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Furthermore, the public ceremony to rename Penfield II after Jacky Durrell will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m.
Those were the decisions of the committee charged with naming something after the well-loved Durrell, when it had its final meeting last Wednesday afternoon at Town Hall and that was their decision.
Renaming the Gazebo had been a point of contention ever since old friends and supporters of Durrell had suggested that the gazebo fit her image of "always laughing and having fun."
However, Fire Chief Richard Felner, speaking for himself, and others, including Ken Dalling had said that Dalling had been instrumental in its creation 24 years ago.
At that time, Dalling, inspired by a gazebo in Cape May, New Jersey, solicited donations of money and lumber, sold T-shirts and built the Gazebo at no cost to the town, according to various speakers. The former contractor and member of the Parks and Recreation Commission also booked many of the acts that play there and he still does, others said.
Gerry Lombardo, Director of Recreation, made a much-awaited visit to the committee.
There is a plaque at the Gazebo, with Durrell's name, Dalling's name and the names of others who made the Gazebo possible, Lombardo said, adding, "It was never the intention of the (Park & Rec) commission to rename the Gazebo."
"At this time, we have no interest in renaming the Gazebo or Sherman Green," he said.
As for that plaque at the gazebo, it was agreed that it should be moved to a place where it is not obscured by shrubs as it is now.
Jacquelyn Durrell served as First Selectwoman of Fairfield from 1983 to 1993. She had previously been the first woman chairperson of the Board of Education, and was the first female First Selectwoman. She was a state legislator and a member of the State Ethics commission. She served on 23 town boards and commissions and other civic organizations.
