You are here

It's easy to place a "Bluffton" gift under the tree

So many choice, and you don't need to surf the web

Need a really great Christmas gift idea?

The Icon has an entire bag full of ideas. The best part is that you don't need to leave town to make the purchase. You don't even need to surf the Internet and pay one-day delivery prices.

LOTS OF PHOTOS EXAMPLES BELOW -

The Icon offers viewers its annual survey of Bluffton-made products or products that say "Bluffton." These are available at very reasonable prices. Each makes a unique Christmas gift.

Here goes:

Gift certificates - first, remember that many Bluffton businesses offer their own gift certificates. If you are really stumped, why not start there.

Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificates
Certificates are available at Citizens National Bank. Ask one of the tellers. The certificates are available in any denomination. There is no extra charge to purchase a certificate. They are a check drawn on the chamber's checking account. The gift certificates may be used in any Bluffton business over the next 12 months. In addition, the certificates may be redeemed for cash at Citizens National Bank.

BFR Sports & Fitness Center, 215 Snider Road
BFR Sports & Fitness offers gift certificates for memberships, indoor track passes and fitness center. Call 419-358-4150 for complete details. Here are prices:
Youth (10-18)
$144 full year - pay up front; $12 per month - 12-month auto pay
$20 - 1 month
Young adults (19-29)
$228 full year - pay up front; $19 per month - 12-month auto pay
$28 - 1 month
Single
$336 full year - pay up front; $28 per month - 12-month auto pay
$37 - 1 month
Single-parent family
$396 full year - pay up front; $33 per month - 12-month auto pay
$40 - 1 month
Family
$444 full year - pay up front; $37 per month - 12-month auto pay
$45 - 1 month
Senior 55+
$228 full year - pay up front; $19 per month - 12-month auto pay
$28 - 1 month
Track passes
$18 for 1 month; $50 for 3 months (Jan-Feb-March)

Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main St.
For the person who really has everything, the public library has its own book wish list. You could purchase one book or more in someone’s name and then inform the recipient of your gift. The library’s wish list is on Amazon. It shows the fiction list if you are not signed in to Amazon. Once you sign in, it shows all of library’s lists, which includes the children's section, non-fiction, music and movies. CLICK HERE FOR THE WISH LIST.

Bluffton Senior Citizens Center, 132 N. Main St.
Where do we begin listing items from this shop? Here goes: rag rugs in an assortment of colors, range in prices from $15 to $35, homemade jewelry from $4.50 to $22, hanging towels, table runners, hats, scarves, pillows and baby gifts are also in stock. You'll also find lap quilts made by Betty Moser and other members of the Center. Historic Bluffton card decks are $8. Hand-made greeting cards are $1.50 each and Bluffton postcards are four for $1. The Center also has tablet holders and cell phone holders. (Sorry, peanut brittle is sold out. You’ll need to wait until next year.)

Bluffton University bookstore, Marbeck Center
You'll find a treasure trove of Bluffton University items here. This list includes hats, tee shirts, sweat shirts, blankets, license plate holders, bags, lanyards, pencils, pens, note books and three-ring binders. The bookstore also offers books by several Bluffton authors. Hours on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 13 and 14, are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours from Monday, Dec. 17, to Friday, Dec. 21, are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Book Reviews, 123 S. Main St.
Several books by local authors are available in the “Local Author” section. You’ll find books by Dave Essinger, Joanne Niswander, Judy Clemens, Jeff Gundy, Carlin Carpenter, Elaine Summers Rich, Susan Streeter Carpenter, Ruth Unrau, Roy Henry, Robert Ramseyer, Mike Lackey, Michael Ray Shinaberry and others.

Family True Value Hardware, 109 N. Main St.
Yes, Virginia, you can still buy a Bluffton slaw cutter in Bluffton. A range of Swiss-sharp cutters are available from $11.95 to $32.95. The slaw cutters are engraved with the wording "Bluffton made." One other Bluffton-made item is a really neat hot dog roaster made by the Messinger family, priced at $4.99.

Gallery 323, 323 N. Main St.
Featuring original art by over a dozen local artists with works in painting, ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, glass, photography and sculpture. Artists include Lois Wetherill, Mike Huffman, T.R. Steiner, Kat Luginbuhl, Jamie Nygaard, Andrew Steingass Melissa Eddings Mancuso, Maegan Rohdes, Anita Lehman, Judith Greavu, Jim Fultz, Jeanette Reineke, Bruce Chesser, Kerry Bush and others. Holiday hours are: Friday, Dec. 14, 12-4 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Next week: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 24, 9 a.m.-noon.

Scoreboard, 111 N. Main St.
New this year are 3-inch Pirate stainless steel Christmas tree ornaments for $8. If you want something with a Bluffton Pirate, Cory-Rawson Hornet or Pandora-Gilboa Rocket, you are in luck. The store offers a wide range of tee shirts, hats, athletic bags and lots more.

Shannon Theatre, 119 S. Main St.
Purchase a book of eight (2D) movie passes for $20. These prices last through Dec. 23.

Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Co., 117 S. Main St.
Popped in Bluffton, the shop offers 14 popcorn flavors with purchase prices from $2.50 for a small bag on up.

The Black Lab Trading Co., 121 N. Main St.
Check out Lil Pumpkin Seed Boutique includes creations by Sue Steiner, Anna Burkholder and Katie Kruse. You'll find ribbon hats, hair bows, scarves and helmet hats. Also available are quilted ornaments by Jean Clum, repurposed furniture by Denny Edinger, metal art by Jim Ridge, ornamental gourds by Diane Neal, folk art by Lynda Best, aprons by Lisa Herr, pottery by Linda Renee Laing and melted bottles, wooden stars and t-shirts by Mark Williams.

The Dough Hook, 117 N. Main St.
Here you'll find all sorts of Christmas gifts, including gift cards, meat packages, cases of canned meat, candy and cookie baking kits.

The Food Store, 103 S. Main St.
Want to add some eats under the tree? Try homemade jams and jellies from Belle Center, maple syrup from Probst Family Farm, Bluffton, Barger Brand Honey from Carey, eggs from Little Riley Creek Farm, meat from Luginbill Farms, Pandora.

Twisted Whisk, 101 S. Main St.
You can have your coffee in a Twisted Whisk mug and drink it, too. Twisted Whisk mugs are $9.99 and coffee travel tumblers area available for $11.99. Need a tee-shirt?  Adult sizes are $13.99 and kid’s sizes are $10. You may also purchase a gift certificate in any amount.

PHOTOS BELOW -
• Bluffton Slaw Cutters - Family True Value Hardware
• Probst Farm Maple Syrup - The Food Store
• BHS Pirate Christmas Ornaments - Scoreboard
• Cookie Making Kits - The Dough Hook
• Bluffton Mug - The Black Lab
• Rag Rugs - Bluffton Senior Citizens Center
• Mugs and T-shirt - Twisted Whisk
• Popcorn - Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Co.
• Books By Local Authors - Book ReViews
• Kat Luginbuhl Jewelry - Gallery 323
• Bluffton Tree Ornaments - Bluffton University Bookstore

Section: 

Stories Posted This Week