Vernon man continues Christmas tradition
VERNON — Just like when you were a kid, it’s a great fun to drive around town looking for the multitude of Christmas light displays and scenes that welcome visitors into Vernon’s many diverse neighborhoods.
Vernon Valley Lake community resident Bob Winter is continuing his 18-year tradition of decorating his corner lot for visitors. Winter and his wife, Kathy, both work on their little winter wonderland starting their efforts shortly after Halloween.
As in the past, Winter’s display includes a food donation box as well as a Toys for Tots drop box. New, this year is a donation box to help the pets of families that can use a helping hand.
People food and pet food donations are given to the food pantry of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, located off Route 94 in the Vernon Town Center. Repeating his justification for increased donations, Winter maintains that government assistance programs for food and heating assistance are not keeping pace with people’s needs.
Winter also noted that Toys for Tots is no longer receiving the same corporate backing it once had. For those who care to make them, toy donations should be unwrapped. Winter later delivers the toys to Picatinny Arsenal, where they are gift wrapped and then given to the area’s needy children.
Speaking about his display, Winter says families often bring cameras and video equipment with them to take photos of their children. According to Winter, it takes more than five minutes to light and power the entire display, which also includes a nativity scene and many holiday-themed characters.
Much of the Winter’s neighborhood is well decorated, including the right corner house that motorists will pass as you enter the community. Winter’s display is located at 22 Valley Drive North, in the Vernon Valley Lakes/Glenwood section of Vernon.
While driving around town, there is another show-stopping place to visit. This house is at 34 Drew Mountain Road in Vernon and is well known for its seasonal displays of inflatable balloons.