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🌱 Patch AM: How to plunge — or just watch — at Goose Lake Saturday

Also check out Living Alaska Events: Premier Shopping & Marketplace Bingo Series on the Anchorage Patch calendar

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Good morning to you Anchorage! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How to plunge — or just watch — at Goose Lake Saturday
  • Why JBER just banned troops from a popular downtown Anchorage bar
  • Why are Anchorage schools missing a third of their SROs?

Also on today's calendar: Sip+Shop Series and 4 more events.

Find out what's happening in Anchoragefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Anchoragefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Mostly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 18 and low of 11 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Saturday: Sunny, windy and cold, temps: high: 17, low: 8.
  • Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, but cold, with a high of 16 and low of 8 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Anchorage Fire Department prepares Goose Lake for annual Polar Plunge (alaskasnewssource.com) — Anchorage residents planning to join or watch the Polar Plunge at Goose Lake this Saturday should park at UAA’s north lot and ride the shuttle, with the first plungers jumping at 10 a.m. The fundraiser for Special Olympics Alaska has already topped $300,000, and locals can still register or donate online or even on the day of the event.
   

2. JBER commander issues ‘off-limits' order banning military members from downtown Anchorage bar (adn.com) — Military members stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are now temporarily barred from entering the Gaslight Lounge in downtown Anchorage after a series of violent incidents, including a deadly July shooting. The order, issued under emergency authority, could bring Uniform Code of Military Justice penalties for violators and will remain in place while a disciplinary board reviews whether the bar should stay officially off-limits.
   

3. ‘A significant security threat': Anchorage schools operating with five fewer school resource officers than normal (alaskasnewssource.com) — Anchorage schools are currently operating with only 10 school resource officers instead of the usual 15, raising safety concerns from at least one Anchorage School Board member. Anchorage police leaders say officers are working overtime and shifting between schools to maintain coverage, and they plan to eventually restore all 15 positions, but staffing shortages are delaying that timeline.
   

4. Anchorage small businesses face struggles during holiday season (alaskasnewssource.com) — Anchorage small businesses are feeling a tough holiday season, with some reporting 10–20% revenue declines and ongoing pressure from higher shipping, staffing costs, and downtown homelessness. A downtown salon owner says many shops rely on strong December sales to survive the slower, colder months and urges Alaskans to prioritize local shopping over online giants.
   

5. A legend reaches the screen: ‘Two Old Women' headlines second weekend of Anchorage International Film Festival (adn.com) — Anchorage film lovers can catch the Native Voices showcase Saturday at the Anchorage International Film Festival and an encore of “Two Old Women” Sunday at the Anchorage Museum. The locally made adaptation of Velma Wallis’ classic joins several Alaska-connected films, highlighting Indigenous stories, Arctic landscapes, and homegrown filmmakers throughout the festival’s second weekend.
   

📸 Around Anchorage

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Anchorage

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📣 Anchorage Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday December 12
  • Stay and Play at Chugiak-Eagle River
    Anchorage Public Library (Chugiak-Eagle River Library) , 12001 Business Blvd , Eagle River
    11:00 am
    • Sunday December 14
  • Zoo Lights — The Alaska Zoo
    Alaska Zoo , 4731 O'Malley Rd , Anchorage
    5:00 pm
    • Monday December 15
  • Recycle Sutton
    Sutton Transfer Site , 15625 North Glenn Highway , Sutton-Alpine
    2:00 pm
    • Tuesday December 16
  • Youth Group
    Sutton Bible Church , 15748 Glenn Hwy , Sutton-Alpine
    6:00 pm
    • Wednesday December 17
  • Autism Group Meetup
    Kaladi Brothers Coffee , 12350 Industry Way , Anchorage
    5:00 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

  • Savers | Value Village posted a job opening for Retail Warehouse & Production Associate in Wasilla. Apply here.
  • McDonald's posted a job opening for MC DONALD'S starts CREW AT $16/hr dayside, openers, closers, overnights Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, Eagle River, Kodiak 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 couldn’t put it down.
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