There S No Problem Knowing About the Hottest, Newest, Most-Demanded Gift Ideas Because

You may have heard of Cozmo – an emotive, palm-sized robot that is supposed to be among the coolest gifts of the 2016 holiday season. It’s a toy, a companion and an artificial-intelligence do-it-yourself project all rolled into one.

There’s no problem knowing about the hottest, newest, most-demanded gift ideas because they are being advertised everywhere. It’s probably tougher to escape the blitz.

But if you’d like a respite, you’ve come to the right place. After all, this is a heritage column about life in the Alleghenies. West Coast creations like Cozmo are just the latest immigrants coming here.

So if I’m to offer gift ideas for 2016, they should be rooted in our place and history. After all, that’s what makes our region distinct.

Let’s start with that hard-to-buy gift for the cooper in your life. What’s a cooper? Back in the 18th century, coopers made buckets, barrels and other liquid containers out of pieces of wood. It was a precise and demanding craft that required special knowledge and tools.

Given that there aren’t many coopers around anymore, you may not know any. But you may know someone who loves to work with wood and might enjoy this craft.

If so, contact the Somerset Historical Center at SomersetHistoricalCenter.org. Not only does the center offer coopering classes but now is selling coopering tools as well.

Now you may be thinking of a person who won’t work with his or her hands for fear of breaking a nail; a person who wants to be pampered.

A gift certificate to Omni Bedford Springs Resort might be the perfect gift. Bedford Springs’ history and architecture date to the first half of the 19th century, when people flocked to this antebellum resort for its mineral springs.

Today, you can treat that special someone to the “Springs Eternal Spa” package, which features the natural water of all eight of the resort’s still-flowing springs. OmniHotels.com.

At the other end of the cost spectrum, you can give a gift of historical art to every fan of both history and art on your gift list without breaking the budget. The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art has an exhibition catalogue titled “Portraits of the Eastern Frontier,” that beautifully displays outstanding historical paintings by widely recognized contemporary artists, John Buxton and Robert Griffing. Visit the Shop at Sama-art.org. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, immigrants flooded into the Alleghenies; among the largest groups of emigres were Slovaks. The Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center has an array of handmade items from Slovakia that would make thoughtful gifts for someone of that heritage: cornhusk dolls and ornaments, carved wooden folk art, crystal glass items and hand-painted ceramic plates. Jaha.org.

Know fans of old movies? Consider giving them a bit of Jimmy Stewart. Jimmy grew up in the borough of Indiana, which now is the home of the Jimmy Stewart Museum. Through the museum you can select DVDs from among the dozens of films that Jimmy Stewart starred in over the years.

However, you also can select specialty items that play off of some of his most-popular roles: an afghan, featuring the publicity shot of Jimmy and his rabbit friend from “Harvey;” and a variety of items from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” including the silver bell that signaled Clarence getting his wings. Jimmy.org.

During the time when Stewart was enjoying box-office success, Americans were crowding onto the nation’s highways in ever-increasing numbers. The Lincoln Highway Experience museum and visitors center near Latrobe celebrates that period.

Visit Lhhc.org and you’ll find a Lincoln Highway Experience shop with dozens of books, commemorative clothing, classic postcards, a diner coffee mug, DVDs and Lincoln Highway driving guides for both kids and adults.

Now these gift ideas may not reach the level of artificial intelligence. But they are pretty cool, and their purchase supports local organizations rather than those on the West Coast.