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Ted and Gloria are no more and I'm upset It seems Ted and Gloria are no more. The bearded handiman and his equally handi-wife have been the spokes-handi-persons for those nifty Canadian Tire tools and gadgets on television commercials for a decade now. But the powers that be at CTC have recently given them the hook. I'm a bit disappointed by this move. Apparently, market surveyors indicated that the couple were topping the list of THE most annoying people on the Canadian commercial scene. Now I wonder, how on earth did they come to that consensus? Let's face it, when any of us get a call for a telephone survey (as we're about to sit down to have supper) we HANG UP! So whose opinions did they use? It sure wasn't mine. Geez, I've sat on the edge of my sofa for years now, waiting for the next episode in the Ted and Gloria soap opera, as he shows his neighbour how to clean the yard in record time with a handy-dandy garden tool, blow the crap out of the gutters with a handydandy spray attachment for the garden hose or wash that mini-van with a handy-dandy power washer. And I bought every one of them as a result. Now CTC will be taking a different ad approach with a couple looking into their next door neighbour's yard and seeing all the products, complete with the corresponding aisle number displayed above it on little wires. BOOOORING! And STUPID! Like, who has aisle numbers in the back yard? Annoying know-it-all neighbours are a given, but aisle numbers? That's nuts! Maybe it was a conspiracy by the guy who was portrayed next door to Ted and Gloria. Maybe he got so tired of Ted's Ned Flanders approach and smirking know-it-all persona that made him look like an idiot-- cuz he was! He probably called all the ad agencies and cried to them how Ted and Gloria were boring him to tears, while all the time the rest of Canada was revelling in their demo-dramas. I was a fan of the saga when Ted landed at his friend's home with a full scale renovation tool he carried in a canvas pouch that could pretty much do any renovation single-handedly that HGTV's Mike Holmes would require side-kick Shawn Morren and a fully equipped team of contractors to tackle. And it was a MASTERCRAFT! I've been a CTC junkie for years and Ted and Gloria have done nothing but make me more so. I've been a Saturday morning regular at my local CTC store, to the point of waiting outside on a Saturday morning, nose pressed to the glass waiting for the doors to open. But now Ted and Gloria are no more. I'm wondering where they will pop up next in the future. Will they be selling new cars? Will they be flogging retirement packages, or maybe those adjustable beds for couples. Maybe viagra or a swinging couples' resorts? Nah, that'd be pushing it... Ted's too dorky. You know, I have my own personal issues about this new CTC ad approach. I'm defending Ted and Gloria to the end, especially Ted... Cuz ya know, us bearded, bespectacled guys with the name `Ted' simply gotta stick together. Letters to the editor Soccer club clarifies contribution to sports park Dear editor, Re: January 20 article on capital budget funding for 2006. The Georgetown Soccer Club (GSC) is concerned that the article implied the Town withdrew funding for the development of the Trafalgar Sports Park (TSP) due to the GSC withdrawing a $100,000 contribution. The Club did not offer $100,000! After informing the Club that yet again there would be no funds available this year for TSP, we were told that $400,000 would be available if the GSC would contribute $100,000. The GSC offered $50,000, but this was rejected by the Town. The GSC then withdrew that amount reasoning: a) a lack of maintenance of existing TSP fields leaving them in deplorable condition, b) negative reaction from GSC membership for funding recreational facilities, and c) no ownership rights regardless of the contribution. Your paper reported on January 17, 2003, that capital funding of $1.5 million was in place for seven fields to be built for 2004. At that time, the GSC had offered $135,000 to go towards the interest for a debenture to enable the Town to fast-track the development. The Town did not accept the offer. To date, only four fields have been built. We hope this puts things into perspective. Eugene Horak, President, Georgetown Soccer Club New library would be a burden to town taxpayers Dear editor, I totally agree with the March 3 letter to the editor, Library not needed. This will be an added tax burden to the already overburdened taxpayers of Halton Hills. As a resident for 18 years, I have enjoyed the use of both branches but at no time have I ever experienced more than a handful of people at either library. Please do not build another library. The one we have is wonderful and sufficient for our needs. Nadia Noack, Limehouse