🌱 Patch AM: Meet the Anchorage volunteers quietly transforming our community, one act at a time.

Hello Anchorage! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Meet the Anchorage volunteers quietly transforming our community, one act at a time.
• Was Anchorage’s city seal survey hijacked before Tuesday’s Assembly vote?
• How Anchorage is scrambling to keep unhoused neighbors alive in the cold

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Spectacular.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Sunny, windy and cold, with a high of 17 and low of 8 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Sunny, brisk and very cold, temps: high: 13, low: 8.
• Monday: Very cold; breezy in the a.m., with a high of 14 and low of 1 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Every Little Bit: Celebrating Alaska's Quiet Heroes (alaskapublic.org) — Anchorage residents are being celebrated in Alaska Public Media’s new series “Every Little Bit,” which spotlights volunteers cleaning local waterways, supporting youth, and offering mental health advocacy. New short episodes will continue into spring 2026, and community members can nominate Anchorage and Southeast Alaskans who quietly strengthen their neighborhoods.
   

2. Anchorage officials say online survey for new municipal seal was manipulated (alaskapublic.org) — Anchorage officials say an online survey about changing the city’s official seal was hit with likely fraudulent, copy‑and‑paste responses opposing any change, and clouded by misinformation about costs. After discounting suspicious entries, a slim majority of valid responses favor a new design, and the Anchorage Assembly plans to choose one of five options at its meeting Tuesday night.
   

3. Anchorage homeless shelter providers rush to add more beds during cold snap (adn.com) — Anchorage officials have quickly expanded capacity at the East 56th Avenue mass shelter and are directing overflow to the Anchorage Safety Center as subzero temperatures strain already full homeless facilities. Providers say even with added beds, hundreds still sleep outside, and a new multi-agency alert system now helps move people into any openings across the city overnight.
   

4. FBI Anchorage sees increase in fraud schemes (webcenterfairbanks.com) — Anchorage’s FBI field office is warning residents about a rise in phone scams where callers pose as law enforcement or government officials and demand immediate payment, often via cryptocurrency ATMs or prepaid cards. Agents stress that real authorities will never call to threaten arrest for missed jury duty or court dates, and urge Alaskans to stop contact, protect accounts, and report suspected fraud to IC3 and local police.
   

5. Alaska LNG receives final federal permit ahead of schedule (blackchronicle.com) — State-level permits in Anchorage are now the final hurdle before construction can start on the massive Alaska LNG project, which just cleared all federal approvals. The multibillion-dollar pipeline and export terminal could reshape Alaska’s energy economy, with construction targeted to begin in 2026 and first gas flowing by 2029 if investors give the green light.
   

📸 Around Anchorage

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Anchorage

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 14

• 2025 Ugly Sweater Party — Magnetic North Brewing Co
  Magnetic North Brewing Co, 8861 Golovin St, Anchorage
  4:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 14

• Christmas Spectacular
  Mountain City Church , 6401 E Northern Lights Blvd , Anchorage
  5:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Winter Solstice Festival
  Cuddy Family Midtown Park , 201 E 40th Ave , Anchorage
  5:00 pm

📣 Anchorage Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 13

• Lunch with Santa at Extreme Fun Center
  Extreme Fun Center , 3501 E Old Matanuska Rd , Wasilla
  10:00 am
• Coffee with a Veteran at Black Birch Books
  Black Birch Books , 2901 E. Bogard Rd #104 , Wasilla
  10:00 am
• Brunch at Bearpaw River Brewing!
  "Big" Bearpaw River Brewing , 240 E. Railroad Ave. , Wasilla
  11:00 am
• Holiday Afternoon Tea
  South Restaurant + Coffeehouse , 11124 Old Seward Hwy , Anchorage
  2:00 pm

Sunday December 14

• Bright Up The Night
  Alaska State Fair , 2075 Glenn Hwy , Palmer
  5:00 pm
• 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
• 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

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

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Courtesy of AFD
  The Anchorage Police Department recognized AFD Firefighter/Paramedic Scott Luna for his outstanding support during a hostage incident February 21,… (Nextdoor Abbott Loop North)
• What kind of business would you like to see come to Anchorage Alaska?
  Or what kinda of service are hard for people to get or find up here? (Nextdoor Huffman/O'Malley)

• Savers Thrifts Stores posted a job opening for Savers / Value Village Careers - Merchandise Processing Associate in Wasilla. Apply here.
• Target Corporation posted a job opening for Seasonal: Guest Advocate (Cashier), General Merchandise, Fulfillment, Food and Beverage, Front of Store Attendant (Cart Attendant), Style, Tech, Inbound (Stocking) (T2339) 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 demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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