The day may have been drizzly and damp but that had no bearing on the energy, color or spirit generated by the Plainview-Old Bethpage High School homecoming parade.

Leading off the parade was the POB marching band, which, with the help and leadership of Jerry Loeb, has developed into a group of skilled and talented performers. The bleachers were filled and everyone appreciated the time and efforts displayed by the musicians performing in less than perfect weather conditions. Many other school clubs including SADD, MOOT Court, YAC, French Honor Society, Strides, Spectrum and the Music Honor Society added diversity and multiplicity to the parade. Even the Middle School's winning 8th grade football team and PAL Baseball came out to be a part of homecoming tradition.

Board games were the theme for this year homecoming floats. The first place senior class Candyland float was decorated with dollops of icing, gum drops and candy canes. The junior class had the Clue Game float and won second place for their representation of clues and portrayal of characters from the game. It was a difficult selection but the freshman class slightly out operated the sophomores with their creative production of the operation Game float. A giant blinking red-nosed patient and trailer full of attending nurses helped secure third place for the freshman class. The sophomore class transformed Monopoly into Sophomoropoly and did a great job with recreating the board and foil pieces.

All the teachers and talented students who worked endless hours thinking up and creating these floats are the true winners in every sense of the word. Parades take planning and many aspects involved go unnoticed. Special appreciation has to go to all the students involved with student government and Timothy Gunning, the faculty advisor. Interim Principal Joe Hayward, Associate Principal Tom Sena and Jim Murray and Paul Dallara, assistant principals, all had a hand in ensuring smooth sailing.

The POB Athletic Booster Club pitched in printing hundreds of programs, decorating the bleachers and manning the grill. The Booster Club purchased flowers for the graduating senior athletes to present to their parents. After the game they provided steak, burgers and dogs to the well deserving and very hungry team. Cathy Carman, and Sandi and David Vanderpool helped the ever-present Senior Class Community Service Club sell warm treats, sweets, soda and water.

Due to bad weather and dangerous conditions, the great POB varsity cheerleaders and varsity kickline were unable to perform during halftime. They invite everyone to the next Booster Club event coming up in February, Friday Night Madness. They will perform at halftime and that show will go on!

Homecoming was even grander with the strong 19 to 7 victory by the POB Hawks Football team over Port Washington. Head Coach Matt Gentile relied on senior captains, Josh Friedman, Andy Gutierrez, Joe Weinstein and Matt Zajac. The team responded and recorded a win.

The weather could have been more cooperative but the crowd, musicians, teams, students, and all the faculty and administrators united to make for a good ol' POB Homecoming 2004.

Freshman Prince: Todd Levine

Freshman Princess: Carrie Salmon

Sophomore Prince: Scott Glick

Sophomore Princess: Gabrielle Apfel

Junior Prince: Evan Petrizzo

Junior Princess: Michelle Frankel

Senior Prince: Sam Brandl

Senior Princess: Amanda Broitman

Homecoming King: Bryan Levin

Homecoming Queen: Amy Levine