reach adulthood.” There will also be a raffle on the night with prizes including a surround sound speaker system, and a vintage bottle of port.

Pete Kosednar, a Scottsdale window-cleaner and blogger, pulled out his video camera this morning when he saw a hiker walk by on Camelback Mountain with her dog unleashed. Then, he says -- and as the video below appears to show -- he simply reminded the woman that her dog was supposed to be on a leash. The woman's mini-Cocker Spaniel isn't much of a threat, but Kosednar's warning -- and camera -- seem to bring out the woman's inner pit bull. The hiker struts over to Kosednar, appears to give him a shove, tells him to stop taping her, then curses at him as she walks away. Kosednar says the video shows evidence of an assault. A couple of Phoenix cops took Kosednar's statement on the incident, but "they didn't do anything," he says. The law requires dogs to be on a leash at all times in public places in Phoenix, including at mountain parks like Camelback Mountain. Video here.

The International Window Cleaning Associations latest magazine is now available to read on line: In addition to the IWCA, there are numerous associations and other resources that will help you as you are growing your window cleaning business. In the following link are just a few of the groups that window cleaners such as yourselves have utilized in answering questions and to gain other industry knowledge. IWCA does not endorse any of these groups but lists them here for your reference. The International Window Cleaning Association was formed by a group of window cleaners in the late 80s in an effort to promote safety and education as well as to enhance professionalism throughout the industry. Each year, IWCA holds an annual convention and trade show for professionals working in all facets of the window cleaning industry, from high-rise and route/residential window cleaners to those who manufacture goods and services for window cleaning. Additionally, the association offers four regional safety trainings per year to give companies the opportunity to have their employees professionally safety training in order to stay safe.

October Window Cleaning magazine is a new digital magazine that brings you information and news articles aimed at the professional window cleaner. Each issue we take a look at various topics that affect window cleaners and their business. We also take a look at new window cleaning products, and review some of the latest equipment being made available. There are tips and advice on how to run a successful window cleaning business, plus information that will help you find new customers, new commercial contracts and build a sustainable and recession proof business. Whether you use water fed pole systems or traditional window cleaning methods Window Cleaning Magazine caters for everyone.

This edition features Willie Erkin of Wagtail window cleaning tools!

Your issue of Tomorrow’s Cleaning is available now. Just click on the front cover to get reading. This month, we’ve been thinking a lot about the state of our hospitals in the UK. Cleanliness should always be a priority, so we have looked at a number of pieces relating to Healthcare & Hospital Hygiene, which I hope you will all find to be interesting reads. As the new school year is also in full swing, we’ve also tried to remind you that you are never too old to learn something new and that cleaning and hygiene is an area that is constantly evolving, so we have provided some fantastic Training & Education updates. And finally, because our floors take a beating in the winter weather, we have the latest innovation and advice in the Scrubber Dryer sector. With all that, plus special features, the latest news and products, our regular columnists and an industry insider answering the Tomorrow's Cleaning 10 Questions, we hope you'll find plenty of things in this issue to enjoy.

Father Creates Tribute Web Site in Memory of Son Who Apparently Drowned: Kenny Austin's son, Frank Daniel, 34, went missing in Dana Point while possibly swimming over Labor Day. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department found his body floating off the coast of Monarch Beach Sept. 8. Kenny Austin says he may not make it to his son's funeral in California next week, but he has created a web site in his memory.  Austin of Rowlnad Heights went swimming with a underwater camera at Salt Creek Beach, authorities reported. Lifeguards searched for him for several days, but there was no sign of him, and the search and rescue operation was eventually called off. One way he plans to remember his son is via the window cleaning services business web site that he created a few months ago. "I had this cartoon made for Frank when he said he was going to buy a three wheel bike to do business," he said. "He saw it and loved it. I recently added it to the site. I took down all the business information, but decided to leave the web site up as a tribute to him." I think it lets people know how he really started out."

Austin said his son lost his driver's license because when he was a young boy he was involved in car accident. "He wasn't wearing his seatblet and went throught he windshiled," he said. "As a result, he had seizures and couldn't drive a car." Austin said he had 1,000 fliers made with the above cartoon on it, and his son used them as business cards. "I just found a postal receipt of a package I mailed to his P.O. Box on Sept. 3," he said. "In this package was a lot of free promotional give-away things with his business details written on them, which I made for him. Things like key chains, and pin-back buttons to help him in his business." Registered in Kenny Austin's name, the father said he made both of these web sites below to help his son’s business.

www.franks-window-clean.com

www.cleaner-than-clean-detailing.com

The two web sites will remain active, Austin said.

Scrubbing skyscrapers help avoid climate armageddon: What happens in the year 2050, when 40 years of incrementally more polluted air makes it impossible to breathe outside? No one knows for certain, but a group of architects, developers, engineers and scientists have gotten together to address the problem, since it's now clear that – even if air pollution were halted tomorrow – it's still going to take humans  several generations to clean up the mess and restore the Pale Blue Dot to its former condition. Taking first place in the 2009 eVolo Skyscraper Competition, one possible solution to tomorrow's pollution looks more and more like a Neo Arc, a futuristic city whose function is to filter the air and water to create a safe-living envelope not only for humans, but for animals and plants as well. It does this via a shell of green plants – much like a living wall – that act to filter rainwater, absorb excess carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere.

Neo Arc, the city of the future, is all sharp angles and unimagined planes, forbidding to look at but equipped with various kinds and levels of water filtration that also serve to produce hydrogen to replace long-depleted reserves of fossil fuels. This hydrogen is then used to operate Neo Arc's transportation system. Other sources of energy include solar panels, and the vast caverns of stored water might even be used to produce wave or tidal energy. In fact, it is this integration of green technologies like living walls which leads to Neo Arc becoming a "lung" for the imaginary city, which also filters acid rain water via thin-film photovoltaics and UV lighting. Finally, the thermal mass of the structure, and its deformed masses, provide both insulation and shade for inhabitants.

Designers Kyu Ho Chun, Kenta Fukunishi and JaeYoung Lee from the United States offer their Neo Arc city, which is built from a continuous surface confined in triangular shapes that operate synergistically with the city's program, as a recipe for tomorrow's city builders. This program includes not only the aforementioned residential and commercial areas, the transportation system and a water reservoir, but a sky pool, a sports arena and many public green spaces, or parks. Neo Arc also has levels of living intensity, from commercial through cultural and into residential, these latter the most private places where humans go to interact with their ecosphere at the end of a working day.

All Access Equipment has been named as the exclusive North American distributor for Italy-based CMC SRL. Under the agreement All Access Equipment, based in Massachusetts, USA will supply narrow access, crawler-mounted, self-propelled platforms under the brand name Crawlerlifts. Designed for demanding industrial settings, the heavy-duty Crawlerlift can travel through 36 inch doorways, and according to All Access Equipment, its new, simple controls improve on previous versions of this type of equipment.  Typical applications include tree services, window cleaning, utility maintenance, roofing and rental storage. Crawlerlifts are available in 50 to 105 feet working height. “The Crawler 78 model is particularly well suited for heavy duty usage, dirty environment applications, such as tree services and construction. With 79 feet of working height and 44 feet side reach, it is still capable of entering 36” doors/gates, climbing stairs, climbing steep slopes and set up in minutes in the most difficult locations,” said a company spokesman.

Opening the only bid for cleaning the common areas in the newly renovated Teton County Courthouse Annex, located in the former county shop south of the courthouse in Choteau. Big Sky Maintenance, a new company operated by Lyle and Terria Arps of Choteau, submitted the only bid, proposing to clean the common areas once a week on Tuesday evenings for $40 per week. This contract would apply to hallways, bathrooms and the meeting room. Office holders in the building would be responsible for cleaning their own spaces. The contract would also provide for carpet cleaning twice a year and regular window cleaning. The commissioners at their Sept. 20 meeting awarded the contract to Big Sky Maintenance.

Man was unable to leave his ex alone: A family man who could not cope with the end of his relationship bombarded his former partner with messages on Facebook, a court heard. Father-of-four John Hopps begged his ex-girlfriend to take him back and said he would never be able to cope with her being with anyone else. In one message on the social networking website, the window cleaner, 32, said: “I love you. Being without you is the worst time of my life.”

Teesside Crown Court heard that in July, this year, Hopps’ former partner was granted a court order to stop him harassing or contacting her. But within a month, he had breached the conditions twice with Facebook messages and by driving past her mother’s home. His barrister, Kieran Rainey, told Judge Simon Bourne-Arton that he has now come to accept that the relationship is over. Mr Rainey said: “Under the terms of the order, he did not realise that he should not have sent the rather sad begging letters that he did. “This is essentially a relationship that has come to a juddering end, very sadly so because there are four children involved. “It is simply now a case of finding a way to allow this family to work together.” Hopps, of Denmark Street, Darlington, admitted two breaches of a non-molestation order and was given a community order with unpaid work.

Spectrum Window Cleaning, One of London’s leading commercial window cleaning companies, today announced added capability to their high rise abseiling window cleaning division. The increase in investments further strengthens Spectrums ability to challenge the established commercial cleaning contractors in London. Spectrum’s new investment allows them to push the limits with reach and wash technology allowing them to access a height of 92 feet, and the ability of cleaning windows 8 floors from the ground. This latest announcement is hot on the heels of recent announcements by the company on acquiring a dead weight trolley system. Reach and wash technology especially customized by Spectrum firmly places the business alongside a handful of leading companies in London that can offer such high reach. The other practical benefit to customers and facilities managers is that window cleaners are specially trained in the use of the technology. Specialist training ensures that windows and building features are not damaged a key differentiator as the tools are placed in the hands of expert personnel who ensure that works are carried out in an efficient and least disruptive manner. 

Average day in Dubai caught on film by BBC: DUBAI - A personal shopper to the rich and famous and the people who keep the Middle East's first metro on track are among those featured in a BBC documentary spanning 24 hours in Dubai. The programme airs this weekend as part of the One Day In series, which features 12 cities worldwide including London and Mumbai. "Dubai is capitalism at breakneck speed," says the programme's narrator. "The city has an attitude that anything is possible." The show opens with a morning view of the city's distinctive skyline and the start of the working day for the Burj Al Arab's team of window cleaners, before describing the emirate as the "centre of luxury living in the world". Viewers then meet lifestyle consultant Derek Khan as he spends US$1 million (Dh3.67m) - given to him by one of India's richest men - on clothes and jewellery.

Unlicensed window cleaners in Dunblane: On Wednesday 26th September 2012 , during a joint operation with Dunblane community policing team and Stirling Council 2 males were traced operating as window cleaners in the Dunblane area. They have been charged accordingly and will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal at Stirling. The above Operation was designed to target bogus workmen and people who target the elderly and vunerable, persons who operate without the relevant licence have not vetted as one of the criteria for getting a licence is a background check is made. I would ask that if persons come to your door asking to sell items, clean windows or anything similar , please ask to see their ID and relevant licence.

Two friends go Stateside for Tough Mudder: Two friends who met at an Irvine church are set to go Stateside to compete in oneof the World’s toughest fitness contests. Joe Kelso, 26, and Grant Cameron, 30, have been selected for the Tough Mudder, New Jersey after meeting at Irvine’s Bridge Church. Joe and Grant, originally from south Ayrshire, were selected after competing with friends in the Dumfries Tough Mudder in July. Now the pair will head to New Jersey for the American version of the fitness endurance course on Saturday, November 17. Joe, a window cleaner and professional boxer, has been training hard for the event. He said: “I’ll usually train for six days a week - in the morning and in the evening.

This sort of competition is right up my street and the British one was phenomenal, so I’m really excited to head over to America to see what their version is like. “Financing this event will be tough too, as with flights and accommodation included, we’relooking upwards of £2000 each.” The Tough Mudder competition involves squads of competitors tackling a 12-mile long assault course withbarbed wire and electric fences. Designed by members of the British Special Forces, it claims to be the toughest event on the planet. The funds raised at Tough Mudder go towards supporting Help for Heroes – a charity that aids the soldiers from the armed forces.

A long way down: a two-man, two-ladders drill during Hook ladder training.

Hook Ladders: I came to London in 1972, after five years as a fireman in my native Yorkshire, and one of my first tasks was to master what, for me, was the biggest hurdle — hook ladders. These were so-called because of the curved bill at the top which clipped over window sills and enabled them to hang flush with the sides of buildings. Allan Grice recalls the time he had to rescue a working girl, 'Miss Correction' from a fire caused by a dissatisfied client. They were little used elsewhere, but in cities like London and Paris, where the hook ladders originated, they proved invaluable in narrow alleyways and closed courtyards inaccessible to any other type of ladder. By using two hook ladders and continually passing them above your head, one after the other, you could reach the hairiest of heights. On more than one occasion our station cook, Mary, would jump back in shock from the sink where she was peeling the spuds as we entered the canteen window head-first from hook ladders pitched from the High Street far below. With hook ladders, you had to get the transfer from one ladder to the other right because there were no safety nets. One slip and, as that famous Bolton steeplejack Fred Dibnah put it, you had a ‘half day out with the undertaker’. In later years, health-and-safety legislation would outlaw the use both of hook ladders and of real-life scenarios in practice drills, and more than a few would come to believe that we were worse off for these restrictions. In my day, if a senior officer arrived at a blaze and found crews directing a jet from the street when it was possible to get into the building and suppress the flames from within, they would feel his wrath, with shouts of ‘What’re yer doin’ — washing effing windows?’

False alarm sends firefighters to rescue window washer: Emergency crews rushed to rescue a window washer after someone reported he was stuck about 50 stories above the Loop this morning, but it turned out he didn't need any help, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Emergency crews were called to the high rise at 70 W. Madison St. at 11:45 a.m., according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight. Firefighters got to the scene and communicated with the worker, who said he was not in trouble, according to Knight, who initially said the worker had to be rescued. “He did not need assistance,’’ Knight said.

Angie's List: Get potential buyers in the door by spucing up the outside first: TAMPA - First impressions are everything, and that's no different for our homes. Having great curb appeal will add value to your home, whether it is on the market or you plan to stay forever. Your home’s interior is important when selling a home, but it’s the exterior that helps get potential buyers in the door. Angie's List founder Angie Hicks said, “Exterior home staging is a new phenomenon we are seeing on Angie’s List where companies will actually come out and be able to help you present your house in the best light, whether it's roof cleaning, help thinning out some landscaping - just really improving the curb appeal of your home.”

Curb appeal can make or break a deal. Some buyers may refuse to go inside a home if they do not like what they see on the outside. Real estate agent Mike Puckett has seen it first hand. “I had my house for sale and the people who bought my house actually said to me 'we were driving down the street and we saw your home and my wife said that’s the one I want!' without ever seeing the inside, that’s the one. It was because it was staged for my pleasure and for people in the neighborhood, but also to help sell the home.” Start with a clean house: The first step in achieving great curb appeal is to start with a clean house. Power-washing the exterior is a great way to remove any dirt, grime and moss that has accumulated. All of the windows should be clear and sparkling, and because some are hard to reach with a normal ladder, consider hiring a pro to help. Get into the gutters and the roof line to remove all dirt, leaves and branches.

Window cleaner stole from his customers: A burglar used his window cleaning round as a cover for breaking into people’s homes. In one of John Henson's raids he became involved in a violent struggle with a couple who returned home to find him searching their living room, Warwick Crown Court heard. The 28-year-old, of Wyken Croft, Coventry, pleaded guilty to four charges of burglary and asked for three more burglaries and three thefts to be taken into consideration. He was jailed for three years and order to serve an 18 week suspended sentence for a previous shoplifting offence. The court heard in one of the homes targeted by Henson on Armscott Road in Wyken Green in March the couple, both aged 69, tried to detain him, but he punched the woman before running off. Henson was arrested, but bailed after he denied any knowledge of the burglarly.

He went on to target homes on Ansley Road, Wyken; Newhall Road, Wyken Green; Lammerton Close, Wycliffe Road; North Street; Torcross Avenue and Tavistock Walk in the city. Henson, who had 30 convictions for theft, also stole an i-Phone from a shop in Avon Street after going there to sell the staff stolen make-up. Simon Hunka, defending, said the offences had been opportunistic by Henson, who had a drug problem, and his violence had been because he was scared and trying to get away. Recorder Richard Atkins QC told him: "If you commit offences like that you have to take the consequences."

Console and phone stolen: A Nintendo DS, an iPhone and some jewellery were stolen in a raid on a house in Fairburn. Burglars forced open a ground floor window to get into the property on Lunnfields Lane. The burglary happened on September 25 between 8.30am and 1.30pm. A police spokesman said a suspect was spotted looking into the window of the house at about the time of the burglary. He was challenged by a neighbour and claimed to be a window cleaner looking for work. He is described as a small build, 5’5” tall, with brown hair and black teeth. He was said to be wearing a green jacket, jeans and walking boots.

Window cleaner allegedly robs homes: Featured in this last week's Sheriff's Report are the burglaries of two homes in the Basin. A window cleaner is suspected of stealing an iPad and jewelry from the homes in which he was working. He denied the allegations when confronted by his employer, but has since failed to show up for work and has disconnected his phone. His employer plans to contact the homeowners concerning the stolen items.

Man guilty of repeated child sex attacks in the 1990s: A Glasgow man has been found guilty of a series of sex attacks on three children over 20 years ago. William Dennis, 46, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of raping a girl and two boys in the 1990's. The abuse began when all three were just two years old and continued for a number of years. The abuse was reported to police and Dennis was investigated in 1995 and 1996, but there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. It was only in 2010 after Dennis, a father of 13, of Cumbernauld Road, Glasgow, was questioned in relation to another matter that his three victims had the courage to come forward. Now aged 25, 23 and 22 they told how their childhoods were ruined by the abuse inflicted on them by Dennis. Advocate depute Sheena Fraser told the court: "The accused has a schedule of previous convictions." The court was told he works as a window cleaner. In evidence Dennis denied all the charges against him and claimed his three victims were part of a conspiracy against him.

Teen Girl Accused Of Trying To Kill Neighbor Boys With Toilet Cleaner Laced Brownies: An Australian teenage who is accused of trying to kill some neighbor boys with toilet cleaner brownies faces attempted murder charges. The Brisbane girl, 14, offered the homemade treats to a pair of brothers in an alleged attempt to kill the young men. She arrested and released on bail after being charged for attempting to pass off the toxic treats to the unnamed 12 and 13-year-old boys. During an interview with The Courier-Mail, the mother of the intended victim noted her sons only had a few bites before realizing the brownies did not taste right. The Australian mother had this to say during the interview: “They only had one bite, thank goodness. I’m just glad my younger one, who is 7, didn’t get given one. You could smell it … it was very strong.” The Australian newspaper also noted that the potentially deadly brownies were laced with both toilet and window cleaner.

Capital Safety relocates HQ to Bloomington from London: Capital Safety, a safety equipment company, announced Monday, Oct. 1, it is moving its world headquarters from London to offices in Bloomington. The move will shift about 12 workers to the Twin Cities area, and place them close to Capital Safety's primary manufacturing facility, which is located in Red Wing, company officials said. Its Red Wing plant employs about 450 people. Capital Safety manufacturers full-body harnesses, lifelines and other safety equipment, particularly for workers who have jobs in construction or who work in high places, such as window washers. "Moving the company's headquarters to Minnesota is a logical choice for us," Stephen Oswald, Capital Safety's CEO, said in a statement. "We already manufacture most of our products in the U.S., with the majority coming from our facility in Red Wing." Oswald added that "the new office will provide us with the flexibility and proximity we need to continue the successful global growth of our business."

The Oogieloves, a Guide: Watching the Biggest Box Office Fail of All Time: The Oogieloves live in a neat home featuring a talking window named, “Windy.” When prompted with the chant of “1 … 2 … 1 … 2 … 3, Windy Window what do you see?” the kindly pane offers a view of what’s outside. The movie’s great skill is bombarding us with obnoxiously repetitive, hooky songs that will override any important knowledge. I no longer know my mother-in-law’s birthday but I can hum “The Oogielove Dance.”

Sailors await resolution in prostitution scandal: Six months after members of the U.S. military and the Secret Service were embroiled in a prostitution scandal in Colombia, two Navy sailors have been stripped of their security clearances and pulled off their regular jobs, but they have yet to be charged. U.S. Southern Command says the investigation surrounding the two sailors is still going on, but a lawyer for one of the sailors says it shouldn't take this long to reach a decision. Charges were read against all the other military members allegedly involved two months ago. The lawyer is arguing that the sailor, David Hawley, was not around at the time that Secret Service and other members of the U.S. military were supposedly soliciting prostitutes in Cartagena. Hawley has been banished to washing windows and picking weeds at his command." The military would not confirm Monday what Hawley's duties are or where he is.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON, NORTH MAIN STREET: A Key bank employee reported about 8:15 a.m. October 4 there was a man in a parked van facing and staring at the rear entrance of Key Bank. Police checked it out and learned the man was an employee of a window washing company.

Competitive games highlight Custodial Appreciation Day: UW-Whitewater held its second Custodial Appreciation Day last week in the Hamilton Room of the University Center. Custodial employees played competitive games for prizes and recieved a free lunch. The event was part of the International Executive Housekeeper’s Appreciation Week, which celebrates custodial and janitorial workers across the country. Last year, the University Center and Residence Life hosted the event, but after a proposal this year, Facilities Planning and Management took over as host. “This is an opportunity to recognize the staff [and] tell them that they have done well and that we all appreciate what they do,” Custodial Services Supervisor Alan Goytowski said. During the week, thank you cards, as well as chocolate bars, were delivered to custodial employees on campus.

The hosts of the event took tasks that  custodial and janitorial workers see on a day-to-day basis and turned them into fun, team-based games that employees enjoy. Games held during the Custodial Appreciation Day included window cleaning, a vacuum relay race and a toilet roll toss. The winners of each event were awarded key chains, T-shirts and other small prizes. The grand prize this year was a year-long membership to the Williams Center. All of the activities were held in the Hamilton Room in the University Center, and there was a large turnout as nearly two-thirds of the entire custodial staff attended the event. Jim Zink said the event expressed how grateful students and staff are for all the hard work the custodial staff puts in.

Buhl Pride Project Underway: (Buhl, Idaho) Volunteers including youth, parents, seniors, and area leaders participated in Buhl pride project today. It involved commercial window washing in the downtown business district between Broadway and Main Street. The project is to create a positive image that will enhance community pride and improve consumer and business owner confidence in Buhl’s downtown business district. "The project doesn't just go in the fall when we are cleaning windows and sweeping rocks but it also goes into later in the fall were we clean up leaves not only just downtown but the whole city” Larry Hall Coordinator, S.I.E.D.O. More than 60-businesses received free window washing and clean sidewalks.