Apartment For Rent: 200 WATER ST. 12N NEW YORK, NY $2650
http://pvt.fm/pub/24F4EA777AB5 OVERSIZED LOFT CONVERTING INTO 1 BED WITH FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS AND HIGH CEILINGS. FEATURING HARDWOOD FLOORING, PASSTHROUGH...
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Apartment For Rent: 200 WATER ST. 12N NEW YORK, NY $2650 - Video
Sandy DeTar and her employees get a peek into their customers lives that is different from most other business people. While other employers go off a resume and conversation with the people they work with, DeTar and her staff are in residents homes.
DeTar and her husband, Curt, the owners of a Molly Maid franchise in Sparks, are in the business of housekeeping and find the service-oriented career is an opportunity to be their own boss while providing some much-needed help for customers who may be more concerned about keeping food on the table than keeping their house squeaky clean.
Its interesting, DeTar said. During the holidays you get to see all the homes decorated and its a nice sight. But you do get a glimpse into a wide variety of living situations.
DeTar personally consults with customers who can have all of part of their house or apartment dusted, vacuumed, cleaned, scrubbed, polished and straightened as needed. Employees work on baseboards, fixtures, appliances and floors of all surfaces. DeTar declined to give a range of prices because competitive nature of the industry, but said she determines her prices based on the amount of time needed to complete the requested cleaning. Cleanings can be on a one-time basis or fixed on a monthly or weekly basis, depending on need.
She has nine full-time employees and one part-time, on-call person to cover during vacations or special days.
We have (customers with) very large homes that might be two-level and they want their whole house cleaned, she said. We will clean anyone who needs and requests for it. No job is too much.
The only impediment to Molly Maid accepting a customer would be for health reasons, she said.
Were not going to clean a home that would not be safe for our employees, whether its a health or hygiene issue, DeTar said. Theres rarely an incident where that happens, but we would not go in and clean a house where theres drug paraphernalia or a blood or safety hazard.
The job is not without its challenges, DeTar shared.
I had done an estimate on the house and the owners said they would pick up the house, DeTar said. But when we got there, it was totally in disarray and there were kids toys and clothes, dishes in the sink, the stoves were not cleaned up and had spills.
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Being a 'Molly'
(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) An Omani techie has tracked down and rescued his runaway maid who was lured away by another man who offered her more money but then forced her into prostitution.
The senior IT professional spoke to Muscat Daily in detail about the incident which happened after his family along with the maid returned to their home in Mawaleh on January 8 after a New Year holiday in Malaysia.
When the maid disappeared a day later, Mahmoud (name changed) said he was 'surprised and angered'. But then, the maid's phone data usage and contacts helped him track her down in five days.
''It was concern and a sense of responsibility that motivated me. Although she betrayed our trust and love, I thought that she may have been trapped,'' said Mahmoud.
According to him, the 28 year old maid said that an Asian man in his 30s lured her with 'better pay and a better life' but forced her into prostitution. The maid said she knew him for four months during which the two remained in constant touch through texts and phone calls.
While tracking her down, Mahmoud first gathered information from other maids known to her. Using the photo of a man he found on her phone, he took help from shopkeepers, delivery boys and barbers in the area to locate him.
''Once I had collected enough information, I learnt a bit of his language and tracked him down with the help of a barber in the locality he lived.''
Mahmoud said he initially met the man posing as a customer, but then 'sensed danger and escaped'. ''The next time, I took help from another person and caught him,'' he said.
Mahmoud said the maid was repentant upon finding out the truth about the man. ''He made false promises about getting me several part-time jobs to earn more than what my sponsor paid me,'' he quoted the maid as saying.
''The man pursued me for four months and I would talk to him while shopping for groceries and essentials or while out throwing trash. He would visit me whenever the family was not at home and give me money. I liked him and was tempted by the money.''
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Omani techie tracks down runaway maid, saves her from prostitution
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) January 29, 2014
Laugh Staff, a professional speech writing company made up of comedians; is proud to announce they are extending their speech writing services to help graduates throughout the country.
Since their start in March of 2012, Laugh Staff has been receiving a growing number of requests to do speeches outside of just Best Man & Maid of Honor Speeches (their specialty). To help meet the needs of their customers they've decided to start answering the call by offering an exclusive graduation speech package. For only $129.99, a valedictorian or class president can hire a professional comedian to work one-on-one with them to write a speech that will be hilarious and remembered for years to come.
With YouTube, Vine, Facebook, Twitter, & just about all social media, the pressure to perform at a graduation is intense, said co-founder Cameron Amigo. We want the students to be able to enjoy the day without the stress of writing a funny speech on their own. Were like the tutor they never had.
For more information about Laugh Staff, Inc. visit http://www.laughstaff.com or email camigo(at)laughstaff(dot)com.
About Laugh Staff, Inc.:
Laugh Staff, Inc. was founded in 2012 by a team of comedians and writers in Cleveland, Ohio. Laugh Staff helps their clients with best man speeches as well as providing best man speech examples on their blog. They assist best men and maids of honor in speech-editing, speech writing, and provide training on speech delivery. Recognizing the importance of the big day, Laugh Staff's professional comedians work with best men and maids of honor to ensure they make a lasting impression.
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Laugh Staff Announces New Client Services for Graduation Speeches
Q: My New Years gift to myself is to hire a maid service. However, Im really not sure how to find the right one for what I can afford and the kinds of questions to ask when interviewing. Any suggestions?
Henrietta Homeowner
Dear Mrs. Homeowner: Obviously, my first recommendation is the same I offer in a variety of circumstances and that is to ask friends and colleagues for referrals. Just be certain your peeps know at least some of the specifics you require, as their standards may be different from yours.
Cleaning services have been seeing a record increase in business, whether theyre self-employed housekeepers to nationally-franchised chains. Check out the Association of Residential Cleaning Services Internationals (ARCSI) list of requirements, such as liability insurance and satisfaction guarantees. The website (arcsi.org) also includes a list of interview questions, including but not limited to: Are you insured (ask for a copy of their insurance certificate)? Do you carry Workmans Comp? Do you provide criminal background checks on all employees? Is a trained crew leader in my home supervising at all times and does this person speak English?
1. Many services whirl through several houses in a single day. Unfortunately, this can lead to inattention to detail or, simply, just bad cleaning. All companies should promise and provide a detailed checklist. This should include, for example, wiping down every bathroom surface, scrubbing the tub and toilet, as well as cleaning the counters and mopping the floors with appropriate cleaners. Since housecleaning can be a transient business with a huge annual turnover, always ask for employees whove been with the company for at least six months. (Along this same line, when interviewing services upfront, ask for five references from customers whove used them for at least six months.)
2. Dont assume every worker knows how to clean. Before you sign on the dotted line, ask about the training the company provides. At the very minimum, ARCP says the company should offer at least three days of intensive training to new hires, covering such basics as using the latest equipment or the correct protocol for cleaning wood, marble, tile, etc. floors. Once you e decided upon a service, be sure and go over exactly what you require that may be somewhat different than the norm. For example, I tend to be very finicky about how I spend my money: if the baseboards arent dusted regularly, I am not a happy camper. So if you require certain chores that may not be on the maids list, speak up beforehand. (Most services do have monthly and bimonthly lists that they and you check off on completion. Whether you like what theyve done may be another story, however.)
3. Be prepared to pay a hefty sum for the first clean. While certain factors impact cost, such as location, home size, special requirements, and so forth, the average cost for a twice monthly clean averages between $75-$125. However, that first time can cost you dearly, particularly if youve never used a service before and this agency insists upon a deep clean. While you may want your heavy furniture moved each time to dust and vacuum behind the pieces, it probably wont happen and still maintain reasonable prices. For the deep clean, though, this may be a prerequisite and, along with a few more extras, can jack up the price two or three-fold! Be prepared.
(To be continued)
Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. She may be reached at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.
about Ellen Phillips...
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Consumer Watch: How to pick maid without getting taken to cleaners
The 50th annual Azalea Dogwood Pageant sponsored by Dothan Leisure Services and the National Peanut Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 1st at the Dothan Civic Center.
The pageant is open to girls in grades 6-12 that reside in Houston County and go to any school in Dothan or Houston County.
The divisions are: Maid of Honor 6th & 7th grades, Princess 8th, 9th & 10th grades, and Queen 11th & 12th grades. The girls must maintain a C or above scholastic average.
Judging will be based on poise and appearance.
Registration forms may be picked up at all schools, recreation centers, National Peanut Festival office, Dothan Leisure Services central office at the Civic Center Room 107, or you may download a copy at http://www.dothanleisureservices.org.
The deadline for entering is Tuesday, February 11th at 4:00 p.m. The entry fee is $15.00.
The newly selected Azalea Dogwood Queen and her Court will reign over all the festivities surrounding the Azalea Dogwood Festival.
For more information, call Dothan Leisure Services at 615-3700.
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Azalea/Dogwood Festival Pageant March 1
By: Dennis Chong, Agence France-Presse | Grace Li, Reuters January 20, 2014 11:45 PM
Indonesian domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih lies in a bed whilst being treated at a hospital in Sragen, Indonesia's Central Java province January 17, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer
InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5
HONG KONG - Police at Hong Kong airport Monday arrested a woman who allegedly tortured two Indonesian domestic helpers, a day after thousands staged a march to call for better migrant worker rights in the city.
The woman, a 44-year-old housewife alleged to have beaten domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih and another maid, was arrested at the city's Chek Lap Kok airport as she attempted to board a flight to Thailand.
"At about 4 o'clock today, Hong Kong police arrested a housewife of age 44. She is believed to be (involved) in connection with Erwiana's case and another abuse on an Indonesian domestic helper in Hong Kong," police officer Chan Wai-man told reporters some five hours after police detained the woman surnamed Law.
"She was trying to leave Hong Kong for Thailand," he added.
Sulistyaningsih, 22, was reportedly abused over a period of eight months while employed by the woman. Media reports said she was unable to walk due to her injuries when she flew home from the southern Chinese city this month.
Her ordeal sparked an outcry among domestic helpers and many locals, renewing concerns about the treatment of maids in the city.
The arrest came as six officers from the city's police and labor bureau on Monday travelled to Indonesia to interview and collect evidence from Erwiana, who suffered extensive injuries from head to foot and is recovering at a hospital in Sragen, a city in central Java.
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HK employer of 'tortured' Indonesian maid arrested while trying to leave for Thailand
PETALING JAYA: Police have played down a warning circulating on the Internet and messaging services that a gang of robbers are gaining access to houses under the guise of delivering hampers to the occupants.
We have not received any reports and we can confirm that there were no such incidents in Kuala Lumpur, said acting City CID chief Asst Comm Khairi Ahrasa.
If there are, then we would have been on top of it.
He said the messages were not true but advised the public to be wary of such scams in any case.
It is better to be vigilant, especially during festive seasons, he added. Although no reports have been received, we will still keep an eye out for such gangs.
The warning being circulated warned of a gang that entered private premises on the pretext of delivering hampers and subsequently robbing the occupants.
It alleged that one such incident occurred in Kota Kinabalu in March 2012, where a hamper gang robbed a government servant of RM30,000.
The rumour related that an unsuspecting maid allowed the robbers in. Once inside, they pulled out a knife and a machete that were concealed beneath the hampers.
MCA public services and complaints department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said he had not heard of any hamper robbers but did handle one case involving the delivery of cooking gas.
He, too, warned people to be wary of those bearing hampers.
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Police: No report so far but be wary of those who come bearing gifts
Where Can Domestic Abuse Victims Find Shelter?
Marie Lazzara, host of "Community" interviews Michelle Meyer, Executive Director of Mutual Ground in Aurora and Ray Pillar, co-owner of Molly Maid Aurora-Nap...
By: Fred McMurray
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Where Can Domestic Abuse Victims Find Shelter? - Video