MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Jose “Moke” Simon III will welcome friends and well-wishers as the first Fireside Chat speaker of 2017 in Gibson Museum & Cultural Center’s ongoing monthly living history series.
The Saturday, Jan. 28, event is expected to draw a full house, as did most of last year’s chats.
The series is sponsored by the Friends of Gibson, the recently formed nonprofit group comprised of the volunteers who founded and operated Gibson Museum until its incorporation into the Lake County museum system.
Simon, newly elected as supervisor of District 1, is reported to be the first Native American to serve on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
In this appearance, he will nonetheless talk about growing up at the Middletown Rancheria, the Pomo culture, and attending Middletown High School where he was a noted football player. He subsequently played with four professional football teams, including the world champion Scottish Claymores, and then became a volunteer football coach at Middletown High School.
He serves as tribal chairman of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, and is currently in his fifth term in that position.
His responsibilities in that role include overseeing all tribal government operations and business decisions; he has said he will recuse himself when appropriate from decisions made by the supervisors.
Simon lives on the reservation with his wife and son, and recently became a grandfather.
Fireside Chats begin at 4 p.m., in the museum, located at 21267 Calistoga, across the street from Middletown Square, and last an hour or so. Guests are invited to come a bit early for a spot o’ tea and a cookie or other goodies, a leisurely look at what’s new in the gallery and perchance a chat with friends.
Seating is limited, so reservations are advised. Email
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