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10.21.05 - A week's worth of revelry, costumes, float-building and green and white "Noma" pride will culminate at Sonoma Valley High School's homecoming celebrations today and tomorrow.

Sonoma Valley High School students will have their time in the limelight as dazzling homecoming floats coast up Broadway today and parade waves abound. At 1 p.m. the procession will begin at the high school campus and end at City Hall on the Plaza for a pep rally.

This year's rally is a bit different in that it broadens its participation to include more people from the school and student body, said leadership teacher Manoa Koepp. "In past years it was (just about) the football team... Now I think people will get more out of it," he said.

His 26 leadership students have worked hard not just to organize the homecoming events but to reinvigorate and put a fresh spin on some of them.

The parade will be led by grand marshal Tim Boeve, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation executive director. Upgrading technology, keeping computer labs running, recently reopening the library and providing support for countless other needs, the ed foundation has been a big saving grace for the school over the years and Boeve is the most well-known face behind the organization, said Vice Principal Glenn Moll. Honoring him this year was a "no-brainer."

"Tim is a great team player - and this is an opportunity to honor the man who has helped coordinate all the ed foundation's efforts ... There's a lot of respect for his time and devotion to all of the high school's needs," Moll said.

Tonight in the crisp autumn twilight the Dragons take on Analy High at Arnold Field. The junior varsity game starts at 5 p.m. and varsity will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

An exuberant energy has taken hold of the whole high school this week in a flurry of activities, games, a carnival and costumed theme days - from "Pirate Day" to "Decade Day" to the wildly popular new "Nerd Day" that saw a slew of plastered hair, taped glasses and enough "kick me" signs to make Napoleon Dynamite feel at home.

"There was so much more participation (than any other day)... I've seen more nerds...," said Maggie Cunningham, student activities coordinator.

The overarching homecoming theme this year is "Dragon in the City" and float fever is running higher than the Sears Tower. An average of 10 to 30 students have worked on each float over the course of three weeks, and in the last few days students have been rushing to hammer, embellish, festoon and finish up in time.

Seniors have an ace up their sleeves with a Las Vegas float, juniors are leaving their hearts - and glue guns - in San Francisco, sophomores are biting into the Big Apple and freshmen are taking a tropical turn in their floating homage to Miami.

As the greasy aromas of barbecue wafted over a flickering bonfire, Thursday night's ritual "float fest" drew final efforts from class teams to put finishing touches on their elaborate giants.

The night before the parade each year, floats are kept in a protected location with security guards to keep watch.

The glitzy goliaths make their debut today and are judged on creativity, spirit and design. Winners are announced tonight at the football game.

Perched atop a royal cavalcade of cars, today's parade should also rev up the blood of 10 homecoming candidates who will reign over the parade today and tonight's halftime show. The king and queen will be announced at the dance tomorrow at 9 p.m. The dance will take place at the Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

The candidates, who are all seniors, include:

€ Barbie Livingston, 16, daughter of Tim and Debbie Livingston, of Sonoma. Livingston is a member of Spirit Crew and plans to participate in track and field this spring. She volunteers at the Gingerbread Preschool and enjoys sailing with her dad, playing piano, reading and "watching her brother Pete play football" at SRJC.

€ Yuriana Luna, 17, daughter of Angelica Pureco, of Sonoma. Luna is a member of Spirit Crew, Leadership and Dragones Latinos. Her community activities include mentoring children at the Altimira Middle School Mentor Center. She enjoys music, dance, friends and art.

€ Eva Sanders, 17, daughter of Eva Ananias of Santa Rosa, and Bob Sanders, of Sonoma. Sanders plays water polo, sings, is on the track and field team, works on the yearbook and is a member of Spirit Crew. Outside of school she lifeguards and has also volunteered at the Bodega Marine Lab. Her other interests include surfing, painting, photography and travel.

€ Chelsea Scott, 16, daughter of Roxanna and Jody Scott, of Sonoma. Scott plays varsity volleyball and is on the Spirit Crew. She enjoys hanging out with her friends.

€ Mindi Wiley, 17, daughter of Nancy Wiley, of Sonoma, and Keith Wiley, of Santa Rosa. Wiley plays varsity volleyball and is on the Spirit Crew. Her other activities include track and field in the spring season.

€ Joel Broderick, 18, son of Joseph Broderick, of Glen Ellen. Broderick runs on the track and field team in spring. Outside of school he also enjoys running, riding his bike around town and spending "as much time as possible with his friends."

€ Lucas Domingue, 17, son of Carolyn Domingue, of Sonoma. Domingue plays on the school's varsity football and basketball teams. He loves listening to music.

€ Wesley McDavid, 17, son of Richard and Heather McDavid, of Sonoma. McDavid is involved in video production in the school's broadcast program. He loves going to football games, making movies and listening to his favorite band, Bright Eyes.

€ Ebert Reyes, 17, son of Marcelino and Maria Reyes, of Sonoma. Reyes is the school's varsity soccer captain and has volunteered for Sonoma Overnight Shelter in his spare time. He is interested in playing college soccer and plans to be a dentist.

€ Andres Rico, 17, son of Jose and Diana Rico, of Sonoma. Rico's activities have included playing varsity soccer, being editor of the school newspaper, and serving as student body treasurer. He is a member of Dragones Latinos. Rico also coaches a soccer team in Redwood City and has gone on three "Seeds of Learning" trips to El Salvador to help build schools. He loves playing and listening to music and going to concerts.

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