The McKinleyville Senior Center would like to invite you to come visit our community. McKinleyville is located north on Hwy. 101 just 11 miles from Eureka. If you have passed through, come to an event or visited friends, you know that McKinleyville has changed during the past ten years. We're not so little anymore, and we have new businesses, many new homes and a few more residents. We also have lots to offer in the way of recreation, shopping, food and interesting things to do.

We are very proud of our Hammond Trail. If you've never walked this beautiful trail by the ocean, you should make a point to do so. If you are into walking on the beach, come and try our Clam Beach. Walk on the sand and watch the waves crashing into the shoreline. It doesn't get any better. McKinleyville has Pierson Park for a picnic and an enormous new proposed sports complex at Hiller Park.

If you are looking for some interesting shops, we have those too. The Salvation Army Store is a must if you are a bargain hunter. It's easy to find, located in the Mill Creek Shopping Center south of town. In our Totem Pole Shopping Center, there is the world's tallest totem pole. We have a new toy store full of every kind of toy a kid could wish for. We also have Plaza Design, a great place to pick up a gift or just browse and wish you were rich.

Across the street is Creek's Country Cottage. Not only do they carry craft supplies, but other great gift ideas. It is a fun place to visit. If you are into flowers and gardening, McKinleyville boasts Miller Farms, A&L Feed and Singing Tree Gardens out on Blake Rd. If you're having a down day and need some cheering up, go visit one of these places. You don't have to buy, you can just look. Singing Tree Gardens specializes in rhododendrons and azaleas. Visiting the A&L Feed store is like going back 100 years. They have some different items. Miller Farms has lovely plants and garden accessories. It's a real attitude changing place to go.

If after all this walking and shopping, you find yourself hungry, McKinleyville has some cute, cozy places for lunch. There's Ramones in the Totem Pole Center for pastries and coffee; there's Tastebuds across Central Ave. for soup and sandwiches; there's DJ's behind the post office; and there's Niveen's for a wide variety of luncheon offerings. You can always venture north on Central Ave. to Cap'n Zachs Crab House or go all the way to the airport and the Silver Lining for a leisurely lunch and a great view of planes landing and taking off. And of course there is the Mad River Brewery on the hill south of town that is known to be the home of good brew and wild times.

We might mention that McKinleyville is a wonderful garage sale place on weekends, and our flea market on Hiller Rd. is open during the spring and summer months. If you want some blueberries, try Wolfsen's Blueberry Farm on Baird Rd. In season, you can either pick or buy. Take some time and visit our castles on Kelly Ave. off Murray Rd. on the west
side of the freeway.

We're really not the Chamber of Commerce-we're the McKinleyville Senior Center. But we would like to invite you to spend some time with us and enjoy what our wonderful community has to offer.

Barbara Ogden is the executive director of the McKinleyville Senior Center. You can call the center at 707-839-0191.