Plan Your Vote, Dine for a Cause, & Reverse Trick-or-Treating?

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I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the line, my favorite season changed from summer to fall.

Growing up, I was ride or die for summer — no school, birthday crab feeds, and at least one trip to the beach (two if I begged hard enough). But now that I’m raising my own wild child, fall just hits differently.

Sure, summer still has its charm, but fall? Chef’s kiss. The air gets crisp, the world slows down, and the jeans-hoodie-legging rotation officially returns. I trade iced lattes for hot ones and ice cream for toasted marshmallows by the fire, and suddenly life feels a little cozier, a little calmer, and a lot more grounded.

If fall isn’t your favorite season (and you’re wrong for that, just so we’re clear), humor me and take a moment to pause. Step outside early one morning, breathe in that sharp, cold air, and watch the sun slowly warm your skin. It’s a small, perfect kind of magic — and it’s right here, waiting for you.

XoXo,
Megan

Heart of Hanover isn’t just my project. It’s ours. Before I plan what’s next, I’d love to hear from you.

Take a quick 5-minute survey to share your thoughts and ideas. You’ll be entered to win a $20 Britton Coffee Co. gift card as a little thank-you for helping shape where we go from here.

This week, I want to shine a little light on the folks who helped make that possible — our very first 🌱 Founding Supporters of Heart of Hanover:

Your support means more than you know. You’re proving that community isn’t built with big gestures. It’s the small, steady ones that keep us connected.

If Heart of Hanover has ever made you smile, helped you discover something new, or reminded you why Hanover feels like home, consider joining our circle of supporters. Every contribution helps this little newsletter keep growing, one story at a time.

📆 Saturday, October 11 | 🕚 11 AM – 2 PM
📍 Center Square
🎫 Register for free

Downtown Hanover is turning into a candy trail this weekend! More than 20 local businesses will be handing out sweets and surprises during Second Saturday: Trick or Treat Edition.

Start at the Main Street Hanover tent in Center Square to grab your Trick or Treat Card, then make your way through town.

Costumes are highly encouraged for everyone. Dress up your kids, your pets, and yes, even yourself. There’s no rule that says you’re too old to trick-or-treat! And if someone tries to tell you otherwise, then steal their candy and tell them it’s called “reverse trick-or-treating.”

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, and whether you’re voting by mail or showing up in person, now’s the time to make your plan.

Local elections might not grab national headlines, but they’re the ones that actually shape our everyday lives.

📆 Tuesday, October 28 (by 5 PM):
Your mail-in or absentee ballot application must be received by your county election office.

📆 Tuesday, November 4 (by 8 PM):
Your completed mail ballot must arrive at your county election office by this time. (Postmarks don’t count, so return it early if you can.)

It only takes a few minutes to apply online using your PA driver’s license, PennDOT ID, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Need to switch to mail-in ballot?
👉🏼 Apply online here.

Not sure if you’re registered?
👉🏼 Check your status here.

If your mailbox looks like mine lately, it’s stuffed with campaign flyers — and a few of them are, well, creative with the truth.

One mailer making the rounds claims the Pennsylvania Supreme Court gerrymandered the state to favor Democrats. Except... it didn’t. The map shown was actually drawn by a Republican-controlled legislature in 2011 — the same one the court later struck down for being unconstitutional.

In short: the court didn’t rig the map, it fixed it.

Here’s how to stay sharp this election season:

Every voter has the right to decide who belongs on the bench — just make sure that choice is based on facts, not flyers.

Before you believe what lands in your mailbox, pause and ask: does this match reality? That small moment of mindfulness keeps Hanover (and democracy) a little more grounded in truth.

If autumn had a headquarters, it’d be Codorus State Park this weekend. The trees are showing off, the air smells like campfires, and the park’s lineup is giving peak fall energy.

Kick things off Friday at 5:30 PM with a Mental Wellness Walk at the Bandshell — the perfect way to log out of life for a bit and remember what it feels like to breathe.

On Saturday at 1 PM, park educator Renae Weidner hosts Park History at the Visitor Center where you’ll take a short time-travel trip through Codorus’s past, from iron furnaces to family picnics. Then at 2 PM, bring the kiddos to the Campground Amphitheater for Leaves for Kids, where they’ll make crafts, learn fun leaf facts, and probably come home covered in glue and pride.

And if you want to end your weekend with a little magic, hop aboard the Fall Foliage Pontoon Tour at 2 PM Sunday. It’s $10 per person, and you’ll cruise across Lake Marburg surrounded by color and calm. 👉🏼 Buy tickets here.

🗓 Friday, October 10 | 6 PM – 8 PM
🗓 Saturday, October 11 | 10 AM – 3 PM
📍 Rusty Naill Pallet & Co., 639 Frederick St, Suite 2, Hanover

If the smell of fresh baked sourdough, upcycled art, and handcrafted décor sounds like your kind of heaven, you’ll want to swing by Rusty Naill Pallet & Co. this weekend for their October Handmade Market.

More than 30 local makers will fill the shop with home décor, candles, freeze-dried treats, cards, jewelry, goat milk soaps, baked goods, local honey, and so many treasures you didn’t know you needed until you see them.

It’s the kind of market where you chat with the person who made your new favorite candle, sample a cookie that tastes like autumn, and walk out smelling faintly of cinnamon and sawdust — in the best way.

📆 Thursday, October 16 | All Day
📍 Texas Roadhouse, 179 Eisenhower Dr, Hanover

A delicious dinner for a great cause? That’s an easy yes.

Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of all food sales on Thursday, October 16, to YWCA Hanover Safe Home, which provides critical support and shelter for survivors of domestic violence in our community.

All you have to do is mention YWCA Hanover Safe Home or show the event flyer when you order. Then sit back, enjoy your steak or rolls or whatever your heart desires, and know you’re helping neighbors in need.

Bring your family, invite a few friends, and make it a night out that truly matters. 💜

Every Thursday in October, join the movement by wearing purple to show your support for survivors. Snap a photo of your outfit, share it on social media, and tag @YWCA Hanover Safe Home using #SafeHomeDVAM2025 and #SafeHomePurpleThursday.

A small act, a bold color, and a simple way to remind Hanover that we stand with survivors — every single week.

🗓 Saturday, October 12
📍 eTeam Community Center, 228 East Chestnut Street, Hanover
💵 $10 pre-sale buffet | $25 at the door | $5 show only | Ages 16+ (with guardian)
🎫 Buy tickets at door

Kick off your weekend with a little sparkle and a lot of heart at the Live Your Truth Brunch, hosted by eTeam Show Productions and Hope Project Inc. Enjoy an unlimited brunch buffet, dazzling drag performances, and an atmosphere that celebrates authenticity, acceptance, and joy.

Proceeds support local initiatives for mental health, addiction recovery, and housing within the LGBTQ+ community. Come hungry, come as you are, and get ready for a brunch that feeds both body and soul.

Bair’s Den | Karaoke Night | 7 PM – 11 PM
Church of Satire Comedy Club | The Baptism Show | 8 PM – 9:30 PM
The Avalon Ale House | Big Dogz Karaoke | 8 PM – 11 PM
The Circle | 2980 Band | 8 PM – 11 PM Divino Pizzeria | Karaoke Night | 8 PM – 12 AM

Fat Bat Brewing | Cornhole Tournament | 1 PM – 4 PM
Fat Bat Brewing | 2nd Saturday Vendor Popup | 1 PM – 6 PM
Eichelberger Performing Arts Center | Hey Nineteen: Steely Dan Tribute | 7 PM
Church of Satire Comedy Club | Adam Gabel | 8 PM – 9:30 PM
The Circle | DJ Trevie | 8 PM – 11 PM
The Bourbon Mill | 39 North | 8 PM – 11 PM

The Bourbon Mill | Phipps & Phriends | 1 PM – 4 PM

Church of Satire Comedy Club | Open Mic Night | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

The Avalon Ale House | Dual FX Trivia | 6 PM – 9 PM
Dolphin & Anchor Brew Pub | York-Adams Film Club – The Crow | 7 PM
Fat Bat Brewing | Trivia Night | 7 PM – 9 PM

Bair’s Den | Music Bingo | 6 PM – 9 PM Divino Pizzeria | Trivia Night | 6 PM – 9 PM
The Circle | Open Mic & Jam with the Walnut Street Band | 8 PM – 11 PM

Dolphin & Anchor Brew Pub | Music Trivia | 7 PM – 9 PM
Fat Bat Brewing | Home Brewed Comedy | 8 PM – 10 PM

If you’d like to feature your event, send an email to [email protected].

🎉 Hanover Eagles Community Day Celebration
🕚 11 AM – 10 PM | 📍 FOE Aerie #1406, 105 Park St, Hanover
🎶 DJ & Music Trivia | 🕖 7–10 PM

Hanover Eagles is opening it’s doors to the public for an all-day family-friendly event. Enjoy dinner & drinks, music, trivia, and a bounce house. Enrollment fees will be waived for new members during the event.

🎃 New Friend Mixer: Painting Pumpkins
🕕 6 PM – 8 PM | 📍 Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway

Bring your own pumpkin and let your creative side shine! Paint, chat, and make some new friends while getting into the spooky season spirit.

💵 Free to attend | 🎫 Reserve a spot online

🦀 The Crab Wagon 🕛 12 PM – 4 PM | 📍 1424 Baltimore St, Hanover 📞 (717) 637-0700 (Pre-orders are recommended)

The Crab Wagon is rolling into town with live crabs, steamed for free! Stop by to grab a dozen (or a bushel) and enjoy them on-site or to-go.

🧶 Compassionate Crafters
🕐 1 PM – 4 PM | 📍 124 Broadway, Pastor’s Parlor, Hanover

Knitters, crocheters, and needleworkers gather to create lap blankets and other items for donation, swap techniques, work on personal projects, and enjoy fellowship.

💚 Health & Wellness Workshops for Seniors
🕙 10:15 AM – 2 PM | 📍 Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Pl, Hanover
📞 (717) 632-5183 (Call to reserve your lunch)

Adults 65+ are invited to weekly health and wellness workshops, followed by a hot lunch. Please register in advance at the Adult Desk or call.

💵 Free to attend (registration required for lunch)

🌑 Witchcraft Wednesdays: New Moon in Libra
🕕 6 PM – 7 PM | 📍 The Serpent’s Key, 28 Carlisle St, Hanover

Join Beck Ravenswood for a free discussion on the New Moon in Libra — explore its astrological meaning, magical correspondences, and ideas for personal ritual work.

📚 Banned Book Club: 1984 by George Orwell
🕖 7 PM – 8 PM | 📍 Little Fox Coffee & Books, 125 Broadway

Join the Little Fox team for an evening of open discussion, truth-seeking, and community connection as they kick off their new Banned Book Club with George Orwell’s 1984.

All book clubs at Little Fox are casual and welcoming — the goal is to connect with other readers while exploring some of the most challenged stories in literature. Seats are limited to 12, so RSVP early to save your spot!

💵 Free to attend | 🎫 RSVP online

Whether you’re sipping something warm, snuggled up a little longer in bed, or pulling your coziest hoodie out of storage, I hope this season wraps you in all the good stuff — warmth, wonder, and maybe a few toasted marshmallows for good measure.

Thank you to today’s sponsors: Haus and 1440 Media. Interacting with their links is the easiest way to help Heart of Hanover keep growing. As we inch closer to 1,000 subscribers (when Beehiiv raises our monthly rate), every click matters more than ever.

I’m endlessly grateful for those of you who click, share, and support — and for my 🌱 Founding Supporters who help keep this newsletter afloat until we land local business sponsors. You’re the heartbeat of this project.

See you around town,
Megan 💜

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🙏 Sponsors keep this little newsletter alive and growing. Your support of them means the world to me.