Sidewalk Sketches and Small Town Magic in Hanover

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I’m so happy to have each and every one of you here. It truly means the world to me. Thank you for letting me be part of your week. It’s been a pleasure to make community news feel personal, joyful, and worth showing up for.

This week’s issue is full of good dogs, good people, and the hard-but-worth-it work of trying.

Inside, you’ll find:

There’s also a personal note about what happened when I took in a rescue puppy — and the hard lesson I had to learn about asking for help and honoring my own limitations.

Because sometimes love looks like staying.

And sometimes it looks like letting go.

The events calendar is packed this weekend — so you officially have no excuse not to make plans.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for being here.

Love,
Megan

P.S. Thank you to this week’s sponsors, Morning Brew and I Hate It Here. Clicking their links directly supports this small newsletter. It’s a labor of love — but it isn’t free to run. Thankfully, the joy it brings me more than offsets the cost. 💛

This week, I took in a rescue puppy.

He was scared and unsure, but so sweet. And I had space. At least I thought I did. I wanted to help. I could help, so I said yes.

For a few days, my house became a soft landing. He got love, safety, food, and all the love we could give him. But as the days passed, it became clear that my senior dogs weren’t adjusting. They were stressed, and subsequently so was I.

I had to face a truth I didn’t want to admit: just because I can do something doesn’t always mean I should.

So I made the hard choice to rehome him. It felt a lot like giving up, but not exactly. The intention was always to find him a new home, but it happened faster than I expected. But I had to honor the needs of everyone involved, including myself.

It didn’t feel like a clean win. But it wasn’t a failure, either.

Sometimes care looks like commitment. Sometimes it looks like release. And sometimes it looks like being a bridge — a short, safe stop on someone else’s longer journey.

I’ve been thinking about how many people in Hanover do exactly that. Step up. Fill a gap. Offer what they can, even when it’s not perfect or forever. From teachers and foster families to volunteers and neighbors who check in when they know someone’s going through it. There are helpers all around us. Some stay long-term. Some pass through quietly. But all of it matters.

This issue includes three dog-friendly events (a splash party, a pet photo contest, and clear-the-shelter event), but it’s not really about dogs.

It’s about care. For animals. For people. For ourselves.

It’s about knowing when to say yes. And when to say, “I need help.”

Because even when we can’t do everything, we can still do something.

And that something might be exactly what someone else needs.

Friday, August 8 | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Studio B, North Hanover YMCA

Not every act of service is loud or long. Some take less than an hour, but their effects can echo a lifetime.

This Friday, the North Hanover YMCA is hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross, and they’re in urgent need of all blood types. If you’ve been looking for a quiet way to make a meaningful difference, this is it.

💪 You don’t need to rally a team or organize a fundraiser. Just show up, roll up your sleeve, and offer what only you can give.

👫 Walk-ins are welcome. Bring a friend. Be someone’s reason to hope.

💙 Bonus: You’ll feel like a hero, because you are one.

Saturday & Sunday, August 9–10 | 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 York County SPCA, 3159 Susquehanna Trail North, York
🐾 View adoptable pets + details

If you’ve been thinking about adding a new furry friend to your home, this weekend is the time.

The York County SPCA is waiving all adoption fees for animals 6 months and older during their Clear the Shelters event, part of a nationwide ASPCA campaign to help shelter pets find loving homes.

It’s first-come, first-served — and many pets will be ready to go home the same day.

🐶 Thinking about adopting?

🐱 Cats and small animals are also included, and staff will be on hand to help make matches.

✨ Puppies and kittens under 6 months are not included in the fee waiver, but they’re still adoptable at regular rates.

Let’s help our local shelter make room for more animals in need. Maybe you’ll meet your new best friend along the way!

Friday, August 8 | 5 PM – 8 PM
📍 Moul Field Park, Hanover
🎟️ Register or donate here

This Friday, Hanover men (and boys, and allies of all kinds) will slip on a pair of heels and take a stand — literally — to raise awareness about sexual violence and show support for survivors in our community.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes is an international men’s march designed to start hard conversations with empathy, visibility, and a little bit of humor. Participants symbolically walk a mile in women’s high-heeled shoes to highlight the everyday challenges women face. And they raise funds for the YWCA Hanover Safe Home, which provides critical services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Whether you walk, cheer, or donate from the sidelines, your support helps create a safer, more compassionate Hanover.

💬 What to Expect:

👠 Heels provided (or bring your own!)
🍔 Food, music, and family-friendly vibes included
💵 $40 Adults | $20 Teens (12–20) | $10 Kids (5+) | Free for children under 4

Friday & Saturday, August 8–9 | 5:30 PM – 11 PM
📍 Alpha Fire Company Carnival Grounds, Littlestown

There are just two days left to enjoy one of the sweetest summer traditions around: the Littlestown Fireman’s Carnival! Rides, games, funnel cake, and pit beef await.

🎟️ Ride-all-night wristbands
🎶 DJ Wes Morgan on deck
🎯 Bingo, food stands, nightly 50/50 raffles

🍴 Kitchen Highlights:

It’s fun for all ages, and a great way to savor the last weeks of summer.

🩰 Walk A Mile In Her Shoes
🕔 5 PM – 8 PM | 📍 Moul Field Park, Hanover Join the international men’s march to raise awareness of sexual violence. Walk begins at 6 PM, followed by a community celebration. 💵 $40 Adults | $20 Teens | $10 Kids | 🎟️ Register or donate

🎨 2nd Saturday Chalk Art Showcase
🕚 11 AM – 2 PM | 📍 Downtown Hanover (Check-in at Clark’s Bostonian Outlet)

Turn the sidewalks into a community gallery during this family-friendly art event. Chalk provided or bring your own. Pay-what-you-can donation.

💵 $5 Donation (or pay what you can) | 🎟️ Register here

🐶 Doggy Dip Day at the YMCA
🕑 2 PM – 4 PM | 📍 North Hanover YMCA Recreation Pool

Dogs take over the pool! All proceeds support the future Hanover YMCA Dog Park.

💵 $15 pre-registration, $25 day-of | 🎟️ Register online

🌟 Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting: The Event Gallery
🕓 4 PM | 📍 7 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hanover

Celebrate the new event space from Warehouse Gourmet with light hors d'oeuvres, local art, and a first look at party bookings.

🏒 Hickory Falls Community Night Out
🕔 5 PM – 9 PM | 📍 Hickory Falls Family Entertainment Center

Laser tag, mini golf, and homeschooler meet-up fun for the whole family. Hosted by The Homeschool Collective.

🌿 Hanover Mid-Week Outdoor Farmers Market
🕒 3 PM – 7 PM | 📍 210 E Chestnut St, Hanover

Shop fresh produce, local vendors, and handmade goods at this growing weekly tradition.

🎉 Summer Celebration
🕓 4 PM – 7 PM | 📍 Grandview Shopping Center Fields, Hanover

Backpack giveaways, food trucks, reptile shows, hayrides, and more family fun hosted by Devon Ellis State Farm & Back 2 Health.

🌿 Littlestown Good Ole Days 2025
🕗 8 AM – 2 PM | 📍 Crouse Park, Littlestown

Celebrate small-town charm with vendors, bounce houses, food trucks, a petting zoo, and community pride.

🌞 DRO Summer Bash
🕚 11 AM – 2 PM | 📍 North Hanover YMCA

Water slides, face painting, giveaways, food trucks, and a splash tower showdown with Dr. Ross Orthodontics!

Get the full picture of what’s happening in and around Hanover. Browse or subscribe to our Heart of Hanover Google Calendar:

👉 Click here to view the calendar

It’s free (for now), and it’s the easiest way to keep tabs on all things local.

Because life’s a little better when you know what’s going on.

Submitted by Gina Nobile

To Gina’s neighbors: Thank you for showing up with kindness and making a difficult season feel a little less lonely.

That’s the Hanover we love.

Email from Ben R.

You’re so welcome, Ben! And welcome to Hanover’s dog-loving chaos. 🐾

Thanks for spending a little time with me this week.

If you enjoyed this issue, or just want an excuse to talk about dogs, chalk art, or carnival food, forward it to a friend. Word of mouth is the best way for this newsletter to grow.

And if you're planning to walk, donate, volunteer, or simply cheer someone on this weekend, I hope you know that it matters. I'm proud of you. And I’ll see you there!

See you next week. Same time. Same inbox. 💛

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