Hanover Has a New Christmas Tree... and It’s Stunning

❤ Fail Faster, Fail Forward
🧡 2nd Saturday: Hot Chocolate & Cookie Stroll
💛 A Tale of Two Trees in Hanover
💚 Make Your House Twinkle-Twinkle
💙 The Voice Season 28 Finale
💜 Heart of Hanover Dinner Club Poll

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I hope your week has not been too chaotic. Mine has been a mix of getting things done, trying not to lose my mind over small stuff, and wondering how it is somehow already December. If you are in the same boat, pull up a seat. We can be confused together.

The fact that this newsletter is arriving in your inbox on a Saturday instead of a Friday is a testament to how chaotic my week has been. But the good news is I managed to overcome every obstacle that tried to drag me down this week. So I’m behind schedule, but I’m still super proud of myself!

A big thank-you to this week’s sponsors, Livelong Media and Mindstream. Clicking their links directly supports this newsletter and helps keep local stories alive.

Megan 💜

I want to pull back the curtain a bit and let you in on something happening behind the scenes. On Tuesday, December 9, I will be at a luncheon in York for a pitch presentation competition through the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center. I applied for a micro-grant to finally upgrade my tech setup.

There are so many things I want to do with Heart of Hanover but simply cannot right now. A podcast. Video content. Interviews with local businesses. Anything that requires more than basic computer energy. My laptop cannot even handle Microsoft Teams. The idea of running video editing software on it is laughable. I have been editing every video on my phone, which works, but it is painfully slow and way too tedious.

A better setup would shrink my production time in a big way and open doors for sponsorships, events, collaborations, and the kinds of projects I see in my head but cannot bring to life yet. This grant would be a turning point for the newsletter.

Getting here has not been cute though. Every single step has been outside my comfort zone, and not one of those steps has come easily. I have hit roadblock after roadblock, far more than I expected. There was a moment last week when I genuinely thought about quitting after an admin and banking issue blindsided me.

But I rested over the holiday. Then Monday came, and I got back to work. And that surprised me. I am someone who used to avoid anything that carried even the slightest risk of failure. If I was not sure I would succeed, I did not start. I have prematurely abandoned more dreams than I am willing to admit because I thought quitting early would hurt less.

Not anymore.

My family has a lot of mottos, but the one I keep returning to is this: fail faster, fail forward. For most of my life, failure felt like the end of the road. Now I see it as a data point. It is a moment to stop, look around, and reassess. Then you take a new action, a better action, an action informed by what you learned when things did not go the way you hoped.

Failure only becomes final when you stop trying.

This week’s newsletter is a little shorter because I have a lot to prepare before Tuesday. If you think of me, send a little good energy my way. I am sure a few more roadblocks are waiting for me between now and then.

And here is my challenge to you. Fail faster. Fail forward. Think of something you have been delaying or avoiding because you are afraid of falling on your face. Then do it anyway. Take the step. Let it be messy. Let it teach you something.

Who knows? You might not even fail.

I saw this on Facebook the other day, and it stopped me in my scroll:

For those who are not familiar, here is a photo of the original tree at Grant Drive and George Street:

This tree stood just around the corner from my childhood home, and it holds a very special place in my heart. The tradition was started by Dick and Mary Lou Krummeck, then carried on by their grandson, Christopher Hoke, until the property was eventually sold and the lights went dark.

I was honestly really sad to see such a beautiful tradition end. It will always be a special Christmas memory for me.

But all good things eventually come to an end, especially in a town that keeps growing and shifting. I am forever grateful that they extended the tradition as long as they did because setting up those lights is no easy task.

Which is why I love that Rebecca found a “new” tree on Friendly Drive, tucked in the development between Conewago Chapel and Centennial Road. It is almost as if the lights did not disappear. They just moved.

I cannot wait to see it in person, and I already told my son we are taking a drive out there this weekend.

All this talk about Christmas trees has me wanting to make my front yard sparkle. I personally love the classic look of C9 LED lights. These are the big, old-school bulbs everyone remembers from childhood. Warm, bright, and basically indestructible. Perfect for house outlines, porches, and even trees.

Walmart on Eisenhower Drive has them in stock, and you can grab them online using the link below:

👉🏼 White C9 Shatterproof LED Lights (Classic Look)

Or if you prefer the classic multicolor lights, click the link below:

👉🏼 Multicolor C9 Shatterproof LED Lights (Retro Look)

If you set these up, please send me a picture. If you are not one for decorating but know of a beautifully decorated home, share it with the rest of us. Snap a photo and email it to [email protected].

Do not forget to include the street or community name so others can visit too. Let’s build a little map of holiday magic, one house at a time.

I am not a regular watcher of The Voice. I know it is a big deal for a lot of people, and I can absolutely appreciate the talent, but reality singing competitions are not usually my thing. When I heard a local woman made it through a blind audition, I was happy for her, but I did not immediately sprint to my TV.

And yes, I could pretend it is because I do not have cable, but let’s be honest. I have the internet. Judge away.

But the universe clearly wanted me to pay attention because Aubrey Nicole started showing up in every one of my feeds. And once I clicked on a video, that was it. Hooked. Goosebumps. Emotional support hoodie required.

Aubrey is the kind of performer who makes you stop mid-scroll and actually listen. There is a depth to her voice that hits you right in the chest. Reba chose Aubrey as her finalist this season and said it was because she “has a way of portraying a lot of emotion. That is what music is supposed to be about.” Reba nailed it. Aubrey sings and you feel it.

Of course, I hope she wins the whole thing. But honestly, even if the crown goes elsewhere, Aubrey’s career is only beginning. She is coming out of this with momentum, fans, and a whole lot of people rooting for her right here in Hanover.

The season finale airs Monday, December 15 at 9 PM. If you have not watched Aubrey perform yet, this is the moment to jump in.

You can vote for her after the show by using The Voice app or visiting NBC.com/VoiceVote.

Results air Tuesday, December 16 at 9 PM.

Let’s show up, Hanover.

The more this community grows, the more I keep thinking about what it would look like to take Heart of Hanover off the screen and into real life. Technology connects us in a thousand ways, yet somehow most of us feel more disconnected than ever. The pandemic did not help either. My social life flatlined and, honestly, I am ready to revive it.

Making new friends as an adult is intimidating though. So I want to create something low-pressure and fun. Something that gives you a reason to get out of the house without having to summit the Mount Everest of small talk.

Here is the idea. A Heart of Hanover Dinner Club.

You sign up. I match you with a small group of six based on your food tastes, personality, and interests. You pick the local restaurants you like. Your group meets once a month, enjoys a good meal, and hopefully walks away with a few new connections. Nothing fancy. Nothing forced. Just Hanover folks getting to know each other over dinner.

There would be a small participation fee, but we will sort that out together in a future survey if people are into the idea.

If this sparks even the tiniest bit of curiosity, let me know by completing the poll below.

Christmas Market @ Rusty Naill Pallet & Co.
10 AM to 3 PM. Shop 30+ local vendors. Great one-stop Christmas shopping.

Holiday Storytime with Miss Kiki @ Little Fox
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Stories, songs, shaky eggs, and coloring pages for the kids.

Christmasfest @ Fat Bat (21+)
12 PM to 6 PM. Holiday beers, vendors, jazz, and BBQ.

Gillian Smith @ Sign of the Horse (21+)
6 PM to 8 PM. Last show of the year with guest guitarist Greg Folsom.

Mr. Grinch @ The Playhouse
12 PM to 1 PM. Meet the Grinch, snap a photo, and grab a Grinch Busy Box while supplies last. Sponsored by Infinitos.

5 BY 5 @ Bourbon Mill (21+)
1 PM to 4 PM. Lunch, drinks, and live classic rock, Motown, funk.

Stained Glass Class @ COB51 (16+)
1 PM to 5 PM. Make a 3D stained glass Christmas tree tealight or candle holder. $85 tickets - buy online.

Reasons for the Seasons @ YWCA Hanover
4 PM to 5:30 PM. Explore winter holiday traditions from around the world. Free, family-friendly, drop-in event.

Euchre League @ Sign of the Horse (21+)
6 PM to 9 PM. Free to play. Learn at 6 PM, league play at 6:30 PM. Weekly prizes and cash rewards. Registration required.

Open Mic Night @ Church of Satire (21+)
7:30 PM. Weekly comedy open mic. Try a set or just enjoy the laughs.

All-Level Pilates Pop-Up @ Life In Balance Yoga
5:15 PM to 6:15 PM. One-hour mat workout with modifications for all experience levels. $20 single class. Buy tickets online.

Ebenezer Scrooge @ Guthrie Library
6 PM to 7:45 PM. Interactive performance of A Christmas Carol with Todd Loughry. Registration online.

Trivia Night @ Fat Bat (21+)
7 PM to 9 PM. Weekly trivia with prizes and seasonal cash rewards.

Music Bingo @ Bair’s Den (21+)
6 PM to 9 PM. Free to play. DJ-led music bingo with prizes, drinks, and snacks.

Women’s Empowerment Meet & Mingle @ Plaza Azteca
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Holiday meetup for local women to connect, relax, and celebrate the end of the year.

Witchcraft Wednesdays @ Serpent’s Key
6 PM to 7 PM. Free workshop on winter green witchcraft, plant magic, and seasonal spiritual practices.

“Phenominog” Egg Nog Party @ Avalon Ale House (21+)
5 PM to 8 PM. Christmas eggnog, $4 per glass or $2 with a new toy donation.

Silent Book Club @ Little Fox Coffee & Books
6 PM to 8 PM. Bring your own book, sip something cozy, read in quiet company, then stick around to chat and swap recommendations.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Challenge @ Fat Bat Brewing (21+)
7 PM to 8 PM. Bring your best batch. Santa is head judge. Winner gets Fat Bat merch and a gift card. Customers can sample after judging.

Thanks for your patience with the delayed and slightly shorter issue this week. Life threw a few curveballs, but I didn’t want to miss showing up for you. I’ll be back on my regular schedule next week with a full lineup. Until then, take care and enjoy the weekend, neighbor.

See you next week!
Megan 💜

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