Mary-Anne Szeniawski first came to York to be a seasonal police officer. She spent the summer of 1979 giving out parking tickets and helping parents track down their kids on Long Beach Avenue.

That job ended when the temperatures dropped. But she stayed in York, and the next year, she applied for an opening in the town clerk’s office.

Szeniawski worked there for more than 40 years, including more than 30 as the clerk. She retired in 2021, but didn’t entirely walk away from town government. Szeniawski, 68, currently sits on the select board. So she knows York pretty well, and she shared some of her insights for readers.

Where do you like to eat?

“My idea of a good lunch is Flo’s Hot Dogs,” Szeniawski said. What’s her order? The house special, of course. The dog comes topped with the signature tangy Flo’s Relish, mayonnaise and celery salt.

Where do you go for a drink?

“I like the little bar up at the Cliff House,” Szeniawski said. The Cape Neddick resort has commanding views, she said, but the bar is still cozy.

Where do you go to connect with nature?

Mount Agamenticus is open year round from dawn to dusk. At this time of year, Szeniawski might go snowshoeing there. “We forget we have a mountain in town because everybody thinks about the beach,” she said.

Where do you go to shop local?

Szeniawski frequents the thrift shop at the York Community Service Association.

“People who know me know I love thrift stores and yard sales,” she said. “It’s all about the hunt. For Christmas, everybody knows they’re getting something that had a previous owner, but it’s perfect because we all have too much stuff.”

What’s one more place you can’t miss in York?

Szeniawski walks as much as possible, whether she’s going to the post office or the library. One favorite path is the Fisherman’s Walk to the Wiggly Bridge. “It’s so iconic,” she said. “When I see the lobster boats come chugging in off the (Route) 103 bridge, I say to myself, ‘I cannot believe I live here. How lucky am I?'”

Editor’s note: Five Things is a feature in which locals give our readers suggestions for exploring the state of Maine, town by town. Have a city or town you think we should explore in the future? Tell News & Culture Editor Katherine Lee at [email protected].