🌱 Patch AM: Why Anchorage’s first mpox case in a year still matters

Coffee in hand, Anchorage? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Anchorage’s first mpox case in a year still matters
• Where to see 47 glowing vintage Christmas figures in Anchorage
• How an Anchorage-trained biathlete just secured his 2026 Olympic dream

Also on today's calendar: KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Anchorage.

Today's riddle: How many sheep does it take to make a sweater? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: A thick cloud cover and cold, with a high of 17 and low of 0 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and very cold, temps: high: 3, low: 0.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy and very cold, with a high of 13 and low of 9 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Anchorage man tests positive for mpox, the first case in a year (alaskapublic.org) — Health officials report an Anchorage man has tested positive for mpox, Alaska’s first confirmed case in over a year, and say the infection was likely contracted through out-of-state sexual contact. They stress that risk to the broader community appears low but urge higher‑risk Alaskans to consider vaccination and for providers to test suspicious rashes and report possible cases promptly.
   

2. A night of antiques: Anchorage grandfather keeps Christmas glowing with 47 vintage decorations (alaskasnewssource.com) — Anchorage neighbors can still catch a nostalgic Christmas light show at 7100 Dawn Drive, where Duke Snyder’s 47 vintage plastic decorations stay glowing past the holiday. The longtime Anchorage grandfather keeps the display up through early January, delighting visiting grandkids and anyone who drives by to see Santas, snowmen, and other classic figures shining under fresh snow.
   

3. Juneau's Maxime Germain earns Olympic nod ahead of 2026 Winter Games (alaskasnewssource.com) — An athlete with deep Anchorage roots has punched his ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics. Juneau-born biathlete Maxime Germain, a former West Anchorage High and APU skier who trained with the Anchorage Biathlon Club, secured his spot after career-best World Cup results and becomes the first Alaskan biathlete Olympian since 2010.
   

4. Did Christmas get more expensive? (nomenugget.net) — Anchorage shoppers are paying far less for a traditional Christmas meal than Nome residents, with one comparison pegging Anchorage’s cost at $77 versus $177.45 in Nome. An Anchorage-based researcher says tariffs are quietly adding to Alaskans’ holiday bills, while an air cargo embargo from Anchorage to bush hubs has delayed some Nome store orders and gifts.
   

5. Alaska Airlines embargoes Nome-bound freight ‘til further notice (nomenugget.net) — Alaska Air Cargo has temporarily stopped accepting new freight in Anchorage while it clears a major backlog that’s left Nome grocery shelves bare and disrupted deliveries to several western Alaska hubs. The embargo, in place since Dec. 17 with no firm end date, allows only GoldStreak packages and live animals while other carriers scramble to add flights and keep supplies moving.
   

📸 Around Anchorage

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Anchorage

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 28

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  49th State Brewing - Anchorage, 717 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage
  4:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday January 2

• KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Anchorage
  Cinemark Century Anchorage 16 and XD , 301 E 36th Ave , Anchorage
  11:00 am

📣 Anchorage Shout Outs!

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

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 27

• Coffee with a Veteran at Black Birch Books
  Black Birch Books , 2901 E. Bogard Rd #104 , Wasilla
  10:00 am
• Book Club at Gerrish Library
  Anchorage Public Library (Scott & Wesley Gerrish Library) , 250 Egloff Dr , Girdwood
  4:30 pm

Sunday December 28

• Zoo Lights — The Alaska Zoo
  Alaska Zoo , 4731 O'Malley Rd , Anchorage
  5:00 pm

Monday December 29

• AKtive Soles Happy Run
  AKtive Soles Performance Footwear , 642 S. Alaska St. Ste. 100 , Palmer
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• MyHouse "Morning Meeting with the Mayor"
  Gathering Grounds Cafe , 300 N. Willow St. , Wasilla
  9:00 am
• Youth Group
  Sutton Bible Church , 15748 Glenn Hwy , Sutton-Alpine
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• Weirdo Wednesdays with Misfits
  Shell , 3950 S Knik Goose Bay Rd , Wasilla
  5:00 pm

Friday January 16

• Aladdin Jr.
  The Glenn Massay Theater , 8295 E College Dr , Palmer
  7:00 pm

Saturday March 21

• ALYESKA RESORT,ALASKA (3 Spots Open)
  Alyeska Resort , 1000 Arlberg Ave , Girdwood
  11:00 am

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

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Anchorage PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Still missing!
  Please help! Lost dog- Black chihuahua. She didn’t have her collar on. Last seen around Spinaker between Whaler/Beamreach. Urging everyone to… (Nextdoor Huffman/O'Malley)
• Merry Christmas, neighbors!
  I hope you are enjoying time with family and/or friends (or however you wish to spend the day). May you have more blessings than you can count! (Nextdoor Upper Northeast)

• Panda Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Cook (P1-1384555-0) in Wasilla. Apply here.
• Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Pizza Maker / Cook - No Experience Required 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 have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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