When I saw Santa this year, I didn’t ask for a beach vacation (though I could definitely use one). I told him I needed help finishing my Christmas list.

As of this writing, I haven’t even started shopping. I have been collecting ideas, though. 

Before I share them with you, a quick note: I’ve only gathered surface-level information here. Prices, shipping and order times can change, so treat this as a starting point rather than a complete guide. 

WESTERN COLORADO VOICES

For the reader or writer on your list, “Western Colorado Voices: An Anthology of Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction” showcases the creative talents of local writers in multiple genres.

Compiled by members of Western Colorado Writers Forum, it's the kind of book you can open to a random page, savor one piece, then come back for another tomorrow. Currently, it’s available for $14.99 on Amazon. 

Want to purchase the book locally? Lithic Book Store in Fruita has this book as well as books by many other local writers in stock. 

LEASHES THAT HELP LOCAL
SHELTERS

For the pet lover on your list, Mike Berry builds leashes that also support local animal shelters. The leash webbing and handle can be labeled for a specific shelter, and he hand casts each epoxy resin handle so that each is one-of-a-kind. 

Mike donates half of his profits to the shelter being represented. To see some of his designs and to contact him, visit ExoMolding.com.

TRAIL COOKIES

At the Business Incubator’s holiday expo, I made the mistake of going while hungry. A young girl was at a table selling giant cookies, and when I saw “Buy four, get one free,” I tried a mix of flavors and loved every single one.

If you have a party or family gathering coming up, a box of Trail Cookies is an easy way to feed a group. (In fact, it just might be what I’m getting my coworkers this year.) Boxes of cookies range from $25-$50 and you can place your orders at TrailCookie.com.

A BEACON SUBSCRIPTION

A subscription to the BEACON is one of the best gifts you can give a local senior. For $29, you get 12 months of local stories, resources and good laughs delivered to their mailbox.

A subscription means they won’t miss features like this month’s cover stories, local events and our jokes. Plus, for a limited time, we have a BOGO subscription deal, so you can get one for yourself, too. Subscribe online here

PRESENCE, NOT JUST PRESENTS

Instead of another thing to dust, give the one gift no one else can: you. 

That might mean a visit with a parent, sibling or grandchild, or give an experience you can share together. You’ll find plenty of holiday and non-holiday options in this month’s calendars. 

These are just a few of the local gifts I’ve been thinking about lately—and I’d love to hear yours too. From all of us at the BEACON, Merry Christmas and may your new year be bright. ■

What are your local gift ideas?