Stumped For Gift Ideas?

SEBRING - 'Tis the season to spread a bit of the bounty of Highlands County to friends and family up North.

There are several locally produced and unique products and goods available for shipping a piece from the Sunshine State or for gifts for friends closer to home.

At Maxwell Groves, Highlands County grown citrus is shelved along with orange blossom honey, assorted jellies and even citrus bubble gum.

Owner Steve Maxwell said his plant is the only commercial house for orange production in the county. He bought much of the machinery still used, and on display, in 1970 and said it was 30 years old then.

Then, there are several outlets for local artists to display and sell their wares. The Caladium Arts and Crafts Co-Op in Lake Placid, and Sebring's LK Gallery and Village Gallery, and gift shop of the Highlands Art League specialize in locally produced and affordable art.

Other locally produced food products include Everglades Seasoning, direct from the manufacturer, and wines, gift baskets and other assorted goodies from Henscratch Farms and Winery.

To give a community performance, gift certificates are available from Highlands Little Theatre.

Just about anything with a space big enough to print the name and a logo of the college on it may be purchased at the South Florida Community College.

A yearly entrance pass for almost every state park, including our own gem, Highlands Hammock State Park, is something to save for yourself or give away.

Here's the List:

u Maxwell Groves, 607 E. Circle Street, Avon Park, 453-3938, open seasonally from Nov. 1 through May 1. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fresh citrus in many varieties available. Dozens of gift items. Paula Dean brand and Amish types of food.

u Henscratch Farm and Winery, 980 Henscratch Rd., Lake Placid, 699-2060. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Pick your own strawberries and blueberries, working winery, plenty of award winning wines by the bottle, gift baskets and many hard to get food products sold from a country store.

u LK Gallery, 104 N. Ridgewood Drive, 382-2332, Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., extended holiday hours, Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many local artists displayed and for sale. Many original, framed paintings for $50 and less.

u The Village Gallery and Gift Shop of the Highlands Art League, 1989 Lakeview Drive, Sebring, 385-5312. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. acrylics, oils, water colors, glass jewelry and other regularly changing works by local artists. Cards starting at $4.50 and more than 200 pieces of fine art from about 75 artists.

u Everglades Foods Inc., 441 Webster Turn Drive, Sebring, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Special packages for $18.95, plus shipping, includes four Everglades seasonings, Original, Everglades Heat, Everglades Cactus Dust and Fish and Fowl, plus Hoppin' Grilling Sauce. T-shirts and aprons also available.

u Brenner Gallery and Craft Gallery, 385-1333, 104 Circle Park Drive, Sebring, pottery and art from owner Gene Brenner and others.

u Wine Merchant, 835-1500, 108 N. Circle Drive, Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Features wine tastiness, a bistro selling wine by the glass and appetizers, such as gourmet cheese and fresh bread and even an on-premise winery where customers can create their own wine.

u Caladium Arts and Crafts Cooperative, 132 E. Interlake Blvd., Lake Placid, 699-5940. Hours: Monday -Saturday, 9 Am. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Local made goods and crafts. Paintings, photography, pottery, ceramics, wood carvings, needle work and more.

u Highlands Little Theatre, 382-2525, 356 W. Center Ave., gift certificates available for live community theater, cost: dinner show $40 per person. Dessert matinee, $20 per person and show ticket, $15. Upcoming shows, Suessical opening on Jan. 18; Pirates of Penzance, March 28; Dearly Departed, June 6; Aida, August 13.

u South Florida Community College Bookstore and Panther Shop, 453-6661, 600 W. College Dive., Avon Park, Building "B," Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., extended hours for first two weeks of each semester. Several varieties of camouflaged and Tie dyed T-shirts and sweatshirts, mugs and hats, many in the school colors, orange and black.

u Highlands Hammock State Park, 386-6094, 5931 Hammock Road., Sebring. camping, hiking, biking and abundant wildlife. An individual pass is $42.80 for an entire year of fun, exercise or recreation. For couples or families, an annual family pass would allow from two to eight people to visit the park every day next year for just $85.60. The park has a wide variety of items under $20. Consider a park T shirt, ball cap or visor. There's also vanity plates, coffee mugs, pins, patches, post card sets, coloring books and the FPS memory book, or Passport, where the recipient can jot down memories of their visit to all the Florida State Parks. For just a few dollars more, you can even buy Florida Park Service pajamas!