Tim Harff is a 23-year-old nursing student at Westmoreland County Community College and a volunteer firefighter for the Circleville Fire Department.

He doesn't have a lot of money to spare.

But in the two years he has been decorating his parents' house in North Huntingdon, he estimates that he has spent thousands on lights, equipment and the software required to synchronize the lights to music.

Even so, the Harffs keep none of the donations slipped into the mailbox in front of their home at 1907 Bernice Drive. Every penny they collect is split between Tim Harff's favorite two charities: his volunteer fire department and Ronald McDonald House.

The light show, which started the weekend after Thanksgiving, runs from 5 to 10:30 p.m. weekdays and until 11 p.m. on weekends, through at least Jan. 1. Those driving by can tune their radios to 88.7 FM to hear the music.

Tim Harff, a 2005 Norwin High School graduate, expects to graduate as a registered nurse in the spring. He said the idea for his Christmas show came to him during his junior year at Norwin.

A friend introduced him to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or TSO, a group known for its elaborate stage shows and Christmas tunes.

That friend also showed him the software and programming that enables users to create light shows synchronized to music. Tim Harff resolved to make one featuring music by TSO.

"It took me three years to save up to buy enough lights and get the program," he said.

He uses Light-o-rama, although he said other programs are available that do the same thing.

"But from the beginning, I said to my parents, 'If I do this, it's going to be for a cause.' "

The show this year features more than 5,000 lights flashing to five Christmas tunes, including two from TSO: "Wizards in Winter" and "Mad Russian Christmas."

Tim Harff said it has taken him more than 100 hours of programming to get the lights and sound just right -- a job he shared with his girlfriend, Melissa Heck, 22, also a Norwin graduate and a nursing student.

His first show was last year, and he said he's improved the display and his method for collecting donations.

He is borrowing a real U.S. Mail box from Officer Bill Sombo, of the North Huntingdon Police Department's K-9 unit, who uses it to train dogs.

"We collected about $500 last year, and we're hoping to at least double that this year," he said.

Tim Harff also hopes that a local company might be interested in matching the funds he collects.

He said his parents, Cindy and Al, were skeptical at first.

"But now my mom loves it," he said. "And sometimes my dad gets out there in a Santa costume and hands out candy canes."

He noted that his parents "graciously pay the light bill," but that he keeps costs down by using LED lights, which require less electricity than traditional bulbs.

Mrs. Harff said the family has lived in the neighborhood, Markvue Manor, for 30 years, and was worried the music, lights and car traffic might cause problems for their neighbors.

"But I have wonderful neighbors, they're so supportive," she said. "My neighbor across the street even told me to turn the music up!"

Mrs. Harff said she and her family put on a "Light Up Night" celebration this year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when the display was turned on for the first time.

The Harffs have another son, Alan, 27, a 911 dispatcher who also volunteers at Circleville Fire Department.

Mrs. Harff said the display has inspired her and her neighbors to put a little more into decorating for the season.

"When the kids got older, we cut back to just a few candles in the window," she said.

"Now I'm decorating like when the kids were young, and I noticed our street has gotten a lot more decorations, too.

"It's just awesome. I get a kick out of seeing how many people are out there."

Tim Harff said he plans an even bigger display next year and that someday he hopes to be able to light up his own house in the area.

"When I start looking for a place," he said, "I'll be looking for one thing: somewhere I'll be able to decorate."

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