🌱 Patch AM: How Anchorage residents can tap new SBA disaster aid now

Hey there, Anchorage! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Anchorage residents can tap new SBA disaster aid now
• Remember when downtown Anchorage had a bar full of monkeys?
• How troopers say a Wasilla man ended up facing animal cruelty charges

Today's riddle: What did the stop sign say to the yield sign? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Cold; breezy in the morning, with a high of 19 and low of 6 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and very cold, temps: high: 11, low: 5.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and very cold, with a high of 12 and low of 3 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. SBA Orders Sweeping Audit of 8(a) Firms as Alaska Disaster Aid Tops $3M (mychesco.com) — Anchorage residents affected by Typhoon Halong can now get walk-in help at an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in the city, with over $3 million in federal loans already approved statewide. The SBA is also conducting a sweeping audit of all 8(a) firms nationwide, while urging Alaskans, including subsistence households, to apply for physical damage and economic injury loans before upcoming deadlines.
   

2. The Monkey Wharf, boxing and Visions premium television: The context of a single night in 1980 Anchorage (adn.com) — Anchorage’s wilder side in the late 1970s and early ’80s comes alive through the story of the Monkey Wharf nightclub, early premium TV service Visions, and big-name boxing matches beamed into local bars. This deep dive into Anchorage history traces how a monkey-filled bar, evolving cable companies, and changing downtown nightlife reflected the city’s oil-boom era culture and crime.
   

3. GRAPHIC: Man charged with animal cruelty after puppies found dead (alaskasnewssource.com) — Anchorage-based Alaska State Troopers say a Wasilla man has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after several puppies were found dead and one severely neglected. Investigators recovered one surviving puppy, believed to have parvovirus, that will likely need to be euthanized, while the suspect was arrested on an outstanding warrant and given $500 bail.
   

4. Alaskans react after Australia shooting at Hanukkah celebration (alaskasnewssource.com) — Anchorage’s Jewish community is tightening security for a Hanukkah celebration at the Egan Center while publicly expressing solidarity with victims of a deadly attack at a Sydney beach celebration. Congregation Beth Sholom plans a special moment of prayer this Friday, and Alaska Jewish Campus says Alaskans are uniting in a strongly secured, community-wide show of support.
   

📸 Around Anchorage

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📣 Anchorage Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 15

• Recycle Sutton
  Sutton Transfer Site , 15625 North Glenn Highway , Sutton-Alpine
  2:00 pm
• AKtive Soles Happy Run
  AKtive Soles Performance Footwear , 642 S. Alaska St. Ste. 100 , Palmer
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• MyHouse "Morning Meeting with the Mayor"
  Gathering Grounds Cafe , 300 N. Willow St. , Wasilla
  9:00 am
• GWCC Holiday Gathering
  Evangelo's Restaurant , 2530 E Parks Hwy. , Wasilla
  11:30 am
• Guided Hikes for Seniors — Revel Treks & Tours
  Gold Mint Trailhead , Fishhook-Willow Rd , Palmer
  1:00 pm
• Youth Group
  Sutton Bible Church , 15748 Glenn Hwy , Sutton-Alpine
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Santa Skis Free Day
  Alyeska Resort , 1000 Arlberg Ave , Girdwood
  10:30 am
• Bereavement Support with Ancora Home Health & Hospice
  Ancora Home Health & Hospice , 3831 E. Blue Lupine Dr. Suite B , Wasilla
  1:00 pm
• Lego My Library
  Valdez Consortium Library , 212 Fairbanks PO Box 609 , Valdez
  3:30 pm
• Autism Group Meetup
  Kaladi Brothers Coffee , 12350 Industry Way , Anchorage
  5:00 pm
• Girdwood, AK - Alyeska Sitzmark Bar & Grill
  Sitzmark Bar & Grill , 100 Olympic Mountain Loop , Girdwood
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Update: potentially seen on the highway near Potters Marsh.
  Please keep an eye out and call the numbers. Missing Husky Klatt, Old Seward area. Dragging a leash. Skittish. Please do not chase and call one of… (Nextdoor Rogers Park)
• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
  FOUND on October 1, 2025 in Anchorage, AK 99504 near Sherrie Street and 34th Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Upper Northeast)

• McDonald's Restaurants posted a job opening for MC DONALD'S Crew Start at $16/hr openers, closers, dayside Anchorage, Kodiak, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer in Wasilla. Apply here.
• Kroger posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Wasilla. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Anchorage here.

Ok Anchorage! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know either. They were speaking in sign language.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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