Fire destroys 250 Sutherland Drive

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Fire has destroyed the home at 250 Sutherland (left). Firefighting efforts coated 248 next door (right) in a sheets of ice. No. 250 is on the west side of Sutherland just north of Lea. The home was vacant and was undergoing major renovation for a family which intended to move in presumably this year, according to the builder. He hinted that the fire might have been arson. The only known source of flame was the furnace but the furnace room was apparently undamaged. The fire was noticed by neighbors about 6 a.m. Sunday, January 23, 2011. A man who lives across the street said his children woke him and they watched together as the flames whipped through the house. “It moved very quickly, he said. No one was injured. More pictures linked off the headline or at left

Rex Murphy on China and the seal hunt

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Rex Murphy, an unreconstructed Newfoundlander, writes bitingly on how someone forgot to tell the Chinese that they must not buy seal meat and skins from Canada. Into the bargain, Murphy says that we (meaning western society in general) “are apologizing ourselves into impotence and irrelevancy over many of our greatest successes, while more confident — even ruthless — powers such as China are emerging brisk with the determination to develop as fast and as far as they can.”

Leaside Hockey Silent Auction

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The 21st Anniversary Leaside Flames Select Tournament will run from Friday, February 11 to Sunday, February 13 this year. The Leaside Hockey Association will conduct its silent auction fundraiser in conjunction with the tournament. Drew Homewood has asked local business and others to donate gift baskets, merchandise or services to support the auction and the hockey association. Drew may be contacted at (416) 456-5114 or drewhomwood@rogers.com

South Bayview is dollar store dreaming

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As we ponder the scuttlebutt that there will soon be a dollar store on South Bayview, take this into consideration. In a recent conference call with reporters and analysts, Dollarama boss Larry Rossy said the chain will open “as many stores as possible” in coming years even if this sometimes leads to cannibalization of sales. ”We are limited by nothing, apart from the fact that every opening must be sensible.” Dollarama must consider the pending arrival of the U.S. branch of Dollar Tree, scheduled to begin this year. An entirely unconfirmed story is circulating in shops that the space now occupied by Shoppers Drug Mart will be taken by an unnamed dollar store when the drug giant moves up the street in a couple of months.

“Damn that Kindle” is Sleuth curse

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The newsletter of the Sleuth of Baker Street contains new information on the store’s move to 907 Millwood. Sleuth has been a South Bayview fixture and attraction for some 30 years. Now, the premises at 1600 Bayview will be either for rent or for sale. The owners will downsize the operation — young adult and true crime sections will be eliminated. Books will be grouped by authors regardless of their covers — hard or paperback, new or used. The emphasis will be on mysteries. The changing nature of the book selling business is a concern. “Damn that Kindle” the newsletter says. The move is scheduled to occur early in March.