Avalon resident Jeff Marous (pictured above at right with Kim and Nick Nikoladvich) and his wife Mary will entertain youngsters with their “haunted porch” during trick-or-treat hours of 6-8 p.m. on Saturday. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

Something about the North Boroughs inspires holiday decorations. Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas, of course, and for some residents, what has become the favorite outlet of their creativity: Halloween.

While almost every area street sports its share of monster inflatables, witches, goblins and lights, Jeff and Mary Marous, who have lived in Avalon for the past eight years, have pumped the art of Halloween decoration to a new level -- sort of an interactive "happening."

"When I was in high school, I volunteered for a March of Dimes haunted house. I've always loved Halloween and the prospect of the perfect Halloween scare," Jeff said.

Mary shares her husband's enthusiasm. "He gets very excited about this. He's always wanted to do a big production."

In their first year at their home on the corner of California and Cleveland avenues, the tragedy of 9/11 dampened some of the spirit of the season."We only got about 20 kids that year," Jeff said.

Every year since, Jeff has added to the Halloween display, "…trying to make it better and more memorable for the children."

Last year he salvaged thousands of feet of thin, black data back-up tape from his former employer's old computers, cutting it into strips to enclose the porch and divide it into rooms the trick-or-treaters had to pass through to get their treats.

Jeff and Mary, along with friends Kim and Nick Nikoladvich, dressed up and set the stage for what has come to be called "The Haunted Porch." And, Jeff said that from the comments of everyone who came through, "…it was great!"

This year's display is more than just a few dark and spooky rooms.

"We have a number of different props and animated things. We're setting up a graveyard in the front of the house, along with lots of fog, strobe lights and black lights," Jeff said.

The four friends also will be part of the scene, Nick as Davey Jones and Kim as Calypso from "Pirates of the Caribbean," with Jeff as the grim reaper and Mary as a psychotic clown.

Right now, all of those props and animations are spread throughout the house, because nothing is set up outside until Halloween day, when the two couples will put in upwards of 12 hours building the front yard cemetery, hanging the ghouls, testing the fog machine and the sound effects Jeff has compiled on his computer over the year.

And when it's time to climb into the costumes, the tech continues. Nick created a battery-operated mask with moving tentacles. He also built his claw hand and his leg, and each of the four controls assigned areas via remotes.

The only problems they can't control are a few of the children who are just a bit too frightened to walk through the haunted porch. "But they still get their treats," Kim said, "even if they're too afraid to go through."

Mary said that they have included one very special effect at the end, "…but we're not telling what it is."

"It's lots of fun. Really, we're all kids at heart," Kim admitted.

Last weekend, the couples met to rehearse their "show" that will run from about 6 until 8:30 p.m. on Halloween. By dawn, it's all gone, packed away, but with plans for next year already being made.

"We all work so well together on this," Mary said. "It's very creative, and even though it's driving us a little crazy, it's always an adventure."