Ghosts and goblins for cancer

Every Halloween beginning in 1997, Frank Amoruso would decorate his home with ghouls, ghosts and goblins. The comfy suburban dwelling, on Traymore Boulevard in Island Park, became the Bates Motel for a couple of weeks.

Then Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy destroyed his props, and he lost interest in his yearly project.

But not for long. “Both my kids are in college now,” he said. “I have some extra money, and to tell the truth, I missed doing it.”

This year Amoruso decided it was time to bring back the motel, so he took his Thanksgiving vacation early. “I sat down and did it all in a week,” he said, “shopping thrift stores for large clothes and shoes, my wife, Michele, altering items as needed. I ordered the heads separately. Whichever head came in, that was the figure I worked on.” Michele also worked on a butcher’s table.

This is more than a labor of love for Amoruso. He has family members and friends who have had cancer, and since this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, he decided to ask for donations. There is a bucket in front of the house, and all the money he collects will be directed to help care for those with the disease.