In small-town America, where neighborly disputes and local politics often become the backdrop for much larger stories, Ted Pelkey of Westford, Vermont, made headlines with a bold act of defiance.

After a decade-long battle with the town’s Development Review Board (DRB) over a building permit, Pelkey took matters into his own hands—quite literally.

His protest? A 700-pound wooden statue of a middle finger, prominently displayed on his lawn and illuminated by floodlights for the entire town to see, including the drivers along Route 128.

For Pelkey, the statue wasn’t just an impulsive decision. It was an act of revenge after years of frustration with the town’s continuous denial of his building permit.

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"I’ve been put through the wringer by these people, and it’s just not right," Pelkey shared.

"I haven’t been treated fairly at all." The town claims he failed to meet all the necessary requirements for the permit, but Pelkey believes otherwise. In his eyes, the issue runs deeper—it's personal.

Ted Pelkey’s desire was simple: to build a garage on his land where he could move his truck repair and monofilament recycling businesses.

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This would allow him to work from home rather than commute 25 miles to Swinton every day. "I fantasized about being able to get out of bed in the morning, take my coffee, walk across the driveway, and go to work," Pelkey remarked.

However, this seemingly straightforward request was met with resistance from the Westford DRB. Over the course of ten years, despite reapplying multiple times, his request was denied over and over again.

The town contends that Pelkey has not met the necessary conditions for the permit, citing various legal and zoning issues.

But for Pelkey, these denials felt personal, as if the town officials were holding a grudge against him. His frustrations reached a boiling point after the most recent rejection.

In October, while sitting in a bar and reflecting on his latest rejection, Pelkey had an idea. "I was sitting at a bar and said to my wife, ‘Hey, I want to get a statue made of a middle finger, and I’m going to put it up on the lawn,’” he recalled.

His reasoning was simple: "If you don’t want to look at the building, look at this."

And so, Pelkey did exactly that. The giant wooden middle finger was erected in the middle of his lawn, with two floodlights ensuring it was visible 24/7. The cost? A hefty $4,000. But for Pelkey, the expense was worth it.

It wasn’t just about the statue itself but about sending a message to those he felt had wronged him. "It is aimed directly at the people who sit in our town office," he explained, making it clear that his protest wasn’t directed at the townspeople, but at the officials who had repeatedly denied his requests.

Despite the town’s likely frustration over the statue, their hands were tied. Vermont has strict regulations regarding billboards and signage, but the middle finger statue didn’t fall under those rules. "Although the structure is visible from a state highway, it is outside of the State Right of Way and not within our jurisdiction," said Jacqui DeMen, spokeswoman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

She further clarified, "The structure does not meet the statutory definition of ‘sign’ and thus can’t be regulated under the Vermont Billboard Law."

In other words, while the statue may be an eyesore for town officials, there is little they can do to force its removal.

As Pelkey triumphantly noted, his protest had worked in a very public way. "It was critical to me to make sure that my neighbors and the people who live in this town understood that I didn’t put that up there for them," he said. Indeed, the statue had achieved its goal—bringing attention to his ongoing feud with the town.

Ted Pelkey remains undeterred. His next appeal for the building permit is scheduled for January, and until the town grants his request, the statue will stand tall and proud on his lawn.

While some might see the statue as a petty act of rebellion, Pelkey hopes that "maybe some good comes out of it. Maybe."

Pelkey’s story is one of perseverance, defiance, and a deep-rooted belief in standing up against what he sees as unjust treatment.

Whether or not his tactics will succeed in swaying the town remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the 700-pound middle finger has made a lasting impression, not just on the town of Westford but on anyone who passes by.

In a world where people often feel powerless in the face of bureaucratic decisions, Ted Pelkey’s wooden middle finger stands as a symbol of defiance. It reminds us that, for better or worse, some battles are fought not in courtrooms or town halls, but on front lawns.

And for Pelkey, that battle is far from over. Until the day the town relents and grants his building permit, the middle finger will remain, boldly illuminated and impossible to ignore.

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