5️⃣ The Hanover Five: February 27 – March 5

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Find Your Retirement Timeline

If you noticed there was no newsletter last week… congratulations, you’re attentive.

I was locked out of everything.

The newsletter.
My email.
Social media.
MY BANK ACCOUNT!!

Apparently a tiny part inside my iPhone decided it was done with me. What I thought would be a simple repair turned into a two-week saga featuring multiple trips to York and a “temporary phone” that functioned mostly as a decorative coaster.

Pro tip: if you break your iPhone, just drive to Lancaster. The Geek Squad is lovely. The system they’re working inside of is not.

The real plot twist? Two-factor authentication. When your phone breaks and your entire digital life depends on your phone working… things get existential fast.

For nine months I’ve lived in Hanover’s Facebook groups. Every post. Every comment. Every mildly unhinged parking debate. Being cut off from that stream of chaos was oddly peaceful. Being cut off from the tools I need to run this newsletter was not.

Everything is fixed now. The newsletter software finally let me back in. I exhaled.

And while I was offline, I had time to think.

What actually matters here?

Not endless scrolling.
Not 27 loosely connected events.
Not digital noise.

Presence.

So I’m trying something new.

Let me introduce you to The Hanover Five.

It’s inspired by a simple grounding practice: notice what you see, hear, taste, touch, and do. That’s it. Five anchors that pull you into the present moment.

Instead of overwhelming you, here are five things to notice.

Let’s be here on purpose.

This newsletter runs on people who believe Hanover deserves connection.

Thank you to our founding supporters:

Darlene · Brian · Holly · Andy

You didn’t just subscribe. You invested.

Right now I’m building an actual WordPress site with a real, mobile-friendly events calendar. No more pinching and zooming like it’s a third generation iPhone.

I’m also applying for additional funding through the Cultural Alliance of York County Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant. The intention is to scale Heart of Hanover into a tool that serves both readers and local businesses. I’m talking better infrastructure, clearer event visibility, and real support for small businesses trying to reach the right people.

If you’ve ever used this newsletter to plan your weekend, discover a business, or feel less alone here… now’s the moment.

Become a Founding Supporter and help fund the next phase of Heart of Hanover. 🧡

Let’s build the thing we keep saying we wish existed.

THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS SPONSORED BY FISHER INVESTMENTS:

Time Opening Reception @ Gallery at the Old Post Office
📍 141 Broadway
📅 Sunday, March 1 | 🕐 1 – 2:30 PM

A new exhibit is opening this weekend called Time, which feels mildly existential in the best way.

Artists were invited to explore the passing of time through their work. Maybe that’s through a literal expression like a watch or calendar. Or maybe it’s a more layered expression showing things that move whether we’re paying attention or not like generations, aging hands, erosion, growth.

Time is slippery. We try to hold it anyway.
We chase it. Waste it. Cherish it. Fear it.
Even as it slips through our fingers, we measure it.

The Time exhibit runs through April 23, but opening day is when it hums. Go Sunday while the room is still buzzing. Talk to an artist instead of just nodding thoughtfully. Ask what inspired the piece.

And if you feel that little spark, consider submitting your own work for the next exhibit, Bold.

Hope to see you there.

Church of Satire has two shows this weekend.

Friday, February 27: Ack Ackers returns with a lineup of regional comics. Fast sets. Strong material. Local energy done right.

Saturday, February 28: The Confessional Show with “Not the Father” James Finn featuring a secret list of comedians sharing their transgressions in a not-so-religious confessional booth. Stand-up. Improvisation. Mild public embarrassment.

Tickets are $20. Buy them online before you talk yourself out of leaving the house.

Winter makes people weird. 2026 makes people weirder. Laughter is still cheaper than therapy. Don’t let the insurance companies know or else they’ll start charging a co-pay.

More into live music?

Faded Denim plays at The Circle on Saturday at 7 PM.

The Ridge Runners take over Avalon Ale House Saturday from 8 – 11 PM.

Pick your vibe accordingly.

THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS SPONSORED BY 1440 MEDIA:

GrillRilla
📍 120 E Chestnut Street
🕚 11 AM – 8 PM (closed Sunday)

There are restaurants you try. And there are restaurants you think about at 3:42 PM on a random Tuesday.

GrillRilla is the second one. I’m not exaggerating.

What started as a food truck is now a full-blown local staple. Smash burgers. Cheesesteaks. Baltimore-style seafood. Sides that demand respect.

The Hanover spot is perfectly on-brand. Old house turned commercial space. Slightly slanted floors. Loud music. Savory smells the second you open the door.

Place your order online ahead of time to avoid getting hangry while waiting in line.

My order, every time:
▪️Daddy Mac n Cheese. Buy your own. Sharing will end relationships.
▪️GrillRilla Animal Bowl. Steak, chicken, shrimp over yellow rice.
▪️Crab & Shrimp Fries. Yes, they’re almost $20. Yes, they’re worth it. These are the only leftover fries I’ve ever respected enough to reheat.

⭐⭐⭐ Emerson-Approved

GrillRilla earned three Emerson Stars, which is no small feat. Think Michelin, but awarded by the unofficial Guinness Book of World Record’s Pickiest Eater: my 10-year-old son, Emerson. He’s a ruthless food critic. Entire food groups have been eliminated under his watch.

Beginner Stained Glass Art Class @ COB51
📍 48 Carlisle Street
📅 Friday, February 27 | 🕕 6 – 9:30 PM

If this was the year you said you’d make something with your hands, this is your moment.

Two stained glass classes are running. Real glass. Real tools. Real patience required.

There’s something grounding about cutting and fitting pieces together until they catch the light. Slow seasons are perfect for learning a craft that demands your full attention.

You’ll choose from eight patterns and a wide range of colored glass. The cost is $85 per person, which is more than fair considering the tools, materials, and instruction involved.

Reserve your spot online before the classes sell out.

THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS SPONSORED BY AG1:

Shoe Orthodontics Family Skate @ Magic Elm Skateland
📍 625 W Elm Avenue
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 🕟 4:30 – 6:30 PM

If you’re part of the Shoe Orthodontics family, this one’s for you. Past, present, future patients plus friends and family are invited.

No RSVP. Just show up and skate. Free raffle entries. Winners announced during the skate. Hokey Pokey moments included.

Come for the laps. Leave with sore cheeks from smiling.

Not a Shoe patient?
Hit the Saturday Matinee Skate instead:

📅 Saturday, February 28 | 🕐 1:00 – 3:30 PM
💵 $9 admission + $3 skate rental

Don’t just watch. Lace up. Hit the rink.

My whole family skates. Three generations on the rink… all having a blast. I honestly enjoy skating more now that I’ve survived Fresh Meat roller derby training with the Black Rose Rollers. If you’ve ever considered it, I highly recommend trying it!

But if skating feels like a back injury waiting to happen, here’s your alternative:

Write a letter.

Not an email. Not a text. A letter.

To a friend.
To a politician.
To your future self.
To someone who shaped you.

I’ve been sitting on an idea for a snail mail sticker club. Handwritten letters. Stickers and coloring pages designed by me. Maybe washi tape. Maybe paper crafts. Something tactile in a digital world.

Before I launch anything, I’m making the art first.

And yes, you can DIY stickers at home without sticker paper or a Cricut.

If you’re feeling crafty, watch a quick tutorial here.

This town isn’t boring. It’s waiting.

Waiting for someone to walk into the gallery.
To fill the comedy club seats.
To try the class.
To lace up the skates.
To write the letter.

Community doesn’t disappear because people stop caring.
It disappears because people stop showing up.

Let’s not do that.

XoXo,
Megan

P.S. Reply to this email and share your thoughts about this new format!

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