BUSINESSMAN PROFITS FIGHTING GRAFFITI.Byline: Patricia Farrell Farrell, city (1990 pop. 6,841), Mercer co., W central Pa., on the Shenango River at the Ohio line and adjoining Sharon, Pa.; inc. 1901. It is a railroad center, and its steel- and ironworks industries have declined. Aidem Daily News Staff Writer From his home office where he works 18-hour days, Frank Castellano is orchestrating a battle against graffiti graffiti Form of visual communication, usually illegal, involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an individual or group. Technically the term applies to designs scratched through a layer of paint or plaster, but its meaning has been extended to other markings. around the globe. This week Castellano's Antek International, with offices in Texas and Europe, won contracts in Helsinki, Finland, and San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. to cover vandals' targets with the company's anti-graffiti, anti-corrosion coating. ``What's very interesting is that had you told me Finland had a graffiti problem I never would have believed it,'' said Castellano, president and chairman of publicly held Antek. Graffiti, he said, is ``one of the most serious urban menaces of this decade.'' The first of the Helsinki contracts was awarded to Antek Finland OY, a subsidiary of Antek International, by the Helsinki Energy Corp. The agreement calls for the company's anti-graffiti coating to be applied to 700 power-station buildings and 10,000 electrical boxes, prime graffiti targets. In San Antonio, Antek will coat four of 21 bridges along San Antonio's historic Riverwalk. Antek is talking with officials from India to Caltrans about protection from graffiti, Castellano said. At present, the state Transportation Department's graffiti-removal program involves daily applications of cheap paint to cover vandalism The intentional and malicious destruction of or damage to the property of another. The intentional destruction of property is popularly referred to as vandalism. It includes behavior such as breaking windows, slashing tires, spray painting a wall with graffiti, and . Castellano said Antek's coating costs more initially, but lasts a lifetime. The coating, he added, could help preserve the older buildings of Europe that are attacked by vandals because it eliminates the need for sandblasting Sandblasting or bead blasting[1] is a generic term for the process of smoothing, shaping and cleaning a hard surface by forcing solid particles across that surface at high speeds; the effect is similar to that of using sandpaper, but provides a more even finish that can deteriorate de·te·ri·o·rate v. 1. To grow worse in function or condition. 2. To weaken or disintegrate. surfaces that have stood for centuries, Castellano said. Workers clean up graffiti with high-pressure water hoses and a mixture of chalk and a small amount of sand. Castellano, formerly in marketing and sales, established Antek International two years ago and works from his Valencia home. ``I work 18 to 20 hours some days,'' he said. ``This is where I'm comfortable and I have everything I need.'' Antek bought up a Belgian Belgian having some relationship to Belgium. Belgian barge dog see schipperke. Belgian black pied cattle black, Belgian dairy cattle. Belgian blue dual-purpose cattle; blue, white or blue roan. company that manufacturers anti-corrosion coating, and recently went public. ``It's been a lot of sweat and tears, and now it's taking off,'' he said. |
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