February 16, 2024
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Hindus trek 21 miles on spiritual Concord adopts pilgrimage to Concord temple homeless strategic plan
Thaipusam Walk honors triumph of good over evil TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
In a vibrant display of faith and cultural celebration, several thousand devotees participated in the annual Thaipusam Walk organized by the Shiva Murugan Temple on Jan. 27. The pilgrimage, dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan, marks a significant event in the Hindu calendar. A festival steeped in mythology, Thaipusam honors the triumph of good over evil – symbolized by Lord Murugan receiving the invincible spear Vel from Goddess Parvati and using it to vanquish a demonic army. In India, devotees embark on a pilgrimage to the Murugan temple on the Palani mountain during the Tamil month of Tai.
See Temple, page 5
CHARLEEN EARLEY Correspondent
Tamara Steiner
Sathish Gurukkal, a priest at the Concord temple, performs milk Abhishekam for a devotee who has walked a long distance as a pilgrimage. Milk Abhishekam is a prayer for purification of the soul; a prayer for "satya" which is truth.
Pearl Harbor survivor’s sage words at 100 CORINNE JEANDHEUR Student Correspondent
It requires a special celebration to honor 100 years of life full of countless stories to share, ranging from surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor to building up the Bay Area. With that in mind, family and friends gathered with Clayton resident Earl “Chuck” Kohler for his momentous landmark on Feb. 3 at the Dana Hills Cabana Club. It was all smiles and laughter, in his words, “a happy birthday.” Kohler is one of the last survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor. An online search says as few as two dozen American military working at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, are still living. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy and served as a petty officer first class and aviation metalsmith. He was stationed in the center of Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack, and despite direct orders, Kohler set up a 50caliber machine gun and fired at the attacking aircraft. Even with his heroic actions that day, Kohler is still left “wishing there was something else that I could have done.” For most of his life after
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the Navy, he worked in heavy construction, earthmoving and building roads. “There’s hardly a main artery here in the Bay Area that you can drive on that I didn’t help to build at one time or another,” he noted. With 14 years of military service and 79 years in the workforce, Kohler accumulated many accomplishments during his lifetime. However, when asked about his greatest achievement, his family came first. Some of his favorite pastimes include camping with his family, boating and fishing. Kohler also dedicates a lot of time and money into protecting the beacon atop Mount Diablo. At the most recent mark-
ing of the Pearl Harbor attack, Kohler announced that he would make a $6,000 contribution to Save Mount Diablo’s Beacon Fund so that the beacon can shine on for many years to come. Save Mount Diablo presented him with a special birthday card listing those who joined him in contributing to the fund. With a life well-lived, Kohler is grateful for his family, friends and lessons that he has learned along the way. His advice for a long life is, “You always got to be busy. Keep the hand and the mind busy. And do whatever you see that has to be done – even if it’s not your responsibility. If it’s not being done, do it. And you’ll be glad that you did later.”
CHUCK KOHLER
In a Jan. 6 meeting, the Concord City Council members adopted a Homeless Strategic Plan which includes strategies to spend $5 million in funds. In a press release dated Jan. 7, it states, “ ... [the ] 44-page document that will serve as a roadmap as Concord begins implementing the strategies to prevent and address homelessness. While homelessness is a persistent challenge throughout the Bay Area, Concord identified it as a top priority and, in 2022, Council asked City staff to develop a comprehensive plan with recommendations for strategies that Concord could implement using $5.4 million in one-time funds that had been specifically allocated for these purposes.” Community Relations Manager, Jennifer Ortega, said over the past year, the City Council has held a number of meetings regarding the Homeless Strategic Plan. “Each meeting agenda item is accompanied by a robust staff report with background information,” she said. “The videos of each meeting are also available the city’s webnsite, and you can do a search by keywords and dates.” Councilmember Laura Nakamura, also chair of the 11member working group, said that by adopting the ‘Plan’ Concord is taking a huge step towards implementing solutions which address the problems and challenges of homelessness “rather than continuing to waste money out of our general fund on repeated actions, like encampment sweeps, which don’t solve anything.” Concord Mayor Edi Birsan, who serves as vice chair of the Homeless Strategic Plan’s 11member working group, is proud of the time and effort
See Homeless page 7
Clayton celebrates 60th anniversary since incorporating as a city in 1964 DEBBIE EISTETTER
THE WAY WE WERE
If you look closely at a Contra Costa County map of Clayton’s city boundaries, you’ll notice a strange little cutout on its western border. Located on this northeast corner of Kirker Pass Road and Clayton Road is a gas station whose address is in Concord in spite of the fact that all the businesses on the same corner are in Clayton. The situation goes back to Clayton’s 1964 incorporation and its quest for an identity of its own.
California was experiencing a building boom following WWII, and “cherry stem annexation” was a legal way for a city to annex, by way of roads and easements, those properties whose owners were interested in receiving services like sewer, utilities and police. Businesses that earned revenue and paid taxes – like gas stations – were especially prized. As farming in the Clayton Valley dwindled, large landholdings became available and were ripe for the development of housing and business centers. The city of Concord was anxious to expand eastward, and many Clayton residents became increasingly worried that their small town would be swallowed up and be known
only as “East Concord.” At a meeting in 1959, the Concord City manager touted Clayton’s annexation to Concord as a good move for all parties. However, the Clayton residents who attended saw no need for the city services offered and did not want the additional property taxes that came with them. A foresighted group of Clayton residents knew Concord’s expansion would continue. Using their own funds, they sought a professional analysis to determine if incorporation would be attainable for Clayton. In May 1960, the county boundary commission approved Clayton’s first city council is sworn in by Judge Wroy a petition to hold an election to
See Clayton, page 5
Renaghan, Mar. 18, 1964 at Endeavor Hall. Councilmembers from left: David Cook, Henry Wagner, Alvin Liming, George Abbott and first mayor Robert Hoyer.
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