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📌 What’s Inside This Issue:
❤ Evolution of my writing
🧡 Little Fox Coffee & Books
💛 Goodbye Hanover Mall!
💚 Christmas in Hanover
💙 21+ Fun / Live Music
💜 Community Events
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👋 Welcome Back!
Somehow we blinked and landed in Thanksgiving week. I swear Halloween was five minutes ago, yet here we are, staring down turkey, travel, and the annual debate over who makes the best stuffing. My family is torn between stuffing with scallops and stuffing without scallops - I vote no scallops.
November is always a big month in our house because Emerson’s birthday falls on the 18th. He turned ten this year, which feels impossible. We don’t do one-and-done birthdays either. Thanks to the fact that my husband and I have birthdays a week apart, “birthday week” is a household tradition, and Emerson fully benefits. It takes a full seven days just to visit five of his seven grandparents. Yes, seven. It’s a whole logistical operation.
Things usually quiet down for Thanksgiving, but the calm never lasts long. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday appear in rapid succession, and then boom, Christmas officially rolls into Hanover on Saturday, November 29.
Quick note about the Christmas parade, Santa usually arrives at 8 AM on Black Friday, but this year the parade moves to 11 AM on Small Business Saturday. The shift gives downtown shops a boost, avoids competing with Black Friday jobs and crowds, and should make the event more accessible for families. Translation, expect a bigger, happier turnout.
A big thank-you to this week’s sponsors, Mindstream and Masters in Marketing. Clicking their links directly supports this newsletter and helps keep local stories alive.
Always,
Megan 💜
🌱 Founding Supporters
Every big idea starts with a few people who believe in it early. These are ours:
Darlene · Brian · Holly · Andy
I’m excited to share some good news, my grant proposal made it through the first round. I was invited to pitch Heart of Hanover to attendees of the Women’s Business Center Organization. I get three minutes to explain the project, the funding request, and how it would move this newsletter forward.
For full transparency, I’m asking for support to upgrade my tech setup. I’m still running this entire operation on an old 13-inch laptop that winces every time I open Canva and does not have functioning speakers. It has done its best, but it’s time for something that can actually keep up.
Even if I don’t receive the grant, I’m proud to have made it this far and grateful for the chance to pitch.
If you believe in the mission of Heart of Hanover, consider becoming a Founding Supporter. Your generosity has already helped with legal and business expenses, software, and the unglamorous essentials that keep this project alive. I still need about $50 a month to move to the next tier of my newsletter platform, which would open the door for a Heart of Hanover podcast, an easier sponsorship storefront, and more.
Founding Supporters will get early access to future events and promotions as the next chapter unfolds.
❤ Evolution of My Content
I recently decided to build a story bank, basically a catalog of everything I’ve written. After 27 weeks of newsletters, I realized how often I write too much, cut things out, and then forget those pieces ever existed. I wanted a way to find the unpublished bits and make it easier to reuse ideas without digging through old drafts like an archaeologist.
So I went back to the very first issue and read straight through to today. And something jumped out at me. My writing shifted. Not in a dramatic way, more like a slow nudge. I can’t call it good or bad. It’s simply something I noticed, and it matters.
In the early issues, my editorials focused on the bigger picture, the things I was thinking about in modern life, and how they connected to Hanover. As time went on, my focus tightened more and more on Hanover itself. Nothing wrong with that. That’s the whole point of this newsletter. But the more I zoomed in, the more I realized my voice had started fading behind the format. Instead of sharing my perspective, I was summarizing current events. And while current events absolutely belong here, regurgitating the news is not my purpose.
I’m not striving for traditional journalism. I’m not pretending to be objective. Newspapers have to separate facts from opinion. I don’t. I’m not a journalist. I’m a neighbor who cares way too much about this town and wants to build a community of people who care too.
People who want Hanover’s future to feel hopeful.
People who value kindness and connection.
People who are craving community the same way I was when I started this.
What I wrote in an early issue still holds true, and it explains exactly why I’m recommitting to letting more of myself show up on the page:
At the start of this year, I sat down and asked myself:
Who do I want to be when the world feels impossible?
Not what I want to do. Not how I want to perform.
Who I want to be.
These are the values that came out of that moment. These values are the values I want to live by, write by, love by:
Wholeness — letting every part of me show up
Presence — being here & now in my body, not lost in my mind
Conscious communication — saying what I mean with kindness and clarity
Family — chosen and blood
Joy — not the sparkly kind, the deep, rooted kind
Advocacy — using my voice to lift others
Creative self-expression — making things that feel like me
Integrity — doing the right thing even when no one’s watching
These aren’t just nice words. They’re the compass I use every time I sit down to write you a new issue.
This newsletter started as a way to share hope, connection, stories, and perspective, not just information. So I’m leaning back into that. You’ll see more of my voice, more of my thoughts, and more of the bigger meaning behind what’s happening here in Hanover.
Because that’s the version of Heart of Hanover that feels most like me.
🧡 Little Fox Coffee & Books: A Third-Space Hanover Didn’t Know It Needed
I sat down with Kiki, the owner of Little Fox Coffee & Books, and within five minutes it was obvious why her shop feels less like a business and more like a tiny ecosystem of its own. It’s hard to believe she opened just over a year ago. Little Fox has already woven itself into the fabric of Hanover so naturally that it feels like it has always been here.
One of the first things I noticed when I started visiting was her book displays. They’re arranged by color, not genre, which sounds simple until you realize how brilliant it is. Most of us cling to the same genres out of habit. Kiki wanted to nudge people out of their reading ruts, so she built displays that work the way we choose wine, half instinct, half “ooh, the label’s pretty.” It works. I’ve bought a book the last three times I’ve walked through those doors, and two of them were fiction, which I hadn’t touched in a decade.
When Reader’s Café closed, Kiki said she felt the need for a true third-space in Hanover. A place where queer folks, creatives, introverts, and anyone craving gentle connection could exist without pressure. Little Fox became that space. Someone recently told her, “Reader’s Café was a bookstore, but Little Fox is a community,” and honestly, there’s no better description.
Financially, the shop sustains itself through book and coffee sales, which is what allows all the events to happen. If you want to support Little Fox this season, buy your holiday books locally, try their new winter drink menu, or grab a “blind date with a book” from the wrapped-and-ready Christmas shelf. They’ve built something real here, but like any small business, they rely on people showing up.
As we talked, it was clear we share the same hope for Hanover, a town where people feel safe, welcomed, and connected. We even brainstormed future collaborations, especially Speed Friending, which is basically speed dating without the romance and with far less pressure. It’s structured, it’s short, it’s fun, and it gives people a chance to meet new friends without the social agony of “so… what do I say next?”
Little Fox isn’t just a shop. It’s one of the clearest examples of what Hanover can become when someone builds a space with intention.
💚 Goodbye, Hanover Mall!
Well, it finally happened. The North Hanover Mall has been condemned after an exterior wall collapsed last week.
Shocking? Not really. Sad? Absolutely.
Most of us saw this coming. The mall has felt like a ghost town for years, but it still deserves a little respect. A lot of us grew up in that building. We logged thousands of steps before Fitbit was even a thing, met our friends at Knobloch’s Deli, killed entire Saturdays wandering around with no plan, and felt like real adults when we bought single slices at Jerry & Sal’s with literal coins leftover from our lunch money.
What hurts most is that the decline wasn’t inevitable. Years of neglect and poor upkeep turned the place into a safety hazard, and tenants are paying the price for it now.
Several Hanover businesses had to close with zero warning right before the holidays, including Fish & Friends, Fishbone, Jerry & Sal’s, and others. They’re scrambling, they’re hurting, and they deserve better.
If you know of fundraising efforts, temporary locations, or ways the community can help, email me. I’ll share everything I can in next week’s issue.
💙 Christmas in Hanover Is Approaching!
Downtown Hanover is about to transform into a Hallmark movie. Don’t worry, it’s the kind without the bad acting. ✨
The season kicks off Saturday, November 29 at 11 AM with the Christmas in Hanover Festival, hosted by Main Street Hanover and the Christmas in Hanover Committee. Expect lights, music, and that cozy hum that only happens when half the town ends up in Center Square at the same time.
Here’s what to look forward to:
🎅 Santa Parade | 11 AM – 12 PM
Nothing says “the holidays are here” like Santa rolling through downtown with a wave and a wink.
🎄 Santa’s Cabin | 12 PM – 2 PM & 3 PM – 6 PM
Stop by Center Square for photos, wish lists, and childhood nostalgia.
🎬 Elf Screenings at the Eichelberger PAC | 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM
Three chances to watch Buddy eat the four main food groups. Tickets are $7 online or at the door.
🎶 Live Music in the Square | 2 PM – 5 PM
Bob Cratchit and the Bookkeepers will be out there playing festive favorites, which pairs nicely with a warm drink and a little window shopping.
🌟 Tree Lighting Ceremony | 6 PM
The moment everyone waits for. Bundle up and join your neighbors as the tree lights up Center Square. (Rain date: December 6.)
And because Hanover always goes above and beyond, there are plenty of little extras to make the day even brighter:
☕ Free Hot Chocolate from Emerge Church outside Santa’s Cabin, while supplies last
🎨 Free Kids Craft Tent hosted by the YWCA Hanover from 11 AM – 5 PM
🎁 Stockings for Veterans & Seniors Drop-Off Booth. Bring a filled stocking or small gifts like socks, snacks, or lotion to brighten someone’s holiday.
💜 Survey: Permanent Christmas Lights
I went into the attic to grab our Christmas decor so it’s ready for next week, and remembered why I dread hanging exterior lights. We are a very, very short family.
Then I saw a few local businesses offering permanent exterior Christmas lights. Some can even switch colors year-round.
Curious how you feel about it.
Would you ever get permanent Christmas lights installed?
🍻 21+ Fun / Live Music
Friday, November 21
Bair’s Den | Karaoke | 6 PM – 8 PM
Eichelberger Performing Arts Center | Debbie Wojciechowski, Evidential Medium | 7 PM
Church of Satire Comedy Club | Don Jamieson | 8 PM – 9:30 PM
The Avalon Ale House | Big Dogz Karaoke | 8 PM – 11 PM
Divino Pizzeria | Karaoke Night | 8 PM – 12 AM
Saturday, November 22
Fat Bat Brewing | HIDEaWAY - Hanover’s Speakeasy | 6 PM – 10 PM
Church of Satire Comedy Club | Don Jamieson | 8 PM – 9:30 PM
The Bourbon Mill | Surreal | 8 PM
Sunday, November 23
The Circle | Sunday Brunch | 11 AM
The Bourbon Mill | Karaoke | 6 PM
Monday, November 24
Church of Satire Comedy Club | Open Mic Night | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Tuesday, November 25
The Avalon Ale House | Dual FX Trivia | 6 PM – 9 PM
Fat Bat Brewing | Trivia Night | 7 PM – 9 PM
Wednesday, November 26
Avalon Ale House | Chris Schoberg | 12 PM
Avalon Ale House | Adam Crouse | 2 PM
Avalon Ale House | Nick Minahan Music | 4 PM
Avalon Ale House | Chris Ashby | 6 PM
Bair’s Den | Music Bingo | 6 PM – 9 PM
Divino Pizzeria | Trivia Night | 6 PM – 9 PM
Audio and Visual Entertainment | Thanksgiving Eve Throwdown | 6 PM – 11 PM
The Bourbon Mill | Thanksgiving Eve: Six Whiskey Revival | 7 PM
Avalon Ale House | UnVailed | 8 PM
The Circle | Open Mic & Jam with the Walnut Street Band | 8 PM – 11 PM
Avalon Ale House | DJ Tony Montana | 10 PM – 1:30 AM
Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving
Sign of the Horse | Thanksgiving Day | 11 AM – 5 PM
📆 Community Events
Here are this week’s featured events in and around Hanover. If you’d like to have your event spotlighted here, reach out to Megan at [email protected] for details.
Friday, November 21
💰 Cash Bingo @ Lyric Band Hall
🕡 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM (Doors @ 5 PM) | 📍 22 York Street, Hanover
If you’ve been craving a low-stakes night out, Lyric Band Hall is hosting Cash Bingo with enough variety to keep things interesting. Expect Bingo, Bonanza, Speed games, Century 13, and a few extras sprinkled in. Never played before? No worries. Their staff will walk you through everything so you don’t accidentally yell “BINGO” during the warmup round.
Saturday, November 22
📚 Storytime With Miss Deb: An Indigenous Story of Thanksgiving @ Little Fox
🕥 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | 📍 125 Broadway, Hanover
Miss Deb from the YWCA is leading a special storytime focused on the true history behind Thanksgiving. She’ll be reading “Keepunumuk: Weeachumun’s Thanksgiving Story” by Danielle Greendeer and guiding a related craft for kids.
Sunday, November 23
🕯️ Bring Your Own Vessel Candle Pouring @ Cultivated Essentials Co.
🕙 10 AM to 4 PM | 📍 28 Frederick Street, Hanover
Turn your favorite mug, jar, or heat-safe container into a custom candle. Pick your fragrances, wick your vessel, and pour with guidance from the team.
Quick notes:
• Vessels must be clean, sturdy, and no larger than 5 inches
• $1.75 per ounce of wax + $4 studio fee
• Wooden bowls require advance drop-off for sealing
Monday, November 24
🃏 Euchre League @ Sign of the Horse Brewery
🕕 6 PM to 9 PM | 📍 1015 Baltimore St, Hanover
Season 1 kicks off with a quick “how to play” session at 6 PM, followed by league play. No partner needed. Free to play, and all skill levels welcome. Weekly prizes are up for grabs.
Tuesday, November 25
💛 Health & Wellness Workshops for Seniors @ Guthrie Library
🕙 10:15 AM to 2 PM | 📍 2 Library Pl, Hanover
A weekly series for adults 65 and older covering health and wellness topics, followed by a hot lunch. Registration at the Adult Desk is required if you’d like lunch included.
Wednesday, November 26
🦃 Turkey Party @ The Curious Little Playhouse
🕔 5 PM to 7 PM | 📍 1000 Carlisle St, Suite 1225
💵 $29 per child | 🎫 Buy online
A cozy night of fall fun featuring a balloon party, candy-apple bar, hot cocoa, crafts, snacks, and a visit from their favorite Heeler friends. Sponsored by Wenger Plumbing.
Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving
Stay home & celebrate with family!
📅 Looking for more events?
These are just a few of the happenings around town. The Heart of Hanover events calendar is packed with more to explore.
👋🏼Until Next Time…
Next week gets busy fast, so try to slow down on Thanksgiving. The world feels chaotic more often than not, but there’s still plenty worth noticing. When things feel overwhelming, grounding yourself in the present moment can snap the lens back into focus.
Right now, I’m grateful for my little laptop that’s somehow still hanging on, a warm house, a full belly, and the people who read this newsletter every week, including you.
See you next week!
XoXo - Megan 💜
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