Window Cleaning Rescues & Suspicious Deaths

The aerial ladder platform (ALP) that was brought by the department of fire and emergency services to rescue us looked like a toy from the 22nd floor where we were stranded for almost 10 hours. "The emergency services personnel and others watching us from the ground floor looked so tiny," recalled Akbar Hussain, 22, one of the two window cleaners who were stuck outside the World Trade Centre in Yeshwanthpur for a large part of Monday evening.

Window cleaners stuck outside 22nd floor rescued after 9-hour operation (Yeshwantpur, Bangalore): Duo were dangling more than 200 feet above the ground in an open-air platform for nearly nine hours before being rescued by Fire Department. Dangling in an open-air platform more than 200 feet above the ground, two labourers clung on to dear life for nearly nine hours while rescue teams figured a way to extract them to safety. The window-cleaners were stuck outside the 22nd floor of the World Trade Centre at Yeshwantpur.

Wasim Ahmed and Akbar Hussain were stranded while working in the WTC at Yeshwantpur on Monday.

Wasim Ahmed and Akbar Hussain – from Uttar Pradesh – were lowered from the roof of the 32-storey building on a pedestal at 8 a.m. in a day-long exercise to clean the glass façade of the tower that houses numerous multi-national companies and consulates. The pedestal was being manoeuvred by a machine. Around noon, the apparatus got stuck at the 22nd floor. Their colleagues tried to fix the machine, but failed. Then they tried to hoist them to the roof, but did not succeed.

When all efforts to rescue the duo failed, the Fire and Emergency Services personnel were alerted. By then, it was 5.45 p.m. The extendable ladders of the two fire tenders fell short by a long margin. The ladders could reach a height of 175 feet. Wasim says, “We were stuck for nearly nine hours and were scared out of our minds. It was a long way down. But, we were confident that the wires holding the pedestal would not break. The fact that it was only the machine that was malfunctioning and there was no problem with the ropes gave us some measure of confidence.”

Eventually around 9 p.m., officials broke glass panes on the 22nd floor and pulled the duo to safety. A police officer, who was part of the rescue operation, said, “The glass had to be broken carefully to ensure neither the duo nor those below were injured during the process. The pieces would be blown a little distance by the wind – which is dangerous as the complex houses a mall – before they hit the ground.” An official of the Fire Department said the duo were not wearing helmets or safety gear. More detail here.

Window cleaner trapped on platform outside Canberra building: A window cleaner and a mechanic had to call the fire brigade for help when they became trapped on a raised platform in Canberra on Saturday morning. The men were working on the fourth floor on the top of a building on Constitution Avenue, in Campbell, when the platform stopped moving. They called triple zero shortly after 7am.

The Emergency Services Agency said it sent the ambulance, a pumper and the Bronto Aerial Platform to help. "A firefighter was able to fix the mechanical issue of the hydraulic platform they were working on," the agency said in a statement. "ACT Fire & Rescue did not have to use its Bronto Aerial Platform. The two men have been safely lowered to the ground." No one was hurt in the incident.

He had no identification on him but now, nearly two weeks later, the OPD has identified the man as Fallbrook resident, window cleaner, Mark Andrew Slaughter, 45.

Death of Fallbrook man called ‘suspicious’ (OCEANSIDE): A man found injured on an Oceanside bike path on New Year’s Day and later died was identified Wednesday as a Fallbrook resident. Mark Andrew Slaughter, 45, died under what police are investigating as suspicious, Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Cosby said. Slaughter was found along a bike path on South Coast Highway, near Eaton Street, about 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 1, police said. He had head and face injuries, and was taken to a hospital. He died a short time later.

Cosby said an autopsy was conducted but the Medical Examiner’s Office was not able to determine what caused Slaughter’s head injuries or what caused his death. Internet sites show Mark Slaughter as owner of Focus Window Cleaning Service in Fallbrook. Investigators are asking that anyone with information about the case or about Slaughter’s movements on Jan. 1 call them at (760) 435-4892.

Police cover the body of a domestic helper who fell out of the window of an apartment in Kowloon City on Wednesday.

Indonesian maid falls to death in window-cleaning accident: An Indonesian maid fell to her death on Wednesday when she was apparently doing some cleaning work at a window of an apartment in Kowloon City. The domestic helper, a 21-year-old who bears the first name Titik, came to Hong Kong just two months ago, according to Ming Pao Daily. The accident took place at midday at a building named Elite House on Argyle Street.

A security guard said he rushed outside the building after hearing a loud thud. He saw a woman lying on the ground unconscious, prompting him to immediately call the police. When the police and medical personnel arrived, they pronounced the woman dead on the scene. Blood stains and broken pieces of a flower pot were found on the floor. The police didn’t find any suicide note on the person or inside the flat, leading them to believe that the maid may have fallen from the window accidentally.

Cheung Kit-man, chairman of Hong Kong Employment Agencies Association, said that in the past two years there had been a total of fourteen cases of domestic workers falling out of windows. Domestic workers are often not careful, he said, noting that some maids tend to lean way too out from windows when cleaning. Under current law, the Hong Kong government requires an employer to buy insurance for their foreign domestic workers. Family members of the maid are eligible for compensation, and the cost of transferring the body back to homeland will also be covered.

Spate of suicides in China still largely unexplained: The unnatural deaths of seven government officials in less than a month have raised concerns among members of the public, as the causes of some of the deaths have not been explained. Yang Xiaojun, a law professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said only limited information has been provided from official sources, and it’s not sufficient to stop the public from speculating. He said he believes the results of investigations into the deaths are a matter of public concern and that governmental departments need to explain the causes in a timely manner.

Earlier this year, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee issued a notice requiring the public release of detailed information about deceased officials. According to a report in Southern Weekly, 112 officials committed suicide from August 2003 to April 2014, with 39 percent of those dying in their offices, 33 percent at home and the rest at parks or clubs. Hao Zhuang, security chief in Jiaohe, Jilin province, died after falling from the window of his sixth-floor office on Monday morning. The local government made a statement, saying Hao fell from the window accidentally when he was cleaning the window glass and died of critical injuries despite emergency medical treatment. No other details were available.

Also on Monday, Wang Jinwei, 50, head of the finance bureau of Enshi, Hubei province, died after falling from the roof of the residential building where he lived. No explanation for his death has been released. According to a report by Legal Evening News, officials who died of unnatural causes recently include Xiao Wensun, mayor of Liuzhou in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, who drowned in a river on Nov 4; Zhang Jianwei, head of the disciplinary department of China Nation Offshore Oil Corporation, who died in his office on Nov 3; Wang Pin’gang, senior vice-president of China Shenhua Energy Co, who died on Oct 29, the same day the former head of the land and resources department in Xiamen, Fujian province, surnamed Lin, hanged himself in a park; and Chen Hongqiao, president of Guosen Securities, who committed suicide at his home on Oct 23.

Window Cleaning News

Recently I came across these pictures taken by Father Ted Bobosh, an Orthodox Priest who visited Bellevue last Fall. What he captured gave a somber and sometimes lonely look of the city we see day in and day out. I was struck by the amount of feeling there was in each shot, despite the fact that the subject matter seemed detached from the world around it. Maybe he showed up at just the right time; as a visitor to our city he was able to see Bellevue from a different perspective, and during some weather conditions that occur less often than rain. Fr. Ted also captured a window washer plying his trade. Backed by mirrors and metal, the worker simply stood out

A grieving mum has been hit with a £250,000 lawsuit over the accident which killed the father of her two young sons. Wendy Smith has been served with court papers more than three years after her window cleaner partner Eddy Kostka lost his life. Eddy, 30, died in a head-on crash in Ballingry, Fife, in June 2008, leaving Wendy to bring up sons Kevin, 10, and seven-year-old Korrare, alone. The car he was driving ploughed into care worker Claire King, 29, leaving her with a broken leg and arm – but Eddy was not insured. Wendy, 33, of Glenrothes, Fife, said: “I got such a shock when sheriff officers served me the papers. It brought back the whole nightmare – losing Eddy, having to tell our little boys that their dad wasn’t coming home. “Eddy and I weren’t married. He had no will, no insurance and little more than the clothes he stood in.

A volunteer who goes the extra mile to support his community has been recognised with an award. Chris Miles, from Sherburn, was presented with the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator of the Year Award, sponsored by Safer Ryedale, after being described as always enthusiastic and willing to be involved in any matters which benefit the community of Sherburn. The award was presented by Assistant Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police Sue Cross at the Neighbourhood Watch annual general meeting in Malton. Chris, who is a self-employed window cleaner, is the co-ordinator for the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Sherburn. Steve Law, lead co-ordinator, said: “It is accepted that crime levels reduce when there is an active scheme in place and the fear of crime improves when people know what is going on in their area and how to seek help and support.”

Quake-weary couple moving north: Christchurch couple Carmel and Max Ellis who have recently bought their dream home in Mahana in rural Tasman, were back in Christchurch yesterday tying up loose ends before relocating permanently. Mrs Ellis said just seconds before the second large quake hit at around 3.19pm yesterday, they were sick of what was happening and were among many broken-spirited people who just wanted to get out. "We all thought we were over this. We thought life would go on." Mrs Ellis said the first quake – an 8km deep magnitude 5.8 shake centred 20km northeast of Lyttelton which struck at 1.58pm, went on for a long time and "shook quite a bit". Mrs Ellis, who had been working in a school office in Papanui, said she did not have a job to come to but her husband planned to re-establish the window-cleaning business he was now winding up in Christchurch. "Unless you've experienced something like this you've no idea how bad it is." The Ellises planned to be set up in their new home in Mahana by February.

Christchurch Police are again urging residents to look out for suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods - and check the authenticity of contractors or officials knocking on their door. Southern Area Commander Inspector Malcolm Johnston says the holiday season often brings with it an increase in reports of suspicious activity. "Sadly, we're continuing to see examples of people preying on the vulnerability of others and taking advantage of the difficult circumstances many people find themselves in." Recent incidents reported to Police include possible bogus contractors and earthquake repair officials, as well as reports of people visiting households on phony pretexts. "In the past couple of weeks we've had reports of a resident who took two men through their house before realising they probably weren't the earthquake repair officials they were expecting. "On another occasion two men in high-vis vests were seen inspecting a property which had previously been fully assessed. The resident did the right things and contacted EQC who said they didn't have any inspectors in the area." Inspector Johnston says residents should remember that a high-vis vest is no guarantee of authenticity. "Don't be afraid to ask people for ID - if they're genuine they will be more than happy to provide this. "And if you're not sure whether callers are genuine, follow up with the organisation - give them a call and ask for verification that the people are who they say they are."

Inspector Johnston says bogus contractors can also cause concern for residents and Police. "Most contractors are genuine and we have no issues with them. But there's a minority of dodgy contractors who do cause problems - these could be tree surgeons, lawn mowing contractors, window washers and the like. "Problems include residents being intimidated and bullied into agreeing to have work carried out, contractors who over-charge for services or bill for services not carried out. "And in some cases, criminals may be using contracting enquiries as a front for casing a property. "Our advice to residents is don't hesitate to say 'no' to contractors who come knocking on your door, and if you suspect dishonest or criminal activity then call the police immediately." Other reports from residents include strangers knocking on doors and making unexpected enquiries about items for sale, lost pets or children. "A common tactic is for a person to ask if Joe Smith, or some other dubious name, is home, or if this is where they live. "Another approach is for people to knock on the door and ask the resident if this address is number such-and-such, when it's in fact a different number. "In most of these types of cases the caller is bogus - what they're doing is checking to see if anyone is home, and identifying the house as a potential burglary target.

When Hurricane Irene struck Manville in August, the offices of S&G Cleaning Services were submerged under 12 feet of flood water. We lost just about everything, says Shirley Perlinsky, who operates the family owned business specializing in home and office cleaning and maid service. Determined to continue the business she had worked so hard to establish and expand, Perlinsky operated from her home for four months while awaiting assistance from FEMA. Finally, on December 6, S&G Cleaning Services moved into new offices on Ilene Court in Hillsborough.

We were devastated when the floods destroyed our offices in Manville, says Perlinsky. But now we are thrilled and excited to be located in Hillsborough and looking forward to serving the community. S&G Cleaning Services uses only environmentally friendly green cleaning products and serves clients throughout Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex and Union Counties, providing commercial office cleaning and construction cleanup services as well as residential cleaning. The company offers a variety of services, including window cleaning, carpet cleaning, floor stripping, waxing and buffing, post construction cleanup and cleanouts.

Besides giving us an opportunity to move to Hillsborough, one other good thing came with Irene, says Perlinsky. It inspired us to become certified in water damage cleanup, so we can now offer help to other victims of the flooding. The company has a strong tradition of giving back to the community. S&G Cleaning Services is an active member of the Cleaning For A Reason Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing the gift of a clean home to women undergoing treatment for cancer, says Perlinsky. We provide free cleaning services through the Foundation once a month for four months. We have a passion for our jobs.

Nightmare neighbours could lose more than £500 a year in benefits under a pioneering council plan. More than 23,000 people in Westminster have been warned their council tax benefit in future is likely to be linked to how they act. The central London council is the first to consider reducing or taking away benefits from those causing a nuisance to society. More local authorities are expected to draw up similar plans to tackle anti-social behaviour as they prepare to take full control of council tax benefit from 2013. Under the Westminster plan, an average household could see its benefit reduced by anything between £56 and £560, depending on the seriousness of any misbehaviour. Westminster is also considering docking the council tax benefits of people who are not making an effort to get a job. Cllr Roe said that for every Westminster resident on council tax benefits, there were 'seven vacancies in low-skilled jobs like shelf-stacking, waitressing and window cleaning'.

The sole trader: I'm a sole trader who runs a window cleaning business, and many of my customers pay me by cheque. What am I going to do?

Miles Brignall: This group is expected to see the biggest impact when cheques disappear in 2018, not least because many won't be able to invest in the technology the industry is relying on taking over from cheques. Sole traders tend to take cheques from individuals they may not see from one year to the next, and while their younger customers will probably be happy to adopt alternative forms of payment, their older clients will struggle after 2018.
Credit card company Visa Europe says it is working on a mobile-to-mobile payment system. Users could either pre-load their phones with a cash balance, or pre-register it to their debit or credit card. If you need to pay a window cleaner after he has finished doing the house, simply send him a text, and the money instantly moves from your account and into his. Great for those who have mobiles, but not so good for those who don't, who will have to pay in cash, or ring up their bank to make money transfer.
It's a similar story with the internet. PayPal already lets individuals move money via the email system. A PayPal customer sending a friend (or window cleaner) the money simply logs on the PayPal site, and, two clicks of a mouse later, the money arrives in his account.
Movements from a PayPal account linked to a bank account incur no charge, while those registered to a credit card face a 3.4% charge, plus 20p. If the window cleaner wanted to set up a PayPal business account, he would pick up the transaction charges, which fall in size, as the number of transactions grows. However, it will probably cost less than operating a business bank account, which charge businesses to deposit cheques.
For example, HSBC's fee-free business direct account lets holders pay in up to 20 cheques a month, after that they cost 75p each. Other business accounts charge anywhere between 30p and 60p, but these incur monthly charges.

TA soldier who shot suspected Taliban bomber in murder investigation: When Fusilier Duane Knott volunteered to serve with the Territorial Army in Afghanistan at the age of 24, it was the fulfilment of a boyhood dream. He had spent years working in a factory and cleaning windows in Caerphilly, south Wales, while undergoing training at weekends so that he could fight in the war. But 15 months after his return from Afghanistan he faces a possible murder charge over the shooting of a suspected Taliban bomber. Fusilier Knott has spent most of his life in Caerphilly. His real ambition was to be a soldier. After leaving college he joined the regular army in 2005 but dropped out after four-and-a-half months of basic training – a decision he describes as “the biggest mistake of my life”. He waited a year before joining the TA and then spent years working in a factory and as a window cleaner before passing his initial training.

NJ cop beaten in brawl caught on tape after Winter Classic hockey game: The fight was recorded on a cell phone and initially put on YouTube, but later taken down because it was considered too shocking and violent, reports CBS Philadelphia. However, Philadelphia police on Wednesday released an edited version of the video, which ends with a Rangers fan lying stunned on the street. Police say the brawl began with some Flyers fans stopping a window-washer who happened to be passing by, reports CBS Philadelphia. Capt. Laurence Nodiff with the Philadelphia Police Department reportedly explained that they, "Gave him a couple bucks and said, 'Hey go over to those Rangers fans and squirt some water in their faces.' Apparently, he goes over and squirts some water and they jump up and the guy runs away."

Don Aslett, who founded the Museum of Clean in Pocatello, Idaho, is shown at a window-washing exhibit. Among the items in the $6 million museum are a horse-drawn vacuum dating to 1902 and a 1,600-year-old bronze pick used to clean teeth. Don Aslett may be more than a half century into his fight against dirt and clutter, but he still can't take a stroll without bending to pick up litter from the sidewalk. Aslett started speaking publicly and writing cleaning handbooks with titles such as, "Is There Life After Housework?" and "Clutter's Last Stand." His personal monikers have included the Dean of Clean, the Sultan of Shine and, who could ever forget, Don Juan of the John. More on Don here.

During a recent tour, Aslett stopped to clean a window display inside a children's play area. His squeegee glided across glass in a quick flurry of sweeping strokes, like an artist painting a canvas. "That's how the professionals do it," Aslett said, leaning back to admire his work. He would know. Aslett first marketed himself as professional cleaner when he was 19 and attending Idaho State University in the 1950s. He charged $1.25 an hour and recalls that his first job cleaning around a furnace took him 56 minutes. He was paid $1.18, an amount of money he keeps framed on his office wall. "I thought, it's going to be a tough road after this," Aslett said. But by the time he graduated, Aslett had launched a construction, facility-services and janitorial company that employed about 500 and had branches in three states. Varsity Contractors now boasts annual sales of $100 million.

Man Lift Manufacturing Co., a Cudahy manufacturer of mobile hydraulic equipment for specialty markets and hazardous environments, has named Phil Sprio president and CEO effective immediately. Sprio succeeds Jeff Bailey, who founded the company in 2000. Bailey will continue his involvement in the design and engineering of custom lifts for Man Lift’s worldwide customers. Universal Manufacturing acquired Man Lift in December 2010. Man Lift serves customers in the aerospace, defense, aircraft manufacture, aircraft maintenance, food, chemical, tree care, window cleaning, and oil and gas industries.

Chicago-based The Millard Group, a national leader in the janitorial services industry, announced today that it has acquired Preferred Landscape and Lighting of San Antonio, Texas. The two companies have complementary customer bases and service niches, and with the addition of Preferred's capabilities to its core business offering, The Millard Group will integrate services in both horizontal and vertical platforms to strategically grow its business. Preferred Landscape and Lighting employs 80 people and is well-recognized throughout Texas for its commercial landscape maintenance, lighting and holiday decorating services. The Millard Group provides janitorial, window cleaning, and architectural metal and stone maintenance services to commercial clients throughout the US.

A countrywide handyman and gardening service will be officially launched this week. The Age UK Northumberland service has been building steadily since July, but will be formally opened tomorrow by Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery. The scheme aims to offer quality workmanship and value for money to enable customers to feel safe and be able to report a number of jobs to a single contact. Services offered include painting, window cleaning, high pressure cleaning, laying of patios, drain unblocking, path clearance, basic home security, lawn mowing, erecting fencing, changing lightbulbs and assembling flat-pack furniture. Age UK Northumberland Day Services Development Manager Elizabeth Simpson said: “We are very excited about the prospects for our handyman and gardening service. “Feedback we have received so far in the few months that it has been operating has been excellent. “Customers like the idea of getting a service from a well-respected name that they can trust and from staff who they know have been fully trained and checked.

Young vandals ordered to put Somerset factory damage right: A gang of youths who broke into a Castle Cary factory have been ordered to make amends by washing site windows and picking up rubbish by a restorative justice panel. A three-month police campaign which tracked down 14 children involved with causing £1,000 of damage to the Torbay Road factory ended last month.

Los Angeles Times ran a tribute written by Joe Saltzman of the USC Annenberg School for Ted Tajima, a high school teacher who encouraged Saltzman to attend USC, even after a counselor told Saltzman he was destined to be a window cleaner. "He came back and told me that together, we would work to get me into the best school of journalism on the West Coast -- the University of Southern California -- and with a scholarship as well," Saltzman wrote. "And he made it happen."

Glasgow MSPs spent one third of a million pounds in expenses last year, according to the latest figures. Taxi trips of half a mile, window cleaning bills of £1800, and minibus hire at almost £5000 feature in the claims. The four highest expenses claimants were Labour MSPs who all lost their seats at the last election, while the four lowest either held their seats or won a constituency after being a list MSP. Claims from Glasgow politicians ranged from a low of £14,700 to a high of £27,782. The Parliament was billed for hotel stays in Edinburgh , rail tickets and taxi fares among other things. One MSP claimed £150 a month for window cleaning.

Maintenance firm Greenscape has won a £190,000 contract to look after the grounds of 125 housing estates in the West Midlands and Shropshire. The estates are managed by Birmingham-based Mercian Housing Association, which provides more than 3,400 affordable homes to families across the region. Greenscape, based in Wednesbury, West Midlands, provides a range of services to not-for-profit organisations and private firms across the west Midlands. Its services range from window cleaning, gardening and landscaping to repairs and maintenance. The company is the estate services division of Accord Housing Association, and offers its services to other housing associations, commercial enterprises, community associations, local authorities and individuals. The firm employs 50 people and turned over more than £1 million for the first time since it was formed 26 years ago.

Mark Sheppard has endured 11 operations this year since being diagnosed with a life-threatening tumour in January. And though it’s not cancerous, the growth, has left him in almost constant pain and with a shunt in his head to drain fluid from his skull. Dad Chris Benny, 26, said: “We are trying to make Christmas special. He deserves.” Mum Michelle Gallagher, 25, said: “We don’t know what the future holds for Mark. “We are hoping they will tell us the tumour has shrunk but it could have grown. “We’ve had a hard year. Every day is a bonus.” Chris, a window cleaner, said: “I felt as if my world collapsed. I should be here to protect him, and there’s nothing I can do except support him. “We asked what his life expectancy is and they said they don’t know.” St Monica’s Primary pupil Mark was rushed to the Southern General by ambulance, and went into theatre within hours. But surgeons were unable to remove more than 10% of the tumour, which was the size of a melon, on his pituitary gland, which controls hormones and sits just behind the nose. The operation lasted for nine hours and Mark almost died after suffering a haemorrhage from a burst blood vessel. He pulled through – though spent months in hospital. Mark has needed 10 further ops to install and replace a ‘shunt’ in his head to drain the fluid from a related condition called hydrocephalus, which means water on the brain.

A dad has told of his toddler daughter's incredible courage after she was struck by a rare cancer. Proud Kurt Boyce praised three-year-old Millie, saying that despite losing her sight: "She is the happiest little girl I've ever known." Both of Millie's eyes had to be removed to save her life. But window cleaner Kurt, 24, said: "Millie has been absolutely amazing throughout the whole thing — she has been very brave." And her mum Steph, 21, added at their home in Weoley Castle, Birmingham: "Despite everything she is very positive about the future.

She is determined to have a fulfilled life and smiles all the time." Millie was born healthy but was diagnosed as a baby with bilateral retinoblastoma, a tumour of the retina. The condition, which affects just 40 to 50 children in Britain each year, was first noticed when she developed a squint at three months. Later she began to walk into walls and have trouble finding her toys.

Soon her right eye began to resemble a transparent ball and despite chemotherapy, which left her sick and withdrawn, it was too late to save her sight. Both her eyes have now been replaced with prosthetic ones the same shade of blue. Steph added: "If I could have one wish it would be for Millie to be able to see again, even for an hour. "She would have loved seeing all the bright lights and shiny gift wrapping at Christmas."

Thame mourns for Ben the window cleaner: The town is today mourning the sad passing of one of its favourite sons. Ben Guest died on Wednesday evening after suffering from a seizure. Ben, who worked as a window cleaner, was a familiar and much-loved Thame man best known for his work fundraising for charity. He was a regular sight on the high street with his bucket and ladder and cheery countenance. Ben will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time.

Door explosion shock for Market Bosworth woman: An elderly woman has been left shaken by the inexplicable explosion of her glass shower door. Edna Lord and her daughter Heather Henson didn’t know what was happening when a loud blast and the sound of shattering glass filled their home. The pair from Market Bosworth had been watching TV in the room next to Edna’s annexe when the bizarre explosion happened, causing the family to think the house had been attacked. But when they went in search of a smashed window, they couldn’t believe what they were seeing - the glass shower door had exploded, covering all of the bathroom’s surfaces and floor with sharp chunks of glass. The bizarre incident happened four years after the shower screen was installed in the bathroom and was made by a company that no longer exists.

Although rare, there are frightening examples of this happening around the world and instances where people have been badly cut by the shattering glass. Heather added: “I didn’t understand what I was seeing at first, it was quite a shock. “We’re just relieved that no-one has been hurt but people do need to be aware that these glass doors can explode for no reason.” Reasons that have been attributed to shower screens smashing in the past include the panels not being correctly installed, cracks and damage caused by opening and closing the door.

I am firing the help. The lawn guy, the pool guy, the gutter guy, the tree-trimming guy, the window-cleaning guy and the cleaning lady all buy us time, but to do what? Too often, it's to grab another beer and play Angry Birds. Yet as Tom Sawyer knew, home maintenance can be entertaining as well as a good workout if we trick ourselves into thinking it's fun.

A self-employed window washer too embarrassed to have his name in the paper said he can't afford salt for his driveway - and can't afford to fall. After two knee replacements, the 62-year-old said he wasn't able to earn enough this summer to cover his winter bills. "I try to live on what I saved during the year," he said. "This year I ain't got it. It just ain't there." He worries he won't be able to heat his mobile home, though he's reluctant to apply for heating assistance.

Ventura author gives life to Melvin Beederman Superhero: The Ventura resident grew up in a family with all boys and while he loved movies, it wasn't a literary household. "I was a lifelong nonreader," said Trine, the author of a successful children's book series called Melvin Beederman Superhero. "I didn't really pick it up until after college." Trine, 53, was in Camarillo last weekend signing copies of the eight Melvin Beederman books at Mrs. Figs' Bookworm on Daily Drive. His story is an unlikely one. Picking up writing almost as an afterthought, he started writing short fiction and pitching it to children's and teen magazines such as Highlights, among others. "There were 12 years of rejection in there," said Trine. "I did a novel, but that didn't work out." A window cleaner by trade, the CSU Northridge graduate found writing children's stories more appealing. 

Discount scheme offers savings: More than 60 businesses have signed up for a new customer discount scheme in East Northamptonshire and Wellingborough. The Local Discount Network offers savings on a variety of products and services, from restaurants and hairdressers to florists, car repairs estate agents, printing, photography, driving instructors, window cleaners and carpet fitters. A spokesman for the scheme said: “The Local Discount Network has been created to reward people for their community loyalty. Just show your discount card to take advantages of some amazing deals and offers throughout your local shops and businesses. “Right now what we’re hearing from families all around the local community is that almost everybody’s household budget is under pressure and everybody would like a little help with everyday living essentials and some affordable treats.” Businesses which sign up for the scheme receive free advertising in return for offering local discount network card holders a special rate or an offer that save them a bit of money. A £1 donation is made to the Irthlingborough animal sanctuary Nanna for every discount card sold.

Jerry Davich: ‘Resume 101’ workshop finally a reality: Finally, after several weeks of delays, logistical problems and, ahem, laziness on my part, I have nailed down a date and location for my “Resume 101” workshop. The free workshop is for anyone who’s unemployed, underemployed or simply looking to upgrade their career status or boost their resume and job-seeking skills. These days, such criteria describe thousands of Northwest Indiana residents, from what I hear. This workshop stems from my Labor Day column, which attempted to find jobs for a handful of unemployed readers. And it worked, for a few of them, partly because of the help they received to improve their woeful resumes. Miriam Williams, a career counselor at Indiana University Northwest, has generously offered to host the workshop. She is the same person who helped review the Labor Day job candidates’ resumes and provide feedback for their search. Also taking part in the workshop, from an employer’s perspective, will be Don Markovich, owner of Bren-Mark Window Cleaning Service in Valparaiso, and Candy Smith, the company’s operations manager. They will offer expert — and no-nonsense — advice on what they look for when going through hundreds of job applications and face-to-face interviews each year. This feedback should be invaluable for job-seekers who often leave a job interview wondering what employers thought of them.

Remembering those who passed in 2011 - A window-cleaning business started at Wroxham by Charles Bizley, 95, became one of the country’s largest specialist contractors. He started cleaning windows in April 1946 and within 30 years was employing 1,500 staff across East Anglia.

Occupy UC Davis Cleanup & Repair Cost $8,500: In a Dec. 11 article, The Davis Enterprise quoted Bernie Goldsmith, described as a local attorney active with the protesters, as saying the occupiers would “broom-clean” the building and hire a professional window cleaner. But the window cleaning apparently never happened, Carmichael said, leaving Facilities Management with the task of removing all the tape that the occupiers had used to hang up posters.

Trouble sleeping and issues with noise irritation emerged as two of the factors that led a 77-year-old Ham man to take his own life, a coroner has heard. Trevor Morgan, of Cavendish House, Ham Close, was found dead at the bottom of his split level flat’s stairs on Wednesday, September 23, after his son became worried after not hearing from him for several days. At an inquest into Mr Morgan’s death on Thursday, December 8, a coroner ruled the retired window cleaner had taken his own life. Mr Morgan was found in his flat by police. There were empty blister packets of sleeping pill Zopiclone, Paracetamol and brandy found in the flat, as well as a suicide note. The note, addressed to his son Paul, read: “I leave all to my son Paul Morgan who is in Hollesley, Suffolk. Sorry son I cannot stand no more music from [a neighbouring flat]. “You know where everything is. Love dad.”

The impressive career of a designer from Rickmansworth has been recognised with an MBE in the New Years Honours list for his services to Architectural Stained Glass. Alfred Fisher, of The Highland, has created windows for Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey during his 61 years in the trade. The 78-year-old said: “I was astonished - the award came completely out of the blue and had never entered my wildest dreams. “It is so nice to be recognised - I just try to do the best I can.” Despite being told by his colleagues that he wouldn’t last two weeks in the industry aged 17, the talented designer stuck to it and quickly fell in love with the skill. 

Scotland’s Maryhill Burgh Hall with World’s First Ever Interactive Stained Glass Window: Maryhill Burgh Halls, Glasgow reveals the world’s first ever interactive stained glass window. You can scan the 2D barcode in the window using a smartphone, and you are taken to a webpage explaining the designs and given information about the glass. While the new glass is as modern as it can be, stained glass in Maryhill has a long history to narrate. It was in 1878, the then Burgh commissioned twenty stained glass windows to showcase the trades and industries of Maryhill. They were designed by the artist Stephen Adam, and have become known as the crown jewels of Maryhill. The Scotish Tours to the area can get you into the detailed historic experience of Maryhill Burgh Hall and around.

Door-to-door sales: Each year a variety of unscrupulous door-to-door salespeople use high pressure sales tactics to frighten people into purchasing expensive, substandard – often unneeded products and services. Be wary of overly aggressive sales people selling everything from alarm systems to vacuums and air purifiers, as well as roofing, paving, window washing, painting, plumbing, heating, repair and landscaping services. QUICK TIP: Don’t give in to high pressure sales tactics. If you feel threatened by an aggressive salesperson, ask them to leave your property. If they refuse, call the police. Before making any purchase, do your due diligence, getting the name and location of the company and ensuring all details and verbal promises are included in a contract.

New Zealand Window Cleaners "Casing The Joint?"

Window cleaning burglary warning: Burglars may be using a new tactic by posing as neighbourhood window cleaners. Police are concerned about the motives of a group of people who have been knocking on doors in the eastern suburbs and asking if the homeowners want their windows cleaned. An elderly man in South Brighton accepted and had his windows cleaned for $25. But another householder rang police on Saturday because he was suspicious of the man who knocked on his door.

The window cleaner appeared to have associates in a car which was parked nearby. Acting sergeant Simon Mooney said the people approaching householders could be casing properties to see if the owners were home, even though they had window cleaning equipment. Police were aware residents in Collingwood St and Union St, South Brighton, had been approached. There could have been approaches to people in other streets police weren't aware of.

There had been burglaries in South Brighton but it was not known if they were connected to the window cleaners. Acting sergeant Mooney said it was common for burglars to knock on a door first to see if someone was home before breaking in. If someone was home, the would-be burglar would have a plausible reason for being there. They would say they were looking for a dog or a person.

Acting sergeant Mooney said if people suspected there was something sinister behind a door-knock, they should contact police. "Anyone that comes knocking on your door, if they don't sense something right about them, ask them to leave. Don't let them inside the house."

Christchurch police are urging caution over door-to-door window cleaners. A group of men have been approaching householders offering to clean windows in the New Brighton area but have also been seen later observing the properties Area Commander Inspector Dave Lawry said police were concerned the men are trying to identify empty or vulnerable homes. Inspector Lawry said the men don't appear to be linked to any recognised cleaning company. "Police are aware of this group and will be keeping a close watch on their activities," he said.  "They do not appear to be linked to any recognised cleaning company, and seemed to be approaching local properties at random." Inspector Lawry urged householders to be cautious about who they let onto their properties, ask any door-to-door window cleaners for identification, and to report any suspicious approaches to police.

Warning over 'window cleaners' scam: Christchurch police are warning people to be cautious about employing door-to-door window cleaners, after recent approaches to householders in the New Brighton area. Police were concerned the "cleaners" may be attempting to identify empty or vulnerable homes as burglary targets, said northern Christchurch area commander, Inspector Dave Lawry. A group of two or three men had approached householders in New Brighton and had been seen observing other properties, he said. The men did not appear to be linked to any recognised cleaning company and seemed to be approaching local properties at random.

"We urge householders to be cautious. There's a strong possibility that these window cleaners are using the business as a ruse to approach houses and establish if they are unoccupied. "Where they do undertake cleaning, they may be using the opportunity to identify items of interest inside or around the property for future burglaries." People should be cautious about who they let onto their properties, ask any door-to-door window cleaners for identification, and report any suspicious approaches to police.

Caution urged over door-to-door cleaners: A group of men approaching home owners offering to clean windows in Christchurch are prompting Police to urge caution. Christchurch police are urging caution over door-to-door window cleaners. Area Commander Inspector Dave Lawry said a group of men have been approaching home owners offering to clean windows and have been seen observing the properties after. He said the men don't appear to be linked to any recognised cleaning company. "In realty while they might do your windows, they may also do your house over," he said. "They've got a bit of a background where they link in with some gang members and are actually inclined to pass on information." Inspector Lawry said people must be careful about who they let onto their properties.