PelhamToday received the following letter to the editor from reader Jim Pitt:
The original wooden arches, jerry-rigged and bare bones, were put up in 2012 as a temporary feature for the first Summerfest. They blew away seven years later. I have no idea what it cost to build these original, and now "iconic" arches but, of course, they had to be replaced. From what I gather the new arches cost $334,000, were opened in September of 2023 and blew apart 14 months later.
It seems the designers and proponents of this local "icon" have a problem with basic weather patterns. In the fall and early winter, the winds, which are predominantly from the west really start to blow. The arches, which have a sail of either wood, as in the original arches, or fabric, in the new arches face into that wind.
High wind, meet immovable object. So far the wind is winning.
There, I identified the problem. The solution is to remove the arches and put them elsewhere, out of the wind, or come up with a new "icon" to waste money on. In the meantime I, and half the town, must take the long way to the post office.
Jim Pitt
Fonthill
