Peter Gavette is a National Park Service archeologist working to trace the frontiers of a lost world in San Francisco.

He’s looking for concrete posts that marked the edges of the shifting sand dunes that covered nearly all of what is now the city’s Richmond and Sunset districts a century and a half ago. The markers were installed in 1873 to show the limits of the sand dunes that covered what the city called its “Outside Lands.” Though the sand is buried now under thousands of houses and businesses, the Outside Lands name lives on as a celebrated summertime music festival.

But back in 1873, it was another world. This part of San Francisco from the Ocean Beach to the western edge of Twin Peaks from the hill above the old Cliff House all the way south to Lake Merced was nothing but a sandy waste, marked here and there by scrub brush, small brackish lagoons and sand hills.

It was practically a wilderness. There were only a few houses — shacks, really — mostly inhabited by squatters. The sand covered nearly 6 square miles of San Francisco, a considerable hunk of the city. It was inhospitable much of the year. The dunes kept moving, driven by the wind, sometimes as much as a quarter of a mile over a few years.

So the federal government directed the U.S. Coast Survey to mark the edges of the sand in San Francisco as it existed in 1873. The surveyors used the finest instruments of the time to mark and install 20 monuments, each nearly 3-feet high to mark the edge of the sandy desert.

Gavette and other National Park Service scientists became interested in the survey markers and began to track them down.

“It’s part of our history,” Gavette said. The monuments also have scientific value. “They mark the edge of the coastal zone system,” he said. It also involves a bit of detective work, since over time nearly all of the monuments disappeared or were lost, buried under new roads or streets, covered over by plants, discarded, or even stolen.

The National Park Service is involved since many of the markers are in what is now the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Most are buried under the city like monuments of another age.

The first of the 20 markers installed in 1873 was set near Lake Merced, roughly where the Great Highway meets Skyline Boulevard. The others ran in a kind of semicircle, heading northwesterly, following the contours of the land.

They run up toward 19th Avenue in the Sunset district, dip across the middle of Golden Gate Park, head up east as far as the present Sixth Avenue, then follow the line of hills roughly on Anza or Balboa streets in a northwesterly direction to marker number 20 on Sutro Heights Park, on a bluff overlooking the ocean.

Marker number 20 intrigued Gavette. “It was the last one in the original location as far as we could tell,” he said. Gavette and some of his colleagues had searched for Marker 1 at Lake Merced, but it had apparently been paved over in a road-building project. The location of Marker 11 in the botanical garden in Golden Gate Park also appeared promising. “I looked for it,” he said, “but it’s apparently under grass or buried.” So it couldn’t be found.

That left No. 20. I met with Gavette and two of his park service colleagues, Zac Stanley and Craig Scott, at Sutro Heights the other morning to see the last of these monuments. It was just in time.

The marker was half buried in sandy soil on a bluff in a small forest of cypress trees overlooking the old Cliff House and the entrance to the Golden Gate. It’s just past two concrete lions that mark the entrance to Sutro Heights park where Point Lobos Avenue meets 48th Avenue, just above Lands End.

The monument is about 2½ feet long, made of a concrete-like material to resemble a milestone. It was chipped and worn. On the bottom, an inscription: USCS 1873 No 20.

It looked to Gavette like someone had moved the monument a bit, maybe to pry it out of the sand where it had remained for 150 years.

Vandals had tried to tear down two nearby statues — one of Diana the huntress, the other of a stag — not long ago, so the park had taken them down. The Park Service decided to remove Marker 20 to a safe place, construct an exact replica and install it with an interpretive panel to tell the story of the lost sand dunes.

So Gavette, Stanley and Scott pulled the monument upright, set up a temporary antenna, and took measurements to insure the exact location for a new historical marker. Then they picked up Marker 20 and put it in the back of a pickup truck to take it to a safe place. History is heavy: It took three people to move it.

As they worked, the three talked of the past: the time before history, when grizzly bears and tule elk roamed the area. There were humans too: the Yelamu people. Gavette pointed across a city street toward the ocean. “There was a human site there,” he said, “near a fresh water spring.”

But in 1873, when Marker 20 was installed, that bluff on the edge of the ocean looked much different. “There was nothing here, no trees, no forest. That came later,” Gavette said.

Yet not that far away, on the other side of the sand hills, the great city of San Francisco was rising. In 1875, only two years after the Coast Survey was completed, the Palace Hotel, the largest hotel in the United States, opened for business. Mining tycoon Adolph Sutro built a palatial residence and a public park near the survey monument and named the coastal bluff for himself. It was a boom time. The new city expanded westward, and now close to 100,000 people live in the neighborhoods just beyond the Coast Survey’s 1873 line in the sand. 

Carl Nolte’s columns appear in The Chronicle’s Sunday edition. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com

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Before Lou knew of the Victor Heights plot, another developer evicted the residents living in the Craftsman and the single-story Victorian under the Ellis Act as part of a plan to bulldoze them and build 26 luxury apartments on top. When that proposal wasn’t approved, Lou bought the property along with two partners (he owns 20% of the development). One of his partners, Brian Falls, formerly worked for Palisades, the development firm that’s behind 1111 Sunset Blvd.; now, he has his own development company called the Urban House.

“Preservation is not just about the buildings, but also the settings, and the culture,” says architect Jingbo Lou, in front of one of the converted Craftsman bungalows at Alpine Courtyard.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

“Preservation is not just about the buildings, but also the settings, and the culture,” Lou says.

For him, preserving the settings and culture of Victor Heights means reinstituting the commercial fabric of the neighborhood by providing affordable rents for first-time small-business owners.

As part of his research into the neighborhood, Lou found a 1932 picture from USC’s digital library that shows how residential homes were once sandwiched between small retail shops in Victor Heights. All of his tenants at Alpine Courtyard, he says, “are in their mid-30s, have accumulated a lot of experience in their field and were looking for a starting point to have their own business.”

Lou finalized the deal to develop the plot in 2019, which was already zoned for commercial business as part of a 1970 master plan amendment — on account of the area’s proximity to water management district buildings, Elysian Park and major freeway intersections.

Early on, he learned that there was an oil well in the middle of what’s now the courtyard, which would have been a risk factor for the previous developers who planned to build residential units on top. Back in the late 1800s, Victor Heights — named for Victor Beaudry — was a popular area for oil production.

Lou’s plan maintains the existing layout instead of building anew and includes commercial tenants who don’t sleep there overnight.

Banchan shop and cafe Perilla has garnered good reviews and national attention. Owner Jihee Kim serves rolled egg and seaweed, dosirak with blistered cod, kimbap and more.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Yee was the first of the group courted by Lou. He came by her Chinatown kiosk soon after it opened in the spring of 2021 and was impressed by her vegan croissants and fruit danishes. Eventually, he persuaded her to collaborate with him on a second location in Victor Heights.

Once she was brought in, Yee asked her good friend Riley to open a coffee shop, plus Kim, whom she knew from the restaurant world (Kim previously worked at Rustic Canyon and other fine dining restaurants in San Francisco), and also Thompson, whom she had worked with at the now-closed Konbi, to come on board.

Lou jokes that she’s his co-developer on the project. At the new bakery, she’ll continue to serve all of her Baker’s Bench staples, and she hopes to eventually offer hot breakfasts too. “We’ll just slowly grow as we’ve always slowly grown,” she says.

Chef Miles Thompson, left, and business partner Andy Schwartz expect to open a restaurant at the Alpine Street complex that’s an evolution of their pop-up Baby Bistro.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Already, Riley is selling Yee’s croissants, chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon knots at Heavy Water Coffee. He’s also serving a collaborative drink with Perilla, an espresso tonic that utilizes Kim’s fermented umeboshi plum syrup.

“There’s nothing like this in Los Angeles,” says Thompson, who has worked as a chef in L.A. for over 15 years, including at the now-closed Allumette, Michael’s in Santa Monica and Konbi.

The development’s communal dynamic was a big part of its appeal for Schwartz. “In a pretty destination-driven, isolated city, there’s going to be a collective energy here, and I don’t think that’s something that happens so much in Los Angeles,” he says.

“In a pretty destination-driven, isolated city, there’s going to be a collective energy here, and I don’t think that’s something that happens so much in Los Angeles,” says Andy Schwartz.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

At this point in time, the old building that will house the forthcoming restaurant from Schwartz and Thompson is still in the beginning stages of being converted into a new restaurant (rough plumbing, flooring, etc.).

Jumie Ra, a ceramicist who has lived in Victor Heights for 11 years, welcomes the new businesses in Alpine Courtyard. “I’m also a small-business owner, so I think any small business is good, it just doesn’t get a lot of attention here,” she said.

Devin, a newer resident to Victor Heights who preferred to be called by his first name only, said of Heavy Water and Perilla: “They’re a little bougie, but it’s nice to have something, because it’s sparse.”

To Chen, who worries that the culinary hub is “trying to emulate a Silver Lake type of crowd,” a neighbor cup of coffee from Heavy Water that costs $2 is “a nice gesture, and probably well-intentioned,” he says. “But sometimes it’s not about the individual business practices, it’s about the developers and the bigger picture of what’s happening to a neighborhood.”

Alpine Courtyard returns small businesses to a stretch of Victor Heights where shops were once sandwiched between residential homes.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

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A San Francisco woman died Tuesday after falling over the edge of Eagle Falls near Lake Tahoe, authorities said.

The body of Ishrat Binta Azim, 25, was ultimately located in a pool of water on July 4 near Vikingsholm Trail by Emerald Bay State Park, roughly a mile away from the waterfall, according to Sgt. Alexander Sorey, a spokesman for El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

Sorey said officers first responded to a report of a woman going over the waterfall at 2:44 p.m.

Crews from local fire agencies and the California Highway Patrol assisted in Azim’s search, according to law enforcement.

Sorey said it is unclear how Azim went over the edge of the waterfall, but foul play is not suspected.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Gunnar Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn hit a home run as the AL East leaders Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Sunday to secure three of four games in a weekend series.

The Orioles have a two-game lead over the Rays after winning for the 12th time in 15 games.

Mike Baumann (7-0) scored the win in 2 2/3 innings without a hit. Félix Bautista conceded singles to Manuel Margot and Yandy Díaz in the ninth inning before earning his 28th save.

Learn more from the Citrus County Chronicle

Four Baltimore pitchers combined a three-hitter. The Baltimore pitchers went six and hit two batters.

Díaz hit a home run for the Rays, who were down 4:14 in the AL in July. Colin Poche (7-3) had to get the defeat.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his 36th major league home run in the two-way superstar’s last home game before the close and the Angels hit a strong home run.

Ohtani is eligible for free agency this winter and could be on the road before the August 1st trade deadline. But general manager Perry Minasian said the Angels (51-49) are highly unlikely to be able to handle Ohtani if ​​they remain in playoff contention.

Tyler Anderson (5-2) scored eight hits while pitching in the seventh inning for the Angels. Carlos Estévez scored the ninth goal for his 23rd save.

Bryan Reynolds scored for the Pirates, who lost seven of nine games at the break. Mitch Keller (9-6) had to get the defeat.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras each hit a two-run double and the Rangers defeated Max Muncy’s grand slam in the first inning.

Heim cut LA’s lead to 4-2 by the end of the first set before RBI singles from Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung put Texas ahead in the second set.

Missing All-Star hitters Corey Seager (sprained right thumb) and Adolis García (sore right hand) saw the Rangers avoid a three-game win in a division-leaders’ duel.

Texas left-hander Martín Pérez (8-3) allowed six hits in six innings. Dodgers freshman Emmet Sheehan (3-1) allowed eight runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit his first home run since May 20, going 4-4 ​​as the Yankees wrapped up their third straight win of the season.

Gleyber Torres’ two-run home run set off New York’s first four-run inning against Jordan Lyles (1-12). Torres extended his winning streak to 13 games and was eliminated in the seventh game with a strain in his left hip.

Luis Severino (2-4) won for the first time in four starts since June 24.

It was Rizzo’s 15th four-hit game of his career and first since August 4, 2019.

Salvador Perez, Michael Massey, Freddy Fermin and Kyle Isbel earned Kansas City a fifth straight loss.

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit a home run, Adam Duvall drove in two runs and Boston beat New York, clinching two runs from three in their weekend streak.

Boston opened a third inning with four runs with seven straight hits, chasing an ineffective Carlos Carrasco (3-4). Connor Wong had three goals for the Red Sox, who ended up scoring 15.

The win kept Boston (53-47) level with the rival last-place Yankees in the rough AL East. Both are two games away from a playoff spot.

Boston pitched seven pitchers, with Chris Murphy (1-0) throwing 3 2/3 innings to offload opener Brennan Bernardino for his first major league win.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Atlanta star Ozzie Albies hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning, ending Milwaukee’s bullpen dominance.

Albies’ 407-foot shot to left center following a first-pitch sinker by Elvis Peguero (1-3) ended a run of 28 2/3 straight innings scoreless by Brewers-Reliefs.

Atlanta slugger Austin Riley went 0-4 and ended his five-game streak with a Braves-record home run.

Daysbel Hernández (1-0) scored a goalless seventh to secure victory on his big league debut after being called up by Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day. Raisel Iglesias knocked the team out of the field for the 18th time in the ninth round.

SEATTLE (AP) — Pinch hitter Santiago Espinal hit the winning goal in the seventh inning and Toronto closer Jordan Romano avoided a jam in the ninth inning.

Seattle took the runners to second and third with an out in the ninth, but Romano knocked out Julio Rodríguez with a 2-2 slider and knocked out Eugenio Suárez with a flyout for his 27th save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Brandon Belt each hit home runs for the second straight season and helped the Blue Jays recover from late leads in one-run losses on Friday and Saturday. Tim Mayza (2:1) got the win.

Mike Ford scored a two-run shot for the Mariners. Bryan Woo (1-3) was blamed for the loss.

PHILLIES 8, GUARDIANS 5, 10 ININGS

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bryce Harper started with a single in the 10th inning and put on more solid defense in his second career start at first base, leading Philadelphia to the win.

Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel (6-1) failed with his first save in 17 chances of the season when David Fry hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth game.

Kyle Schwarber started the 10th as an automatic runner on second base. Trea Turner went for a walk before Harper hit a single in the middle against Tim Herrin (1-1). JT Realmuto hit a sacrifice fly and Alec Bohm had a two run single to make it 8-4.

Cleveland threatened to come back all the way in the bottom half. Steven Kwan’s single against Jeff Hoffman hit a run and a walk to Tyler Freeman loaded the bases with no outs. Yunior Marte replaced Hoffman and got out of trouble with his second save.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lane Thomas equaled a Nationals record with four stolen bases and Washington recorded its first series sweep in nearly two years.

Riley Adams hit a home run and MacKenzie Gore (6-7) threw five shutout innings for Washington, completing his first sweep since taking on two games against Toronto in August 2021. It was the Nationals’ first three-game series sweep since June 2021 against Pittsburgh.

Joc Pederson hit a home run for San Francisco, which lost its fifth straight game. Scott Alexander (6:1) had to get the defeat.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit his first career leadoff home run and Nick Senzel scored for a two-run shot, helping the Reds finish the three-game sweep.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand had two hits and two RBIs as Cincinnati earned their fifth straight overall win. It was the Reds’ first win over the Diamondbacks since July 6–8, 2007 at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati (55-46) was just a half game ahead of NL Central leaders Milwaukee. The Reds open a three-game set at the Brewers on Monday night.

Derek Law (4-4) secured the win with a scoreless inning. Lucas Sims got two outs for his second save.

Corbin Carroll hit his 21st home run for the Diamondbacks and Ketel Marte went 2 for 2 with three walks. Tyler Gilbert (0-1) suffered the loss.

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit a home run and drove three runs for the Cubs, and Jameson Taillon threw a pitch in the sixth inning.

Dansby Swanson had two hits and Yan Gomes had two runs as Chicago completed a 6-4 home draw. The Cubs won the last three games of their four-game set against the Cardinals.

Taillon (4-6) was burdened with one run and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Nolan Arenado scored three for the disappointing Cardinals, who could be one of baseball’s most active sellers before the Aug. 1 close. Jordan Montgomery (6-8) allowed seven runs, five earned and six hits in six innings.

MARLINS 3, ROCKIES 2, 10 INNINGS

MIAMI (AP) — Luis Arraez scored the winner in the 10th inning with loaded bases and the Marlins ended an eight-game losing streak.

With the Rockies playing five infielders, Arraez hit a line drive into an empty right field in front of Pierce Johnson (1-5). Arraez went 3 for 4, taking his top major league average to a .379.

Huascar Brazoban (4-2) secured the win for Miami, who picked up their first win since the All-Star break.

Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle hit home runs for Colorado.

TWINS 5, WHITE SOX 4, 12 ININGS

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Jeffers hit a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning to cap a late upswing by the Twins that gave them a series win over the White Sox.

Jesse Scholtens (1-3) loaded bases with no one out before enticing Christian Vázquez to hit a 2-0 fastball in a shortstop-to-home-to-first doubleplay. That left a third-place runner for Jeffers, who gave the Twins (53-48) a three-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central, their widest lead in more than five weeks.

Emilio Pagán (5-1) scored a perfect 12th for the win, leaving the automatic runner in his last solid performance in third after a difficult season and a half early in his Twins career.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mauricio Dubón hit a home run with two outs in the ninth inning to give Houston the win.

Yainer Diaz hit his 11th home run for the Astros, who have won four of five and remain three games behind AL West leaders Rangers. Hector Neris (6-2) secured the win and Bryan Abreu made his third save.

Jeremy Pena grabbed a one-out walk against Chad Smith (1-2) but was caught trying to grab second place. Subsequently, Dubón hit his fifth home run of the season.

JJ Bleday hit a home run and two goals for the last-place A’s.

DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson and Andy Ibañez hit a home run and the Tigers avoided a weekend win.

Alex Faedo (2-4), who started with a 6.98 ERA, threw six shutout innings for Detroit. The right-hander allowed one hit and went four.

Beau Brieske and Jason Foley each worked an inning before Alex Lange hit a rainy ninth for his 17th save. With the runners in second and third place, Lange flyballed Gary Sánchez in the middle for the final out.

San Diego right-hander Joe Musgrove (9-3) lost for the first time since May 20 in a 10-start span. He allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.

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HEIGHT: 6’4″

WEIGHT: 247

HAND: 10⅛”

ARM: 34⅝”

SPAN: 83½”

40-YARD RUN: 4.48

3-CONE: 7.26

Shuttle: 4.42

VERTICAL: 30″

WIDE: 10’3″

POSITIVE

– Good start, accelerated well off the ball and posted a 1.56 second 10 yard split at the combine, per RAS.

– As a pass rusher, has some quick twitches that could help him develop stick moves when he gets his hands down.

– Decent bend at the top of the Rush to take tight corners.

– Stays under control and crushes when unblocked against the barrel.

– If he can get his hands on the offensive lineman’s chest, he’ll have the long arms and solid upper body strength to pull off an extension.

– Hustle player who can factor his speed and angles into gang tackles on the field.

NEGATIVES

– Lacks the size and power to be effective with a bull rush.

– Must learn how to use his hands when performing delicate movements; He has the athletic ability but struggles to “hit the hands, hit the man” to pull off clean wins.

– As a running defender, he takes on blocks with poor knee flexion and wide hand placement; He has a weak base, which causes him to lose ground against one-on-one blocks from offensive tackles.

– Also washed inside when sloping or descending blocks.

– Not gap discipline; He has a habit of leaving his assignment to play and trying to make the game without the ability to consistently break away from blocks.

2022 STATISTICS

– 15G, 25 total tackles (16 solo), 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF

REMARKS

– A 4-star recruit in the 2017 class, #107 overall, #8 WDE, as per 247Sports composite rankings

– Injuries: 2022 (unknown, missed spring game), 2023 (foot, missed Shrine Bowl practice week and the game)

– 10 career starts

IN TOTAL

At Georgia, Robert Beal Jr. was used primarily as a pass rush specialist. He was a sixth-grader who did not become a regular starter until Nolan Smith suffered a season-ending injury just halfway through last season.

Beal Jr. is a good athlete, which gives him an advantage as a pass rusher, especially if he can use his hands down, but he’ll be entering the NFL without a go-to move to win with . Of course, that will make it difficult to play a role as a third-down rusher.

Combine that with his age and it’s hard to imagine a team spending more than one late day 3 pick on him. The Bulldog has some experience with special teams, which could help his case.

LEVEL: 5.6 (Backup/Draftable, Rounds 6-7)

OVERALL PLACE: 239

POSITION RANK: EDGE27

PRO COMPARISON: Gerri Green

Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

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Es war eine haarsträubende Wahl, ein Wettbewerb mit hauchdünner Siegesmarge, Wahlverhütung an der Basis und mindestens einem Vorwurf der Hinterlist – und er endete mit einer großen Überraschung.

Die Kandidaten? Seelöwen und wilde Papageien.

Das Rennen? In einer Umfrage des San Francisco Chronicle zum inoffiziellen Stadttier von San Francisco ernannt zu werden.

Die grüngefiederten, rothaarigen Papageien, die wild in der Stadt leben. Ausgelassen und voller Persönlichkeit sind sie Eindringlinge, die San Francisco ab Ende der 1980er Jahre zu ihrer Heimat gemacht haben, als einige davon aus einer Tierhandlung geflohen sein sollen.

Sie sind seit langem ikonische Bewohner von SF, aber diese Woche erzielten die Vögel einen Überraschungssieg, der sie für immer als Symbol der weltberühmten Stadt verankern könnte. Obwohl die Umfrage der Zeitung nur zum Spaß war, haben die städtischen Aufsichtsbehörden Gesetze erlassen, um die Ergebnisse offiziell zu machen.

Der Sieg der wilden Papageien ist eine Underdog-Geschichte, komplett mit Nuancen politischer Intrigen und Kulturgeschichte – aber die Geschichte spricht auch von der Suche der Menschen nach Leichtsinn in der Zeit nach der Pandemie.

Mehr als 27.000 Menschen gaben ihre Stimme in den vier Runden der Chronicle-Umfrage ab, wobei mehr als 8.000 an der Endrunde teilnahmen. Die berühmten Seelöwen der Stadt – die in der Bucht beheimatet sind und Millionen von Touristen anziehen, wenn sie sich auf dem Dock am Pier 39 sonnen – waren die Favoriten auf den Sieg.

Die Papageien kreischten jedoch mit nur 227 Stimmen mehr als die Seelöwen und gewannen mit 51 Prozent, berichtete der Kulturkritiker des Chronicle, Peter Hartlaub, am Montag.

„Die wilden Papageien sind wirklich die perfekte Metapher für die San Franciscos“, sagte Hartlaub der Washington Post. „Ich denke darüber wie einige unserer größten San Franciscos, das heißt [their] Geschichte auch. Robin Williams war ein wilder Papagei, Harvey Milk war ein wilder Papagei.“

Hartlaub und Chronicle-Kolumnistin Heather Knight, die gemeinsam einen Podcast moderieren, starteten das Projekt als von March Madness inspirierten Wettbewerb, nachdem sie feststellten, dass die Stadt kein offizielles Tier hatte.

Die beiden zielen manchmal darauf ab, Geschichten zu behandeln, die als Erinnerung an die Wunder von San Francisco dienen, und Hartlaub, der oft Geschichtskolumnen schreibt, bemerkte, dass die Stadt eine Tradition hat, selbst in schwierigen Zeiten Freude zu finden. Sie waren sich nicht sicher, ob die Umfrage bei den Lesern ankommen würde, aber sie dachten, es würde Spaß machen, über Tiere zu schreiben.

„Die Menschen in San Francisco sind im Moment im Allgemeinen so niedergeschlagen, mit so vielen Krisen – Obdachlosigkeit und die Fentanyl-Epidemie und Erschwinglichkeitsprobleme – und kämpfen immer noch damit, die Innenstadt wieder aufzubauen“, sagte Knight, der viele dieser Probleme behandelt. „Die Leute sind irgendwie begierig auf lustige, fröhliche Geschichten, um sich daran zu erinnern, warum es sich lohnt, in San Francisco zu leben.“

Trotzdem waren die Reporter schockiert, sagten sie der Post am Dienstag, als sich herumsprach, offizielle Gruppen begannen, Partei zu ergreifen und Tausende von Stimmen eingingen. Die Ergebnisse waren auch überraschend – zum Beispiel wurden Möwen früh eliminiert – ebenso wie der Vorstand die rasche Gesetzgebung der Aufsichtsbehörden als Reaktion. Nächste Woche sollen sie abstimmen.

Der Ruhm der Vögel stieg nach dem Dokumentarfilm „The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill“ aus dem Jahr 2003, in dem die Filmemacherin Judy Irving die Geschichte der Beziehung der Vögel zu Mark Bittner erzählte, einem ehemals obdachlosen Musiker, der 1993 begann, die Papageien zu bemerken Es gibt Legenden darüber, wie sie in die Stadt gelangten. Es wird als wahrscheinlich angesehen, dass der Schwarm mit Vögeln begann, die aus einer Tierhandlung entkommen waren. Heute findet man sie in der ganzen Stadt, sagte Irving in einem Interview.

„Das ist eine Art große Anerkennung für die Papageien, dass die Stadt sie als die farbenfrohen, lebendigen Einwanderer akzeptiert hat, die sie sind“, sagte Sarah Lemarié, CEO von Mickaboo, einer gemeinnützigen Vogelrettungsorganisation, die mit der Papageienherde arbeitet.

Einige San Franciscaner haben noch nie einen gesehen, hörte Lemarié während des Abstimmungsprozesses – aber „sie sind leicht zu finden. Gehen Sie einfach jeden Morgen in den Park beim Fährgebäude, und sie werden dort sein.“

“Ein klassischer politischer Kampf”

Das Matchup zwischen Vögeln und Säugetieren fand statt, nachdem die Wähler einen nicht hundertjährigen Lungenfisch, eine gefährdete Schlange, einen einheimischen blauen Schmetterling und andere Kandidaten eliminiert hatten. Krabben, die in der San Francisco Bay weit verbreitet sind, und ein Albino-Alligator namens Claude, der an der California Academy of Sciences lebt, waren unter den letzten vier.

Der Papageienschwarm besteht aus etwa 220 in San Francisco geborenen Vögeln, Generationen nachdem der erste Rotmaskensittich, wie der Vogel ornithologisch genannt wird, gegen Ende der 1980er Jahre auftauchte. Die Vögel, die auch als Kirschkopfsittiche bekannt sind, haben sich mit einer anderen Art, dem Gehrungssittich, gepaart, was die Herde einzigartig in San Francisco macht, sagte Lemarié.

Die Stadt verbietet es den Menschen, Papageien zu füttern, und Befürworter wollen nicht, dass San Francisco sie als Haustiere mit nach Hause nimmt. Die Papageien sind nicht bei allen beliebt, räumte Irving ein, einschließlich derjenigen, die die einheimische Fauna bevorzugen.

Seelöwen waren in drei Abstimmungsrunden der klare Spitzenreiter, Papageien belegten einen entfernten zweiten Platz, sagte Hartlaub. Die Meeressäuger hatten einen solchen Vorsprung, dass Hartlaub einmal überprüfte, ob die Online-Wahlurnen nicht geradezu vollgestopft waren.

Seelöwen leben entlang der Westküste; Männchen ziehen im Frühjahr und Herbst in die Bucht von San Francisco. Sie kamen nach dem Erdbeben von Loma Prieta 1989 zum ersten Mal zum Pier 39 und ließen sich auf einem neu fertiggestellten Dock nieder, das nicht von Booten besetzt war, sagte Adam Ratner, stellvertretender Direktor für Naturschutzausbildung beim Marine Mammal Center.

Viele fanden die wilden Papageien symbolisch für San Franciscos Geist und verwandt mit den vielen Menschen, die in die Stadt ziehen. Seelöwen hingegen sind die Wächter der Stadt, die am Wasser stationiert sind, und ihr Botschafter, der mit ihrem freundlichen Bellen Besucher in den Jachthafen lockt.

„Jeder von ihnen symbolisierte San Francisco auf seine eigene Weise, also wurden sie irgendwie zu den perfekten letzten beiden“, sagte Knight. „Seelöwen sind Ureinwohner, und einheimische San Franziskaner sind wirklich stolz darauf, einheimische San Franziskaner zu sein. … [The parrots] sind die Neuankömmlinge in San Francisco, die nicht gebürtig sind, aber sehr lustig und bunt und laut sind.“

Pier 39 und andere Gruppen drängten auf Seelöwen, während Mickaboo, Filmemacher Irving und andere die Papageien förderten.

Im Chronicle beobachteten Knight und Hartlaub letzte Woche an vier spannenden Tagen, wie die endgültigen Abstimmungen eingingen, und sahen, wie die Führung vier- oder fünfmal hin und her schwankte. Nachdem andere Tiere eliminiert worden waren, schlossen sich Menschen, die gegen Seelöwen waren, hinter den wilden Papageien an, theoretisierten die Reporter.

Die Papageien-Anhänger begannen hart zu arbeiten, um Stimmen zu gewinnen, sagte Irving und nannte es einen harten Kampf. Sie waren letzte Woche „rasend“, das Rennen „schaukelte“.

„Es war auch eine Art klassischer politischer Kampf, weil wir das Gefühl hatten, dass wir die mutigen Unabhängigen gegen die, vielleicht könnte man es die Tourismuslobby der Unternehmen nennen“, sagte Irving. “Es hat Spaß gemacht.”

Mickaboo, das Papageien aus der Herde rettet, wenn sie krank oder verletzt sind, hatte letzte Woche einen Freiwilligen, der mit einem Kakadu durch die Straßen der Stadt ging und fast 100 Stimmen errang, sagte Lemarié.

„Wir wussten, dass die Seelöwen starke Unterstützung hatten, und wir wussten, dass die Abstimmungen nur noch wenige Tage vor dem Ende sehr knapp waren“, sagte Lemarié. „Wir sind begeistert, dass wir es geschafft haben, den Sieg zu kratzen.“

Ein dramatischer Moment kam, als der offizielle Twitter-Account der Stadt San Francisco Seelöwen zu unterstützen schien, indem er einen Pier 39-Post retweetete, in dem er um die Stimmen der Menschen bat und hinzufügte: „Ich muss unsere @sfgov Sea Lions lieben.“

Die Stimmen für Seelöwen schossen in die Höhe, aber nachdem Papageien-Anhänger „Fleisch geweint“ hatten, wie Hartlaub auf Twitter schrieb – Stadtaufseher Aaron Peskin sagte der Post, er habe gegen die „Schwindel“ der Stadt bei der möglichen Beeinflussung von Stimmen protestiert – löschte die Stadt den Tweet.

Dennoch war sich Hartlaub irgendwann so sicher, dass die Seelöwen gewinnen würden, dass er seinen Artikel entwarf, in dem er sie als Sieger krönte. Am nächsten Morgen, als die Papageien die Führung übernahmen, musste er die Geschichte umschreiben.

„Das war eine große Überraschung“, sagte Hartlaub. „Und ich hatte die Seelöwen-Geschichte geschrieben, also war es ein ‚Dewey besiegt Truman‘-Moment mit geliebten Tieren aus San Francisco.“

Auf der anderen Seite war sich die Stadtaufseherin Myrna Melgar so sicher, dass die Vögel gewinnen würden, dass die Mitarbeiter die Resolution im Voraus entwarfen, sagte sie dem Chronicle. Melgar, deren Familie vor dem Bürgerkrieg in El Salvador geflohen ist, sagte Knight, sie habe am Freitag Kerzen angezündet, in der Hoffnung auf den Sieg der Papageien, und gesagt, die Vögel seien „tropische Wesen wie ich, die in San Francisco Zuflucht und Freiheit gefunden haben“.

„Ähnlich wie jene Einwanderer, die sich in San Francisco niederließen und dort Familien gründeten, haben Herden von Wildpapageien, die nach San Francisco importiert wurden, seitdem neue Generationen von Herden aus San Francisco gezüchtet“, heißt es in der Resolution. „Die Wild Parrots of San Francisco sind zu einem Symbol für die Vielfalt, Geselligkeit und Widerstandsfähigkeit der Stadt geworden.“

Wenn der Beschluss vom Aufsichtsrat der Stadt angenommen wird, bedarf es der Zustimmung des Bürgermeisters, bevor die Vögel in die Liste der offiziellen Maskottchen der Stadt aufgenommen werden – eine Blume, ein Weihnachtsbaum, eine Musikkapelle und mehr.

Am Dienstag veröffentlichte Salty the Sea Lion, das Maskottchen von Pier 39, eine Konzessionsrede auf Twitter: „Im Namen meiner Seelöwenfreunde hier im K-Dock geben wir den wilden Papageien von Telegraph Hill nach“, sagt der Seelöwe in einem animiertes Video.

„Obwohl dies im Moment eine schwierige Fischgräte zu schlucken ist … halten wir unsere Flossen hoch.“

Obwohl alle Seiten anerkannten, dass der Wettbewerb viel Spaß gemacht hatte, hatte der Sieg Bedeutung für diejenigen, die eng mit den wilden Papageien zu tun hatten. Als Irving mit der Produktion von „The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill“ begann, erinnerte sie sich, hoffte Bittner, die Papageien so populär zu machen, dass die Herde niemals aus der Stadt entfernt werden konnte.

„Ich habe das Gefühl, dass wir 20 Jahre später den Deal über die Popularität der Papageien wirklich besiegelt haben“, sagte Irving, der gerade dabei ist, den Film für den Vertrieb an Streaming-Dienste zu remastern. „Wir haben es im Grunde so gemacht, dass Marks ursprünglicher Wunsch jetzt in Erfüllung geht.“

Es war auch in anderer Hinsicht ein Moment, in dem sich der Kreis schloss: Nach dem Dreh des Dokumentarfilms heirateten Irving und Bittner. Ihre Hochzeit wurde von Peskin zelebriert – der jetzt der Präsident des Aufsichtsrats der Stadt ist. Am Dienstag unterstützte er Melgars Beschluss, Papageien zum offiziellen Tier der Stadt zu machen.

Peskin lebt seit Jahrzehnten auf Telegraph Hill, wo er die Papageien von seinem Haus aus beobachtet. Obwohl er Seelöwen lobte, gab er zu, dass er bei dem Wettbewerb Partei ergriffen hatte: „Letztendlich habe ich mich für die Papageien entschieden“, sagte der Aufseher, der bei seiner Kandidatur ein „Papageien für Peskin“-Plakat hatte.

„Wenn Sie sehen, wie diese Vögel gemeinsam fliegen oder sich kopfüber in einem Baum versammeln“, sagte Peskin der Post, „ist es nur ein kleiner Moment, der Ihren Tag verändert und Sie daran erinnert, dass Sie in einer wunderschönen Welt leben.“

Sowohl Seelöwen- als auch Wildpapageienliebhaber sagten, der Wettbewerb habe dazu beigetragen, das Bewusstsein für die Kreaturen zu schärfen. Seelöwen können durch Plastikverschmutzung und alles andere, was die Ozeane schädigt, bedroht werden, während eine bestimmte Anzahl wilder Papageien jedes Jahr durch Rattengift krank wird, das von Anwohnern verwendet wird.

Mickaboo, das jedes Jahr Tausende für die Rettung der Vögel ausgibt, bittet die Bewohner, Rattengift nicht freizügig zu verstreuen, insbesondere nicht auf Dächern.

Im Marine Mammal Center, das das weltweit größte Krankenhaus für solche Tiere hat, forderte Ratner die Menschen, die sich für den Wettbewerb begeistern, auf, andere Schutzmaßnahmen zu unterstützen. „Wir werden Team Sea Lion bleiben, aber … ob es die Papageien sind, ob es das Meer ist Löwen, es gibt so viel, was wir tun können, um diese Tiere zu unterstützen.“

Obwohl Salty einräumte und Ratner sagte, sein Kontingent habe keine Pläne, den Aufsichtsrat zu einer erneuten Entscheidung zu bewegen, ist es nicht vorbei, bis es vorbei ist: Im Chronicle werden Knight und Hartlaub nächste Woche über die Abstimmung des Aufsichtsrats berichten.

„Politik in San Francisco kann wirklich animiert sein, wäre eine nette Art, es auszudrücken“, sagte Knight. „Ich wäre also nicht überrascht, wenn etwas Verrücktes passiert.“

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MP Kevin Mullin

Legislative district drafts released this week would likely remove Assembly Speaker Tem Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, from the district that represents much of the county, in addition to Rep. Evan Low, D-Campbell, to a district with the MP Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto.

The maps used to elect state lawmakers for the next 10 years are rebuilt every 10 years to coincide with the release of the census data to maintain roughly equal populations across counties as population densities change. Given the requirement that the legislature be based in the district it represents, this can lead to conflicts if a new card moves a legislature out of its or another’s district.

“Our place of residence would be likely [be] outside the congregation’s proposed district boundaries, ”Mullin said in an email. “However, this is only the first draft card and I expect more changes so we will continue to follow the process. Regardless, representing the people of San Mateo County on the state capitol has been the honor of my life, and I have over a year left in my tenure.

Mullin, who has served in the congregation since 2012, will be removed from office in 2024 regardless of the final card. Berman could spend an additional six years in the congregation if he was re-elected next year, and Low has four years before reaching his term in office. The offices of Berman and Low did not respond to requests from members of the congregation.

The district maps are created by the independent California Redistribution Commission, which creates the maps over several weeks. Districts must also be elected in such a way that People of Color are empowered to choose their preferred representatives, a key concern during the process. The maps are likely to evolve by the December 27th deadline.

The 22nd Congregation District, represented by Mullin, spans most of the peninsula from South San Francisco to Redwood City. The new district boundary would shift to include a sizable portion to the southeast, including Half Moon Bay, and to the north the district would experience a slight decrease – the change Mullin could rule out.

The 24th district, currently represented by Berman, has seen remarkable changes. Currently, the district encompasses Menlo Park to Sunnyvale and west of Half Moon Bay to Pescadero. The new map divides the region into east and west and divides the coast into one large district that extends to Santa Cruz and inland to Morgan Hill. The eastern part including Palo Alto, where Berman lives, would be in a district that would extend into part of Campbell, possibly including Low’s residence.

The proposed Senate map leaves things relatively unchanged for the peninsula. The 13th district, represented by State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, is getting a slight extension to the north and shifting to the southern border that would see Saratoga included and Sunnyvale excluded.

The cards are currently in a two-week review period ending November 24th during which they cannot be changed. Public comment sessions begin on November 17th. The new cards will come into effect from the elections in November 2022.

Go to wedrawthelinesca.org to view the maps or learn more about the process.

corey@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200, diam. 105

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It could be true that anyone who grew up with a Christmas tradition can remember the exact moment when they stopped believing that Santa Claus was real. It is equally true that parents can remember when their child found out or learned that Santa Claus is not a real person and these gifts did not magically appear under the tree courtesy of a bearded old man with chimney hopping. But there is no manual that says exactly when that should happen, and the father is there

David (Mark Bradbury), Father of two young children, Jenna and Andy, is determined to make the magic of Christmas last, at least until his children find out for themselves that Santa is just a lovable legend. David remembers his exact moment of disbelief when he was just 4 years old and wants his own children to enjoy the magic and mystery for much longer, developing sophisticated rules and tricks, treasure hunts and tricks to keep them under the spell Santa Claus draw.

When a family tragedy strikes, grief threatens to overwhelm Christmas traditions, but David redoubles efforts to make the vacation meaningful and full of Santas. David wages an uphill battle full of dark and sunny surprises and has to grapple with reality – his very real children – and his own vacation dreams. Gentle humor softens the melancholy and creates an amusing antidote to holiday dullness.

Bringing his superb acting skills to the role, Bradbury mimics his kids, Santa’s department store and David’s storytelling father with serenity. The opening night felt like he hadn’t fully settled into the character yet. As a thorough professional, he will no doubt rise into the role on future appearances.

This is the fourth iteration of the local playwright David Templeton‘s popular play, and directed his second time. The script could be tighter in the middle of the section, but its overall warmth and charm carry a meaningful theme and a sweet vacation spirit.

In just 75 minutes polar bears can definitely help get you in the mood cutting down trees and baking cookies for Santa in your house.

polar bears

By David Templeton, presented by the Left Edge Theater

Until December 15, 2019

Wed at 8 p.m., Sat at 4 p.m., Sun at 7 p.m.

Theater on the left

Studio Theater, Luther Burbank CFA

50 Mark West Springs Road

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 546-3600

http://www.leftedgetheatre.com

Photos by Katie Kelley

Jeanie K. Smith can be reached at jksmith614@gmail.com
Jeanie K. Smith has served in the Bay Area theater community for over 30 years as director, dramaturge, acting instructor, designer, performer, and reviewer, and is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle, the Marquee Theater Journalists Association, and the American Theater Critics Association. Jeanie has a Ph.D. in drama from the University of Washington and has trained with Paul Richards, Gerald Hiken, Corey Fischer and Ed Hooks, among others. Her academic writing has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies (as Jeanie Forte), and her director has received the Dean Goodman Choice Award, several South Bay Small Theater Awards, and Theater Bay Area Award nominations. Jeanie currently resides in Sonoma County with her husband and their adorable Rescue Chihuahuas.

The post Polar Bears introduced by Left Edge Theatre appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – The numbers are staggering and San Francisco residents are now sounding the alarm over the rising number of brazen break-ins in the city.

A recent example is a video posted on Nextdoor given to KPIX 5 by a homeowner in the Cow Hollow neighborhood. It shows a man attempting to break into a house at 1:52 am on August 22nd, shattering a sense of security.

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The homeowner didn’t want his identity to be revealed, but others say these attempted break-ins were widespread.

“Our neighbor was broken into and had had another break-in a month earlier,” said Ginny Fang, who lives in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco.

A spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department said they have received more reports of garage break-ins lately.

“We are doing everything we can to increase patrols and ultimately arrest those who commit these crimes,” said SFPD officer Robert Rueca.

CONTINUE READING: Fire Sweeps Through Home in South San Jose; 1 person badly burned, dog killed

Fang said thieves stole four of her family’s bicycles by breaking them and walking in a few weeks ago.

“You’re taking a walk around the neighborhood and you see so many holes just punched in garages and wires, the same wire we hooked up with. You see them lying around in the street,” said Fang.

Another victim, whose home was broken into in late August, posted a photo to KPIX 5 after gathering information about more than 50 incidents from other neighbors.

In San Francisco, burglaries were up 42% in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period in 2019. In the northern district, which includes Pacific Heights, Marina, North Beach and Cow Hollow, the figure is 59%. 79% in Mission and 50% in Richmond.

“It’s so hard, the destabilizing feeling, and so much is already happening in the world and even the basic sanctity of your home,” said Fang.

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