VERNON - The Vernon Chamber of Commerce will kick off its Winter White Lights Festival on Friday, Dec. 1 at the Vernon Municipal Building. The annual Festival heralds the arrival of the winter season, one of the busiest times of the year for Vernon. A collection of holiday and seasonal activities is planned, beginning with the lighting of the Holiday Tree and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus along with a detachment of elves. Students from township schools will sing holiday songs. Refreshments will be served. The chamber is asking all business owners to decorate the outsides of their establishments with white lights. McAfee Hardware has offered a 10 percent discount on strands of white lights to any participating chamber member. Also, Aspen Environmental Landscaping Co., another Vernon Chamber of Commerce member, will offer a special price for Vernon business owners who want to decorate their property or building with white lights. The Winter White Lights plan is for local businesses to be prepared to turn on their lights beginning Dec. 1 and continue until mid-March. The festival is a cooperative effort between the Vernon Chamber of Commerce, the Vernon Police Athletic League (PAL), and the Township of Vernon. For information, visit www.vernonchamber.com or www.vernonpal.com.