Synchronized sensation

Forget Rockefeller Center, Macy's window animation and Navy Pier's Winter WonderFest. Just check out the neighbors for a synchronized show of holiday lights.

Such shows synchronize outdoor lights to go on and off in a sequence that complements music played on speakers in the yard, and often on an FM radio frequency, so viewers can listen from their car.

"Synchronized holiday light displays involve planning, picking music and purchasing hardware and software from companies like Light-O-Rama or D-Light," said Joe Klemencic of Pingree Grove, who is into his second year of coordinating a synchronized show. "From there, you program your computer to communicate for sequencing the songs."

Controllers facilitate independent outlets. Speakers are low-power FM transmitters used to broadcast music. Once reserved for only major productions, now just about any home can become a winter wonderland. Even if you're no sharp elf with computers, you can buy a home kit to jingle all the way.

"For around $80, hardware stores like Menards and places online sell Mr. Christmas units that are easy and maintenance free," said Klemencic, whose nickname is Twinkle Claus. "You take the unit out of the box; plug it in and you're done."

If you want to save a few "bah-humbugs," a kit may be the way to go. Twinkle Claus explained there are many variables involved in installing your own computerized version. They include computer glitches and balancing electrical loads. Yet, for him it is worth it.

"This gives me freedom because I'm not locked into what the kit provides," he said. "The sky's the limit for what I can do."

We talked with five area people who set up such displays to find out what goes into creating the displays and how people react to them. We talked to:

• Mike Warf, Naperville, second year with synchronized lights

• Tim Jahn, Buffalo Grove, second year

• Terry Weppler, Libertyville, second year

• Joe Klemencic, Pingree Grove, second year

• Nick Handelman, Carol Stream, first year

Here are some of their answers:

Q. Why did you create the display?

Warf: I like the sound and light integration. It makes you want to stop and look.

Jahn: I was inspired to create the display after making a tradition of viewing another animated display in Buffalo Grove around Christmas time. I wanted to create my own tradition for other families.

Weppler: The first display began as a friendly one-sided rivalry to outdo the village's tree across the street. The mayor was a friend of mine and I had to have a bigger display than him.

Klemencic: I enjoy the construction and planning. Then afterward, I enjoy the happiness and awe on people's faces when they come by.

Q. How did you choose the music?

Warf: The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is such a great sound and who doesn't love Burl Ives?

Jahn: I try to appeal to the kids. … I like to use music they recognize and can get excited about."

Weppler: This year, I wanted to highlight the Libertyville High School orchestra and choir since we have such a great fine arts program at the high school. The songs are from last year's holiday concert. My son is singing in the choir song.

Klemencic: I listened to a lot of music and tried to visualize how my display would work with a particular song.

Q. Tell us something special about your display.

Warf: Right now, it is the trees I made.

Jahn: The strands of lights laid out on the roof, which look like piano keys, and the 15 'mini-trees' on the lawn.

Weppler: The fact that there are 128 channels for the music.

Klemencic: First, is the two-color mega-tree in which the top spins separately than the bottom. Next, is the great garage door backdrop that Santa will be in front of to greet and talk with the kids. Lastly, are the flickering lights on the candlestick porch posts.

Handleman: He used the larger lights, called C-7s, so it's very bright.

Q. Why is it worth it?

Warf: I enjoy doing it and I can change the whole show every year."

Jahn: Christmas is such a magical time of year. I feel that if I can give others a little bit of joy through some good old dancing Christmas lights, then I've made that much of a difference. … When I was watching the display this year on Thanksgiving evening, I heard a little kid across the cul-de-sac walking to his car say, "Whoooa!: as he saw the display. That's what it's all about.

Weppler: Last Sunday, a mother stopped by with two children about 6 and 10 years old. The kids were watching the display and their mouths were open and staring in awe at the display. It made it all worth it.

Klemencic: "Just look at the kids and adult's faces when they visit and you tell me.

Q. What do the neighbors think about it? Does the flashing bother anyone?

Warf: They tell me they like it. I hope I haven't made anyone mad yet. (The flashing bothers) just my daughter, because her room is there and the lights and the music bothers her. So this year, I added an FM transmitter so people can hear it in their cars.

Jahn: I'm hoping my neighbors enjoy the display as much as I do! I'm definitely not out to make anyone angry. My mom jokes that we're going to have planes landing in our lawn soon. Other than that though, I don't think the flashing lights bother anybody.

Weppler: I've had hundreds of compliments and two complaints. … I did turn down the speakers this year. Last year, I had a woman stop by a couple days before New Year's and tell me she was a music teacher and loved the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. However, after listening to them for a month she said she never wanted to hear them again. I went over to where she lived and made sure the music could not be heard from her home after that.

Klemencic: I think they all enjoy it since many come out to share the season with us and others have animated their lights. (No one has complained this year.) I asked many last year and none were bothered.

Handelman: Several people have told me I'm crazy. The whole entire house is flashing. I've had people sitting in front of the house a lot of the night. I'll see people just sitting the street staring at my house. One night about 1 in the morning a car full of kids just sitting out there staring at it. They all got out and said, "Whoa how'd you do that."

Q. How many days did it take to construct and how long did it take you to program the sequencing?

Warf: Two days constructing the trees and five hours putting display up. Current songs are from the computer company, 10 hours on current program.

Jahn: Two weeks constructing. For the sequencing, "I lost track at the beginning of the summer!"

Weppler: I didn't keep track but I started putting up lights in September. I spent about 40 hours on programming and my son-in-law spent the same amount of time programming his songs.

Klemencic: Seven solid days putting up lights, but I started construction in September. (It took seven to 30 hours for each song).

Handelman: I've been working on it since September. It took two or three days to string the lights. For each song, it took me six hours to program it. … I wanted to do it last year and then I realized how much it involved. You need to know something about computers and electronics and how to solder. You can buy pre-manufactured controllers, but some of those can get pretty pricey.

Q. What is your electric bill like?

Warf: I changed most lights to LEDs so the cost is low, about $30 a month extra.

Jahn: $110

Weppler: I don't want to know. They'll surprise me in January.

Klemencic: My wife keeps the bill from me so I don't know how much more is acceptable.

Q. Approximate cost of display:

Warf: The computer controller and brain were about $800 and lights $300.

Jahn: Probably somewhere around $2,000.

Weppler: Total of all equipment, lights, and electrical changes made to the property to support the system is approximately $7,200.

Klemencic: Too much!

Handelman: I bought the lights last year on clearance. It costs $60 for the parts.

Mike Warf, 1800 Auburn Ave., Naperville

Hours: 4:30-9:30 p.m. until Jan. 1

Number of lights: 3,000

Songs: "The Mad Russian's Christmas," "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo," "Canon of the Bells," "Wizards in Winter," "Holly Jolly Christmas"

Directions: 75th Street to Ranchview south to Auburn Ave, east on Auburn

Tim Jahn, 5 Ashford Court, Buffalo Grove

Hours: 6-9 p.m. weekdays, until 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 5-11:30 p.m. Christmas Eve.; 5-11 p.m. Christmas Day

Listen at: 88.1 FM

Number of lights: More than 5,400

Songs: "Little Drummer Boy," "Carol Of The Bells," "Deck The Halls, Hot Chocolate," "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "Jingle Bell Rock"

Special features: 15 "mini-trees," a 10-foot "mega tree," roof lights

Web: www.jahnchristmas.com

Directions: From Dundee, go south on Arlington Heights Road, turn left onto Mill Creek Drive; stay right at fork. Turn right onto Carriage Way Drive, then left into the second cul-de-sac on left

Terry Weppler, 121 W. Church St., Libertyville

Hours: 4:30-9:30 p.m. until Jan. 1. (No display on Christmas Eve during St. Lawrence service.)

Listen at: 107.1 FM

Number of lights: About 30,000

Songs: Libertyville High School Orchestra, "Sleigh Ride," Libertyville High School Choir, "Jingle Bell Medley," Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "Carol of the Bells"

Directions: West of Milwaukee Avenue on Church Street block. Church Street is the first stoplight north of Rt. 176 on Milwaukee Avenue

Joe Klemencic, 686 Glen Cove Lane, Pingree Grove

Hours: 7-9 p.m. until Dec. 31

Listen at: 99.7 FM

Number of lights: 17,000

Songs: "Wizards of Winter," "Christmas Cannon," "Techno Carol of the Bells," "A Mad Russian's Christmas," "Jingle Bells" and more

Web: www.twinkleclaus.com

Directions: In the Westhampton subdivision, 1 mile east of Route 47 off of Route 72 in the Cambridge Lakes community.

Nick Handelman, 875 Burning Trail, Carol Stream

Songs: "Wizards in Winter," "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo," "Sleigh Ride," by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and "Jingle Bells" by Crazy Frog.

Number of lights: About 1,000, most of them the bigger C7 size

Listen at: 88.5 FM

Directions: From North Avenue, go north on County Farm Road; turn west on Birchbark Trail and right on Burning Trail