PALMDALE – A small committee of local citizens is working to raise funds to create a bronze statue of Palmdale’s first mayor, Larry Chimbole, and they need your help.
Chimbole, 94, is one of the “50 Grand Men” who helped incorporate the city of Palmdale. He is still actively involved in the community and is very proud to call Palmdale his home.
The life-size bronze statue of Chimbole will be seated on a bench in Poncitlan Square, with one arm resting atop the back of the bench to encourage visitors to sit and visit with the local legend.
The Chimbole statue will be the first in a series of statues entitled “Local Legends,” which will honor many of Palmdale’s movers and shakers with public art pieces.
The concept was initiated by the city of Palmdale and AV Nice, a grassroots, loose-knit group that promotes all things nice in the Antelope Valley.
Local artist Michael De Medina of American Metal Arts Studios in Palmdale has been selected to create the Larry Chimbole statue.
The estimated cost of a single bench is $45,000 to $50,000, and the creation process will take about one year.
How you can help
Citizens and businesses can contribute to the project by making tax deductible donations online at http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/foundation/donate.asp (select Larry Chimbole Statue). Monetary donations can also be mailed to: Palmdale Community Foundation, 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550. Donations should be made payable to Palmdale Community Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 established in 1997 by the Palmdale City Council to allow donations to be made for City programs.
Additionally, there will be a fundraising dinner in May aimed at raising money for the project. The dinner will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, at the Chimbole Cultural Center, located at 38350 Sierra Highway in Palmdale. Tickets are $50 single/$95 couple. Dinner, entertainment, basket raffle and an auction will be provided.
The Local Legends Committee members are: Chris Spicher, Stacia Nemeth, Judy Cooperberg, Dave Childs, Sandy Corrales-Eneix, Patricia Shaw, Vicki Medina, Dayle DeBry, Russ Williams, and Ingrid Chapman.
For more information on the Local Legends initiative, contact Chris Spicher at 661-948-6006.
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