St. Stephen’s Cafe fosters youth engagement in Brocton

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Tammy Thompson, operator of St. Stephen’s Cafe, spoke at a recent Brocton Village Board meeting about community engagement efforts in the village.
BROCTON — When Breathe Life of WNY took ownership of St. Stephen’s Cafe next to the Brocton Arches, its vision was to become a gathering space for all ages. Tammy Thompson, the operator of St. Stephen’s Cafe, feels that its vision has been fulfilled.
Thompson said to the Brocton Village Board, “Really, the true aspect of it is that when life hits the fan, we just want them to know that if they need a place, they can hang out, talk, come in – it’s there.”
Through the Engage Community Youth initiative, St. Stephen’s Cafe has become a local hangout spot for Brocton children. In recent weeks, the Breathe Life Resource Room – located in St. Stephen’s Cafe at 2 W. Main St. – has become a site for students to gather in preparation for regents exams. Free tutoring, snacks and games have been available on Wednesday evenings throughout the month of June.
At a recent event, Thompson said, “They couldn’t have fit another kid in the Resource Room because the high schoolers and the middle schoolers are coming. … It is growing.”
This summer, Engage Community Youth Coordinator Jarrod Bushong will be leading Engage Pop-Ups at Ryckman Park. Free food, music, and yard games will be available from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. each Tuesday through July and August. All ages are encouraged to attend.
Ryckman Park will be very busy this summer, as it will also host Music in the Park on Thursday evenings throughout July and August.
The series of seven concerts – each beginning at 6:30 p.m. – kicks off on July 10 with the Cassadaga Area Concert Band, followed by Untouchables on July 17. Scott McElhaney and Bill Piper will perform July 24, followed by The Swamp Yankees on July 31.
In the month of August, Pat Cook’s show, The Women of Country, will be Aug. 7. On Aug. 14, the village will welcome 23 Skidoo. The series concludes with $2 Bill on Aug. 21. A rain date of Aug. 28 is reserved in case of any weather postponements.
The concerts are organized and presented by the Ahira Hall Memorial Library in Brocton through its director, Julie Morrison Putcher. The Village Board sponsored one of the seven concerts, while various other sponsors have stepped up, as well. Additional sponsors are sought and encouraged to contact the Ahira Hall Memorial Library.
Thompson also thanked the Village Board for its push to promote Arch and Seller Days, Brocton’s own community yard sale initiative held June 6 to 8. Thompson noticed a significant uptick in foot traffic in the village during Arch and Seller days.
“I appreciated and recognized the kind of foot traffic that the yard sale days brought in. I know that I definitely saw new people and increased sales,” Thompson said.
Mayor Craig Miller thanked Thompson for all the work she does to support the Brocton and Portland communities.