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VERMONT HOOPS STAR TO APPEAR IN GRANITE CITY

Taylor Coppenrath Coming to Support Barre Partnership, Homecoming Days

Barre, Vt. (July 26, 2007)- The man who led the University of Vermont basketball team to its first ever NCAA tournament victory will be in downtown Barre this weekend.

Taylor Coppenrath, who currently plays professionally in Italy, plans to make dual appearances at Barre Homecoming Days on Saturday and Sunday. His first stop will be an autograph signing at City Hall Park on July 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., he will then march with the Barre Partnership in the Homecoming parade through the city center. Coppenrath is back in the Granite City July 29 as a celebrity judge for the 1st Annual Barre Waffle-Off, a king-of-the-mountain-style waffle making competition scheduled at LACE from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Coppenrath, a 6-foot-9 forward, is no stranger to central Vermonters. After graduating from St. Johnsbury Academy, where he was coached by Spaulding High School alum Layne Higgs, Coppenrath attained stardom at UVM. In 2005, he was the leader of the Catamount squad that upset perennial powerhouse Syracuse University in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The three-time America East Player of the Year finished his storied career as the school's second all-time leading scorer. The Boston Celtics signed Coppenrath to its Summer League team last season, and he hopes to eventually reach the NBA.

Taylor is a Vermont hoops luminary and one of the most famous personalities in the state, said Partnership Executive Director Matt Lash. We are very pleased to welcome him back to Barre, where he competed during his high school years. His presence will certainly be a big draw at an event that is already huge for our region.

Barre Homecoming Days, slated for July 26-29, celebrates the culture and history of the community and traditionally attracts 15,000-plus people. Over 50 initiatives are on tap, including live music, street dances, art exhibits, central Vermont's largest parade and fireworks. A complete schedule can be found at various downtown Barre businesses, on http://www.barrecity.org or at Barre City Hall.

About The Barre Partnership

The Barre Partnership, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, coordinates activities that maintain and improve civic pride and the economic, social and cultural quality of life in Barre, Vt., with a particular concentration on the downtown. The Partnership provides opportunities for economic development and employment, strengthening the tax base and increasing private and municipal investment. Headquartered at Barre City Hall, its board of directors is composed of local business people, including President John Mayfield (Sean and Nora’s), Vice President Amy White (KeyBank), Secretary Carol Day and Treasurer Bob Sager (Bob’s Camera and Video).

For more information, please contact Executive Director Matt Lash at (802) 476-0267, barpart@barrecity.org or http://www.barrepartnership.org.