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THE TOWN CRIER: GINNY PRIOR Of The Montclarion Beast dwells in murky waters of Lake Merritt I've always suspected something was lurking, just below the murky green surface. Now it's been confirmed -- Oakland's Lake Merritt has a monster. Like Scotland's Loch Ness and Lake Champlain's Champ, this creature eludes all but the most vigilant observers. Richard Bailey, the resident expert, has seen the great head of the beast -- with its glowing red eyes and spiked horns. "It's got six or seven humps like you'd see on the Loch Ness," he proclaims, adding that the creature measures more than 10 feet in length. Frightening? You bet! But Bailey says it's also a tourist attraction, if you don't get too close. He's sent out a letter to the City Council asking that the creature be protected as an endangered species. Perhaps the company Monster.com would like to buy the naming rights.

Plummer ends five-decade career in law enforcement Outspoken Alameda County sheriff started with Berkeley police in 1952 By Chris Metinko STAFF WRITER - THE MONTCLARION After more than 50 years in one career, it's not uncommon to think about what one would have done differently. Monday, on his last day on the job, Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer had his own thoughts. After a retirement ceremony that included helicopter flyovers, bagpipes and what seemed like thousands of handshakes, the former Berkeley and Hayward chief of police sat in his office afterward and voiced that one regret. "I wish I would have hit some people harder during the riots," said Plummer, speaking of the riots in Berkeley in the late-1960s. "I regret that." It was a fitting answer for a man who has made a 54-year career not just out of law enforcement, but also out of speaking exactly what was on his mind -- usually using the kind of spicy language shied away from by most public offi

Starting today, Rich Lieberman, the Oakland-native and Skyline High graduate commonly known as "Big Vinny" from his two-year stint as the character "Big Vinny" for Round Table Pizza, has joined the Blogsphere. Currently, Rich appears in the online column section for Matier and Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle. Rich has a long history in Bay Area media circles and knows what's going on with whom and where. Rich's new Blog is called "Big Vinny's Bay Area" and features items, jokes, and news from one of the best connected people in the Bay Area. Visit http://bigvinnysbayarea.blogspot.com

This video is simply a call to help save the Oakland Stables, which always seem to be on the City of Oakland's chopping block when the budget is low. For more information, go to Oaklandcitystables.org

City leaders condemn remarks to De La Fuente Some say inauguration incident shows tension between Latino, African-American communities too seldom discussed By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE Article Last Updated: 01/12/2007 03:15:50 AM PST OAKLAND — About a dozen community and civic leaders gathered Thursday to denounce the treatment of Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente at Monday's public inauguration of Mayor Ron Dellums, saying that racism has no place in Oakland. Gilda Gonzales, CEO of the Unity Council, called what happened when De La Fuente beat back a challenge from occasional ally Councilmember Larry Reid (Elmhurst-East Oakland) "shameful and damaging. "This level of racism hurts us all," Gonzales said, adding that it is unacceptable for the city's highest-ranking Latino elected official to be shown disrespect and verbally assaulted. The crowd at the Paramount Theatre erupted in jeers when De La Fuente won a 6-2 victory

Smitty's Originally uploaded by lunchmeat . As silent as the media has been about this, I figured I should report that Smitty's -- a local watering hole on Grand Avenue -- was the focus of a robbery two weeks ago on Tuesday. My good friend who owns an establishment on Grand Avenue told me that just before closing two people walked in with guns and held up the patrons, while a third person was behind the wheel of the car. To my knoweldge, they are still at large. I've not been to Smitty's in a long time -- over a year at least, I guess. But given occurences like that one, it makes you wonder if it's a good time to start going. I think I'll stick to home movies. Just kidding. Actually more people out should deter crime, right? It's best for all to be watchful and observant as there have been a large number of robberies and assaults along Grand Avenue. Why all of this is happening, in my view, is due to a large class of underemployed -- not u

Victory for downtown! Originally uploaded by mcjohnnyz . I had to post this because it actually is the best photo of Pat Kernighan I have seen to date. It captures her as natural and happy. It's not a campaign photo at all. I can't agree with "Mcjohnnyz's" assertion that Aimee Allison is anti-growth, however. And the tag of "extremist" is a bit, well, extreme.