What Hanover Does Next Speaks Volumes

💔 What Hanover Does Next Speaks Volumes
🧡 First Friday Art Walk
💛 2nd Saturday
💚 Food For New Hope
💙 Dirty Duds Wants Your Duds
💗 One Coat, One Change
💜 Calling All Mural Artists
🖤 This Week’s Events & Live Music

A week ago, Hanover was in shock. Today, we’re reflecting on how our town responded.

The days since the parade have been filled with statements, apologies, denials, and silence. In a moment like this, what matters most isn’t who gets blamed. It’s who chooses to lead.

The Borough of Hanover responded quickly and compassionately. Their statement didn’t mince words. The imagery on that float was hateful, and it does not represent our town’s values. That acknowledgment matters.

The Diocese of Harrisburg went further, calling the float “profoundly offensive and unacceptable.” Bishop Timothy Senior apologized directly to the Jewish community and announced plans to partner with the Anti-Defamation League and the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition for Holocaust education.

And the YWCA Hanover? They didn’t just talk. They acted. Within days, they scheduled a free Holocaust Education Session open to the entire community, led by Deb Smith, a local educator with a master’s degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

That’s leadership rooted in compassion and courage.

The Hanover Area Jaycees, who organized the parade, have not released a single public statement.

Before the parade, I contacted them with a simple question: how are participants and floats screened? And, considering what happened in Mechanicsburg, what precautions are being taken to prevent something similar here?

Their response? “We have a rule in place that only candy can be handed out unless approved by the Jaycees.”

I didn’t ask about candy.

I asked about responsibility.

And right now, their silence speaks volumes.

The creator of the float, Galen Shelly, later identified himself and offered an explanation. His statement wasn’t hateful. It was heartbreakingly oblivious to its own ignorance.

He wrote about being asked to help, wanting to impress his friends and family, and rushing to finish something meaningful. He spoke about artistic vision, spiritual symbolism, and the “lie” of worldly striving. But woven through it all was something he didn’t seem to see: the symbol he chose is inseparable from genocide.

I believe him when he says he didn’t mean harm. But that doesn’t make the harm any less real. Intent may explain how we got here, but it doesn’t excuse it.

What I see in his words is something deeply human — a man so wrapped in his own symbolism that he forgot the first rule of art: context is everything. You can’t use the language of genocide without making your stance against it painfully clear. You can’t reframe hate without reinforcing it.

And still, I feel a strange mix of anger and pity. Anger because ignorance this loud still wounds people. Pity because he truly doesn’t seem to understand why.

That’s the danger of ego without education. It convinces us that sincerity is enough when what the world actually needs is awareness.

Compassion doesn’t erase accountability. It simply reminds us that ignorance is curable — but only if we’re willing to confront it.

Scrolling through social media this week has felt like standing in a hall of mirrors. There’s outrage and disbelief, but also denial and deflection. There’s the tired claim that “people are too sensitive.” And worse, there’s the holier-than-thou attitude that refuses to see the humanity in others.

People are flawed. We make mistakes. We harm others with our words or actions — sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. But none of that makes us less human.

This is one of those circumstances where forgiveness can feel too much like permissiveness. You are allowed to not forgive this situation or the person’s actions. But you can’t refuse forgiveness by dehumanizing them.

It’s hard to gauge the true temperature of our town when every one of us lives inside a personalized echo chamber.

I know that what shows up in my Facebook feed isn’t always a good reflection of reality, so I went searching through local groups to see what people were saying.

First, we have way more Hanover Facebook groups than I realized.

Second, public perception shifted drastically depending on where I was — public page, private group, or personal profile.

And third, I noticed how often we dehumanize people with different perspectives. I think social media is largely to blame. It’s hard to understand another perspective when we assume everyone sees the same information we do. But we’re not all watching the same content. We’re being fed different narratives.

That’s why it can feel like only some of us are thinking logically.

We forget that we’re not all being shown the same Hanover.

But a town isn’t a timeline.

Hanover exists in real streets, real conversations, real choices.

The borough and the diocese have shown what accountability can look like. Denouncing propaganda is an important first step, but words alone don’t prevent harm. What matters now is action.

What will you do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?

The YWCA is already leading by example, turning apology into education and outrage into understanding. They’re showing, in real time, what it means to respond with both empathy and resolve.

Now it’s time for the rest of us, especially those who’ve stayed quiet, to do the same.

If you’re angry, channel it into action.
If you’re confused, come to the YWCA session and learn.
If you’re tired, remember that empathy is a muscle. It only grows when used.

We can’t undo what happened.
But we can have the hard conversations, take meaningful action, and grow stronger as a community that refuses to look away.

Downtown Hanover is coming alive tonight from 5–8 PM for the First Friday Art Walk. It’s a night to sip something good, meet the artists behind the work, and see your town in a whole new light.

Start your evening at Fat Bat Brewing (10 N Railroad St), where local artist and educator Casey Gibbons will be showcasing her latest pieces. A Southwestern grad with training from Gettysburg College and the University of the Arts in Philly, Casey brings her painter’s eye and teacher’s heart to every canvas. Grab a pint, meet the artist, and soak up the creative buzz.

Then wander over to the Hanover Area Arts Guild in the Historic District for their Holiday Bazaar, where artists are turning the season into something handmade and heartfelt. From original paintings to one-of-a-kind gifts, it’s the perfect spot to start your holiday shopping early (and support local art while you’re at it).

Grab a friend and come see what happens when Hanover lets art lead the way.

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to slow down, wander Main Street, and remember why you love living here, this is it.

Starting at 10 AM, downtown Hanover will be buzzing with energy for another 2nd Saturday celebration this Saturday, November 8. You can expect a day packed with pop-ups, sales, art, and local flavor from the shops and creators that give this town its heartbeat.

You can grab a drink, catch some live comedy, browse handmade goods, or finally check out that shop you’ve been meaning to step into since summer. Every corner downtown has something going on, and each one gives you another reason to stay awhile.

Here’s a little taste of what’s happening:

Fat Bat Brewing Co. is hosting a pop-up art market featuring local makers.
Little Fox Coffee & Books has storytime in the morning and a queer-friendly community mixer in the evening.
Hanover Area Arts Guild is bringing together artisans from all over for a fall market.
Serpent’s Key Shoppe is going full “Sacred Wild” with an all-day event and evening tea workshop.
Wren & Bluebird Boutique will have fall sales, local sips, and a DIY bouquet bar.

From crystals and candles to comedy and craft beer, this weekend’s 2nd Saturday is proof that you don’t have to leave town to feel inspired.

🗓️ Friday, November 7 & Saturday, November 8 | 🕘 9 AM – 4 PM

Our local shelves need a refill, and you can help. The Food for Hope Food Drive is collecting nonperishable food items this weekend to support families facing food insecurity across the region.

Every can, box, and bag makes a difference. Just shop, say hello, and drop off your donation at one of the participating stores:

📍 Walmart North Hanover, 495 Eisenhower Dr.
📍 Walmart South Hanover, 1881 Baltimore Pike
📍 Sam’s Club Hanover, 261 Wilson Dr.

You know that coat you haven’t worn in years? The one hiding in the back of your closet “just in case”? Yeah, that one. It could change someone’s winter.

Coats of Friendship, a 501(c)(3) charity run entirely by kids (yep, kids!), is back with their One Coat, One Change Challenge.

Their goal this year? Collect 10,000 coats to help keep local families warm.

They’re asking each household to find just one coat and drop it off at one of these Hanover locations:

📍 Guthrie Memorial Library
📍 First United Methodist Church Hanover

It’s a small ask with a huge impact. Let’s help these amazing young organizers make the world a little warmer, one coat at a time.

Our friends over at Dirty Duds Laundromat aren’t just cleaning clothes this season, they’re cleaning up Christmas, too.

They’re hosting their 2nd Annual Free Christmas Event and need our help filling Santa’s sleigh. They’re collecting new or gently used toys, games, gaming consoles, sports gear, art supplies, and anything else that’ll make a kid light up on Christmas morning.

🎁 Drop-off Details:
Daily from 9 AM to 5 PM @ Dirty Duds Laundromat, 709 3rd St., Hanover.

Friendly attendants will be there to help. Or if you’re a night owl, just use the indoor drop bin any day of the week.

Let’s rally, Hanover. Dig through those closets, check the attic, or toss a little something extra in your next Target run. Every bit helps make the holidays brighter for local families.

These are just a few of the happenings around town. The Heart of Hanover events calendar is packed with more to explore.

👉 View the Full Calendar

Hit reply if you’ve got an event, a shoutout, or a neighbor who deserves a little love.
Forward this to a friend who needs weekend plans.

I’ll keep the calendar fresh, you keep showing up.
See you around town.

See you around town,
Megan 💜