Five Things You Might Have Missed: 6-09

Top articles from this weekend's editions of The Blade

Amer Algazzawi, owner of a North Toledo carryout, says he has seen a decrease in trouble around his establishment since police posted a camera outside his shop.

THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Amer Algazzawi, owner of a North Toledo carryout, says he has seen a decrease in trouble around his establishment since police posted a camera outside his shop.

1. Toledo's police surveillance cameras credited with curbing crime

Sometimes, when the shooting starts, Amer Algazzawi’s corner-store carryout turns into a safe haven — walls to protect those who are trying to make it through each day without becoming the next face printed on a T-shirt.

There has been an untold number of shootings outside his store at Walnut and North Michigan streets in North Toledo over the past few decades, but he has never considered moving or quitting. In fact, he’d like to expand — especially now that he feels the notoriously dangerous neighborhood is improving thanks, in part, to a police surveillance camera right outside the Walnut Carry-Out.

“There are less problems in the neighborhood since the camera,” Mr. Algazzawi said. “They’re shooting less outside. Less fights.” READ MORE

Joe Fisher of Joseph’s Beverage Center, shows Miller Fortune’s bottling. MillerCoors says the packaging has prompted consumers to say ‘‍no other beer looks like Miller Fortune.’

2. Owens-Illinois says its black glass bottles are becoming its new green

New York fashion experts agree that when it comes to clothing, blue is the new black.

But in the world of glass bottles, it appears that the new black is ... black.

Owens-Illinois Inc., which four years ago began experimenting with more cost-effective ways to make a variety of colored glass, has discovered that beer, wine, and distilled spirits-makers have taken a shine to black glass made by the Perrysburg company.

As a result, the glass-packaging maker has been beefing up its black-glass production capabilities worldwide to meet increased customer demand. READ MORE

Roy Lee Snow, of North Toledo cleans between the spokes of a bicycle he is helping to restore during a recent open bike night.

3. Group provides training, affordable transportation for bicycle enthusiasts

Low key like the building it’s housed in, Toledo Bikes! is a nonprofit that recycles discarded bicycles, turning them into usable modes of transportation. The bicycles, which are for sale to the public, are all made from recycled and discarded bike parts. Profits help the organization stay afloat, and reasonable prices benefit customers as well as go toward a good cause.

“Our goal is to be able to get people on bikes affordably,” said Erik Thomas, shop manager and program instructor. “Not everyone wants to deal with the added expenses of a car, but for $45 to $130, you can get a refurbished bike and learn the skills to maintain it.”

Both Mr. Thomas and shop assistant Shaun Neal are avid cyclists. Mr. Thomas didn’t get a driver’s license until he was 30 years old, because he has always ridden a bike. Mr. Neal became a full-time commuter a year ago, biking through “Snoledo” during one of the coldest winters on record. READ MORE

Franklin Park Pediatrics of Toledo is among local practices refusing care to children whose parents have declined to obtain childhood vaccinations for them.

4.  Doctor group declines care to unvaccinated children

A Toledo pediatrician’s office has decided it will no longer accept or treat children whose parents object to them receiving childhood immunizations, a move that comes amid rising concern from the medical community that unvaccinated children are fueling the resurgence of childhood diseases, such as measles, nationally and in Ohio.

Franklin Park Pediatrics sent a letter last week to patients that said they have a year to comply with the new policy. “If you cannot or will not fully vaccinate your child/​children by June 1, 2015, please understand that you will choose to leave our practice (seek medical care elsewhere.)”

“Due to recent outbreaks of measles, mumps, and whooping cough, and a recent influx of unvaccinated children, we have decided to keep our office a safe environment,” said Dr. John McBride, who is one of six physicians in the Franklin Park Pediatrics group, which treats more than 14,000 patients.

Dr. McBride said this is a growing trend in pediatric medicine and that several other local doctors already have adopted this policy. READ MORE

Jim Brady Felton

5. Radio host met King, partied with the Stones

Longtime radio personality Jim Felton died Thursday evening at his home in Perrysburg. He was 67.

The cause of death was cancer, longtime friend and former colleague Matt Zaleski said.

Mr. Felton retired six years ago after having worked for more than four decades in broadcast media.

“He was in radio at a time when radio was very fun and very personality driven,” said Mr. Zaleski, who met him in 1979. READ MORE