Cooks for Books

Thursday, May 24th at 6:00 PM

Banchetti, 550 N French Rd., Amherst

Our biggest fundraiser of the year! Celebrity chefs, live music, live and silent auctions, basket raffles, open bar.

$60 per person.

Tickets on sale at Brighton Place or online here.

Advertising and sponsorship opportunities available.

Our Featured Chefs This Year:

Jon Andrews
Sous Chef at Schnitzel & Co.
Kujo Kumro
Head Chef at Betty's
Shelly Schratz
Managing Chef at Bing's
Franco Buscaglia
Chef at Banchetti
Gretchen Mayer
Chef at Rizotto Italian Eatery
Krista Van Wagner
of Krista's Caribbean Kitchen

Photos from Cooks for Books 2017:
2017 Cooks for Books Photos © Heather Bellini Photography, LLC www.heatherbelliniphotography.com
Click here for more photos

Event Highlights At Brighton Place

Monthly Senior Luncheon

Financial Planning: New Tips for Seniors

Wednesday, May 9 at 12:00 pm

John McDonald of Harbortown Financial will give an informative talk on financial planning in the current economic environment. Mr. McDonald will provide the food for this luncheon.

Limited to 25. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

Paranormal Investigations with Heather Rease

Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30 pm

Ms. Rease is a psychic medium and paranormal investigator. She is the author of two books: Letters to Olivia: If you could hear what I hear and Letters to Olivia II: Past, Present and Future Days. Her investigations have taken her to many famous locations in Buffalo and Tonawanda, including Elmlawn Cemetery, Old Fort Niagara, and the Buffalo Central Terminal.

Ms. Rease will talk about her latest book, Letters to Olivia II. She says, "When it comes to the supernatural, there are several unanswered questions. As a medium, I have had many paranormal experiences. In my work, I ask my Spirit Guides to step forward. These guides help me to channel spirits by allowing them to auto-write through me so that they may answer questions I have concerning several different topics. This book is broken up into three categories: Supernatural Phenomena, Myths & Legends and Paranormal Investigations."

She will have books to sell and will be available for a signing after the talk.

Limited to 40. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

History of the Herschell Carousel Factory Museum with Rose Ann Hirsch

Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00 pm

Author and carousel restorer, Rosa Ann Hirsch will give a presentation of the history of the museum with a focus on restoring the horses.

Limited to 40. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

Art All Over the Place Presents: The Art of Dick Miller

May 1 – May 31

Prints of original paintings will be displayed in the library and are available for sale.

Eclectic Book Club

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

Tuesday, May 15 at 2:00 pm

In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen.

Call 332-4375 for more information.

Knitting Club

Tuesdays 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Fridays 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

This club is for the most experienced knitter or a beginner. We knit, crochet, and chat, or come with questions and materials. You do not need to attend every meeting; this club is very informal. Crocheters are welcome!

Call 332-4375 for more information.

Adult Coloring

Tuesdays 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Our Adult Coloring Club is a great way to relax and meet new friends. This is not a class and is very casual.

Call 332-4375 for information.

Toddler Time

Wednesdays at 10:30 am

Stories, Songs, Movement, and Activities for children 2 - 5 years old.

Limited to 12 children each day. Call 332-4375 for more information.

Please Note: The Thursday session has been cancelled until further notice.

Anime Meet-Up

Thursdays, 6:30 – 8pm

In this club we watch and talk about anime and related topics like Japanese culture, cosplay, and manga.

For ages 13 and up. Limited to 35. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

Cardcrafter's Club

Thursdays at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Create beautiful, handmade greeting cards. Experienced and beginning crafters are welcome. This is not a class; we share ideas and techniques.

Call 332-4375 for more information.

Exercise for Strength and Balance

Thursdays at 12:00 pm

Learn tips and exercises from Mary Ann Linkowski to stay strong and safe.

Limited to 10. Suggested donation $2. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

Laughter Yoga

Thursdays at 11:00

Come laugh your way to a healthier you! In Laughter Yoga we do laughing exercises to relax, boost immunity and feel great!

Call 332-4375 for more information.

Chair Yoga

Tuesdays at 10:00 am and Fridays at 12:00 pm

Gentle yoga for people with physical limitations. Suggested donation is $2 -$5 per session.

Limited to 12 participants. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

Adult Ukulele Sing and Play

Tuesdays at 5:30 pm or Thursdays at 1:30 pm

Learn to play the ukulele and sing along to popular songs. This fun weekly meetup is for all ages. Ukuleles are provided. No experience is necessary to join.

Suggested donation is $5 per class. Limited to 12. Call 332-4375 to sign up.

Adult Rock Painting Club

Saturday, May 19 at 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

This new club will meet on the third Saturday of each month. Bring your own rocks, acrylic paints and brushes. This fun, trendy new craft requires no previous art experience.

Call 332-4375 for more information.

Chess Clinic with Chess Champion Brian Sayers

Saturdays starting April 28 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for five chess clinics. Classes meet from 10:30 to 12:00 on the following Saturdays: 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/1, and 5/26. We supply sets, prizes, some structured lecturing and lots of time to play the royal game. Ages seven to adult. [Beginners – One year playing chess, and intermediate players – between one and five years playing chess]

$25 per student due on the first day of class. Registration is restricted to 24. Register with Coach Brian: bwsayers@roadrunner.com or call 332-4375 to sign up.

Thanks to C.H.A.T. For Powering Our Network

We would like to thank C.H.A.T. for donating two APC C1500 UPS units. They condition the power running to the dual, redundant power supplies in our server and all of our network gear.

This will increase the reliability and lifetime of all of this equipment by protecting it from power outages, voltage sags, and other anomalies from the power grid.

Pat Farrell

We at Brighton Place are sad to report the passing of Pat Farrell on January 15, 2017. Pat and his wife Jan have been among our most faithful benefactors. Pat, who brought his children to events at Brighton Public Library, has supported our efforts at Brighton Place for many years.

The Farrells owned a unique business that published seldom seen antique images, many of old Buffalo. The Traveling Picture Show is a source of a continuing production of images on an astounding range of subjects. He and Jan have generously donated hundreds of prints and note cards for us to sell at the desk and at our Books and Bordeaux and Cooks for Books fundraisers. Pat was particularly insistent that we take extra prints so we could make more money for Brighton Place.

Pat and Jan have given lectures at Brighton Place and their work has been in our showcases. He was highly knowledgeable about the history of Buffalo and the surrounding communities and a master of his late-life vocation, making prints and cards. Those of us who visited with him in his shop know he could tell a story about each one of the thousands of postcards. We will miss his generous spirit and great sense of humor.

Lift For Charity

We would like to thank Julianna Colwell, a senior at Kenmore East High School, her dad Bruce, Vincent Magnione, and everyone at Kenmore Barbell & Fitness for organizing and participating in the "Lift for Charity" fundraising competition.

$755 was raised and donated to Brighton Place.

Thank you for your support, which allows us to continue our mission to provide a community place for the residents of the Town of Tonawanda and surrounding area where they can access books, magazines, computers, DVD's and other forms of educational and cultural opportunities that will enhance their lives.

Thank You to Kevin Hardwick

During its Breakfast with Santa event on Dec. 19, Brighton Place held a presentation to celebrate the $5,000 allocated in the 2016 Erie County budget for Brighton Place that Legislator Kevin Hardwick secured. Pictured from left to right, Library Manager Donna White, Santa Claus, Everett Herbeck, Legislator Kevin Hardwick and Brighton Place Board of Directors President Michael Rizzo.

The funding will be used to upgrade the technology at Brighton Place, which is a Community Resource Center. The Brighton Library was removed from the Erie County and Buffalo Library System in 2006 due to budget cuts, but thanks to the Town of Tonawanda, volunteers, the board of directors and donors, the building has remained opened as a fully operating community library.

"I was pleased to secure this funding for Brighton Place in next year’s budget. The volunteers and board do so much of the fund raising on their own and the community has proven this is a resource they want to have, and I think it is important for the county to invest in this much-needed center," said Legislator Hardwick.

Original Story

A Word of Thanks

We want to thank the following sponsors who provide continuous support to Brighton Place. Their generosity allows us to provide children and adult programming as well as our newspaper and portions of our magazine collection.

We greatly appreciate our sponsors' support. Our sponsors greatly appreciate your business.










C.H.A.T. of WNY

Raymond T, Miles III, Attorney

Kevin Hardwick, Erie County Legislature

Maureen Wells

Pat & Jennifer Hatfield

Tony Hurliman Family

Rosemary Rizzo

Ken & Kathy Young

Laura Rizzo

David & Nancy Gorski

Glenn & Karen Haley

Pat, Rose, Nikki & Alissa Schiske

Brighton Place

999 Brighton Road
Tonawanda, NY 14150
716-332-4375

Library Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10:00AM - 8:00PM
Wednesday
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday
11:00AM - 8:00PM
Friday
10:00AM - 2:00PM
Saturday
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Sunday
Closed

Wondering how you can support your local library? Become a donor! Every little bit helps!

Brighton Place now has free wireless Internet capabilities! Bring your laptop to do homework and research, or just sit and relax while surfing the net in our cafe!

Brighton Place Fines
(Due at time of check-in)

Books
$0.25/day
Children's Books
$0.10/day
Video/DVD
$1.00/day
Audio Book (Adult)
$0.25/day
Audio Book (Children's)
$0.10/day

Loan Periods

Books
21 Days
CD/Video/DVD
7 Days
Audio Books
(Adult & Children's)
7 Days

Checkout Limits

DVD/VIDEO
5 per card
Total Items Per Card
12

Dropbox

For your convenience, there is a dropbox outside of the library. To prevent damage to books and magazines, please place all print material in a plastic bag before placing it in the dropbox.