One person was found dead in a single-alarm fire at a residence in SF’s Portola District Tuesday evening, which investigators believe began in the home’s kitchen or living room, causing substantial damage to the interior of the structure.

As KRON4 reports, the fire was reported at 9:24 pm Tuesday on the 500 block of Dwight Street in San Francisco’s Portola District, and firefighters found one person dead inside the building.

It’s believed the fire began in the kitchen or living room, and the interior of the home sustained significant damage, according to KRON4. A nearby home also sustained damage.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, and authorities are investigating. The city medical examiner will determine the cause of death for the deceased. The victim has not been publicly identified.

Image: San Francisco Fire Department

Dia de los Muertos (or the preferable Romeroesque English translation, "Day of the Dead") had its annual procession in the Mission on Friday. Scores of people showed up dressed in white face to take part in the annual remembrance of the dead. Some people showed up to drink beer. Here are a few shots care of saucemeisterq. Enjoy.

Spirits haunting the Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park in Hayward got a little Wessonality last week after a man covered an estimated 150 headstones with vegetable oil. Deepak Sandhar Singh of Hayward slathered the stones with a two-gallon jug of soybean oil that he purchased in order to purify them because they "were evil."

Oakland Tribune goes on to report, "Singh also left small plastic figures, pieces of string and ribbons at several grave sites and was seen by grounds keepers moving flowers between headstones."

The vandalized headstones were discovered by cemetery workers on Thursday. Clean up cost around $5,000. Singh was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.

According to reports, traffic on Geary at Gough and Franklin moves sluggish this morning after a dead body near St. Mary's Cathedral. SF Appeal notes: "Police responded to the area at 7:40, after a passer-by reported seeing a body. According to KTVU broadcast, police say they have recovered a gun from the scene, and say that the deceased person did not appear to be homeless."

Please avoid the area if at all possible.

An inspiration for artists like John Waters, among others, local filmmaker George Kuchar died on September 6 following a battle with cancer. The San Francisco Art Institute released the following statement today: "It is with great sadness that the San Francisco Art Institute announces that George Kuchar, a longtime professor and influential figure in experimental and underground filmmaking, died on September 6, 2011 following a battle with cancer."

While not many knew about Kuchar -- we never heard of him until today, to be honest -- many local art students and creative types chimed in on varying forms of social media to express their sadness and appreciation of his work. "Born and raised in the Bronx, Kuchar was a longtime resident of San Francisco and had taught at the San Francisco Art Institute for over forty years," notes Bay Citizen. "He continued to make films of all kinds while at SFAI, embracing the video revolution of the 1980s and often collaborating with students."

For a small sample of his work, check out the ending of Hold Me While I'm Naked" (1966).

Nancy Ho, the 25-year-old helmetless cyclist who was crashed into a truck at Fremont and Mission on Tuesday morning, succumbed to her injuries and died. If you recall, "Nancy Ho, of San Francisco, was traveling east on Mission Street when she was struck by a westbound Berkeley Farms truck as she turned left onto Fremont street around 8 a.m." Even though Ho and the driver saw a green lights ahead of them, "she was making an illegal left turn." [SFAppeal]

Troy Holden of Caliber snapped these shots of a dead pregnant whale that washed ashore two weeks ago near Bean Hollow Beach in Pesacadero. Holden told SFist that, after arriving at the beach, the stench was "worse than the Old Transbay restroom on a hot Friday night."

ABC 7, who reports that it was a blue whale, notes that the "85-foot whale was found washed up on the beach...with her male fetus just 50 feet away." Scientists don't think the whale died naturally. Why? "Because she's so healthy, they think a ship's propeller may be to blame, but it'll be several days before they know for sure."

The whale also suffered a shark bite, as evidenced in one of the accompanying photos.

Another dead whale also washed ashore on Ocean Beach in late September.

[Caliber]
[KGO]

According to Associated Press, "a publicist for Patrick Swayze says the Dirty Dancing actor has died." He succumbed to pancreatic cancer. He was 57.

Named the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991 by People Magazine, Swayze was best known for his work in the aforementioned ode to dancing in the Catskills, Ghost, and Point Break.

He also crooned "She's Like the Wind" for Dirty Dancing, now a KOIT Radio classic.

According to Henry Schulman at SFGate, San Francisco Giants senior general partner Sue Burns, the team's largest shareholder, died "overnight at 58 after learning she had cancer a little more than a week ago." Manager Bruce Bochy mourns, "These (players) were her kids. We're going to miss her, her smile, coming down by the dugout before every game." While Rich Aurilia said, "This is a huge loss not only for the Giants but everybody who knew her." The Giants are expected to release an official statement later today. Read more about it here.