Ashley Lipsky / The Citizen

PORT BYRON - The Port Byron Central School District is trading in its low-key homecoming weekend for one with a lot more spirit and a lot more celebration.

In an attempt to link the past with the present, and hopefully inspire future generations, Dana L. West High School and the Port Byron Central Alumni Association have teamed up to revamp the districts homecoming weekend.

No more bonfires and informal dances, this year Port Byron students and community members will have the opportunity to celebrate in style.

"This year is really going to be exciting," said senior Anne Marie Bernardoni. "I think it is something everyone is looking forward to."

Bernardoni is just one of the students working with alumni and district officials to plan a weekend that will help establish what the district is hoping will become a new, long-standing tradition. Other committee members include school board president Norm Chirco, school board member Lori DeBois, high school principal Shawn Bissetta, and historian for the town of Conquest, Joni Lincoln.

The weekend will kick off the night of Friday Sept. 30 with a parade and float competition. Five floats have registered for the parade, and committee members are hoping more will sign on. The parade will start off in front of the Port Byron Library and proceed to Main Street, to Maple Avenue and then to the Panther Football Stadium. The winner of the float competition will receive free tickets to a formal dance being held on Saturday.

At 7 p.m., the boys football team will take on Canastota High School.

To add to the excitement of the football game, all former Port Byron players will be recognized during half time. Joining the players will be, former coach Gino Alberici, who will be the weekend's guest of honor. Alberici, who played football in the 1950s, coached at Port Byron for 30 years before retiring. Bissetta is hoping that Alberici and his former players will serve as role models to current students.

"Homecoming is a bridge between alumni and the student body," said Jack Murinka, president of the Sports and Activities Booster Club. "It is also a bridge between the district and the community."

For the first time in five years the high school marching band will be performing. Though the group is not official, they have been practicing for homecoming weekend, and even put in their own money to help pay for uniforms.

"The band is unfunded, and a lot of these students have never marched before," Lincoln said. "But they are working really hard anyway, and it will really add to the weekend."

The celebration will spill over into Saturday with a community dinner and a formal dance. The dinner will include ziti, meatballs, salad, rolls and apple crisp for dessert, but the dance is where the real fun will come in, said Bernardoni.

"The dance is dressy for fun," Bernardoni said. "If people are dressed up they act more mature, and look forward to it more."

The dance will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature music that progresses from the 1940s to the present.

Keeping up with the spirit of the community, the committee has also arranged for the presence of donation bins at each of the weekends events. The district is trying to collect non-perishables and school supplies for the local food pantry, which benefits Port Byron residents in need of assistance.

"Homecoming is about bringing the community back together, and that means everyone who is in this community," Lincoln said.

The weekend is not geared to be a fund-raiser, in fact, the committee said they will be happy if they break even, as long as they bring in a little school spirit.

"This is about getting everyone together to celebrate our district," Bernardoni said. "It is a lot to manage, but it is worth it."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or ashley.lipsky@lee.net.