After some debate on the authenticity of Dolores Aguilar's obit in the Vallejo Times-Herald, which if you recall was shockingly brutal, we got to the bottom of it all. Turns out Aguilar's obit is real - mighty real, according to an anonymous editorial spokesperson at VHT. In order to publish the damning obit, the editor staff did something unprecedented. "We demanded to see Aguilar's death certificate brought in by a blood relative" before going......

Warms the heart, doesn't it? Above obit found in the Times-Herald Napa/Sonoma. Oh, and be sure to read the guestbook here. (Thanks Jameth!) UPDATE I: Cruel obit page pulled late Sunday afternoon. Huh. Fake obit at Vallejo Times-Herald? Change of heart? Trickery? Stay tuned. UPDATE II: It's real, folks. Read more about it here.......

Here's todays wrap up of the news...

This was not a very happy week for the -ist network as one of our own, Phillyist co-editor Star C. Foster, passed away early in the week. Her wit, intelligence, and good nature shone through the site, making Phillyist an immensely fun read. She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Phillyist paid tribute to her this week with a heartfelt letter to her and an obituary. And now, the awkward......

We saw the saddest obituary last week in the Chron, for the death of Sarah Tucker, a 26-year-old Mission resident who was killed in a hit-and-run bicycle accident on Polk and Geary Street on Thursday January 12. Witnesses reported seeing a black Honda CRV run a yellow light, and heard Tucker loudly shout "Hey!" before she was struck. The driver, reported to be an African-American man in his 40s, then turned off his headlights to hinder the reading of his license plate and drove away. Tucker, who was wearing her helmet, suffered severe head injuries and died shortly afterwards. Tucker, as she was known, was returning home from the Tango, Tango dance party when she was killed. Tucker was a fundraiser for the Cal Academy of Sciences by day and a filmmaker/DJ at night, volunteering for the SF Film Society, screening movies for the SF Int'l Film Fest, and running the Pretty Young Thing dance party at the Make-Out Room, among many other activities. As the obit says, "Sarah loved pugs, soul music, dancing, acronyms, sticky buns, fashion and aesthetics." If you see a black Honda CR-V with a large dent in its side on the passenger door, call SFPD Inspector Pat Tobin of the hit-and-run division at (415) 553-1641 or the confidential tip line (415) 575-4444. There's a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Please, folks, ride and drive safely out there. You probably love pugs and sticky buns too. ...

We don't know that it'll necessarily have any bearing on the discussion over the landmarking of San Francisco's Doggie Diner sign, but SFist wanted to note the passing of the sign's designer last weekend. Harold Sherwood Bachman designed the giant rotating dachshund heads for Al Ross, the owner of the chain. According to the Chronicle's obituary: "Mr. Bachman picked a dachshund because the menu featured 'wiener dogs,'' he said. 'I just made the drawings,'' Mr.......