National Clothesline

Now in its eighth year of the annual Coats for Kids program, Anton’s Cleaners is hoping to have one of its best drives ever, seeking as many as 40,000 coats to clean for needy kids and adults in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

Last year, more than 45,000 winter coats were collected and Anton’s cleaned them all free of charge — representing over $450,000 worth of cleaning costs. In all, Anton’s has helped collect distribute and clean over 127,000 coats in its 8 years of participation.

This year’s drive will run through January 15, 2003. Once again, Anton’s will be assisted by Fox 25, the Salvation Army, the Boston Bruins and several other local businesses and community action programs.

However, the thrust of the drive comes from area schools which collect about 2é3 of the total donated coats. Last year, over 170 schools contributed.

Anton’s will also be collecting winter garment donations at each of its 41 locations.

“We are grateful to everyone who has donated a winter coat, and we look forward to this generosity continuing this year,” said Charles A. Anton, president of Anton’s Cleaners. “Donating a coat is a simple, yet very meaningful way of helping those who are less fortunate.”

For more information on Anton’s Coat for Kids program, visit www.antons.com or call the company’s Coats for Kids hotline at (800) 659-0069.

Following a month long sweater drive than began on Sept. 5 and concluded on Oct. 4, several needy residents in the community of Syracuse, NY, enjoyed the prospect of being a little warmer during the winter season.

WCNY-TV (Channel 24) and the Syracuse Rescue Mission teamed up with local drycleaning business Patrick’s Cleaners to gather and clean over 5,000 sweaters for families in Syracuse and throughout central New York.

Chasz Parker, executive director of the Rescue Mission, was extremely pleased with the final results of the group effort. “It was an overwhelming response,” he said. “We have a generous community.”

Organizers kicked off the sweater drive with a celebration of the 33rd anniversary of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the popular children show on public television that featured host Fred Rogers often encouraging children to utilize their imaginations.

As part of its “Talkin’ Shop” educational series, the North East Fabricare Association will be presenting a 60-minute spotting course in Portland, ME, on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The program is designed to offer seminar programs that provide a quality education to NEFA members, as well as give them a forum to interact with the NEFA staff and other cleaners on important issues affecting the industry.

For more information, contact Peter Blake at (800) 442-6848 or visit www.nefabricare.com.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is eyeing a new set of regulations for drycleaners that would phase out all first- and second-generation machines within a year. Within five years, the state would require a minimum of fourth-generation machines or third-generation machines using a loading door carbon adsorber.

A public hearing on the plan was held in September. Representatives of the Neighborhood Cleaners Association and the North East Fabricare Association attended and have been providing input to the state in developing the rules.

NCA noted that some aspects of the Rhode Island proposal are the same as or even more stringent than the drycleaning rules in New York State. For example, NCA pointed out, the proposal incorporates the same language defining stand-alone as is found in New York’s rules. Rhode Island seeks a 40°F exit air temperature off the condensing coil, which is even tougher than New York’s rule.

Other proposals coming out of Rhode Island would require existing mixed-use locations with third-generation technology to install a vapor barrier room and ventilation within 12 months if they adjoin a residence, daycare center or food store. Other mixed use locations would have 36 months to install the vapor barrier.

All new equipment in mixed-use situations would have to be fourth generation using vapor barrier rooms and meeting minimum ventilation requirements.