Area Code: Batavia

On this episode, I'm talking to Patti Lackman and Tammy Caltagirone, Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County . I'll be honest. I'm feeling antsy. I'm seeing what's happening nationally, in the chicagoland area, and online, and I've started to get a bit worried about the general state of democracy, and how that might be impacting our local community. That's why I wanted t...

On this episode, a live episode from Sturdy Shelter's Cozy-Fest featuring former writer, poet, and former Hearth & Hammer owner, Annie Scholl , and co-owners of Bocaditos , Juliana Cancelo and Silvia Sanchez. In the first part, I talked to Annie about what it's like to cultivate a cozy aesthetic after the closing of Hearth & Hammer, and what she's been up to afterward. Then, I spoke to Jul...

Today on the show, I’m at the Valley Shelter Workshop—or VSW —talking to their Executive Director, Hugo Saltijeral. The reality is, for the employees Hugo works with at VSW, many of whom are adults with cognitive disabilities, work is less of a burden and more of a gift. For them, work isn't just a means to an end. It's belonging. Hugo's the type of person that sees open doors everywhere, and seem...

What makes Batavia "Batavia"? We often talk about our town’s identity as if it’s a permanent fixture—a "vibe" we inherited. But a closer look at our history reveals that our reputation for being on the "right side of history" wasn't an accident or a guarantee. It was a series of individual and cultural habits. In this episode, I sit down with Kate Garrett , Director of the Batavia Depot Museum , t...

It's not easy to make a difference. So often our attempts to make the world a better place are pushing against strong headwinds - there are cultural forces in the world and in our nation that simply make any attempt at good deeds seem fruitless. And that can lead to discouragement, or burnout, or worse - cynicism that anything can be done at all. Today on the podcast, I spoke to Kathy Evangelista,...

Welcome to 2026! It's been an eventful year in Batavia. There was a mayoral race, local business transitions, shocking revelations, and some controversial moves in city government. We set aside some time to take a look back and talk through the biggest Batavia stories of the year and how these events have impacted our community. This episode: Sam Kraft, the man behind Tri-Cities Central , returns...

For this episode of Area Code: Batavia, former guests share their "George Baileys", people who have made a huge impact on them and their community just by existing. On this episode we hear from the following people in this order: Batavia Bulldogs Football Team Head Coach, Dennis Piron Becoming Neighbors host, Claudia Kabanyana Beardsgaard's Natalie and Tyler Anderson Bulldog Plumbing and Start Som...

Take our listener survey to help shape the future of Area Code: Batavia . (and earn a chance to win $25 in Chamber Bucks!) Is Batavia actually special, or is that just something we tell ourselves? In this episode, I speak to Eileen Passero, Executive Director of the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, to explore how their work relates to Batavia's character and aspirations for itself. We discuss why t...

Take our listener survey to help shape the future of Area Code: Batavia . (and earn a chance to win $25 in Chamber Bucks!) A few weeks ago, Paula Mueller, the owner of Paula’s Couture Consignment dropped a bombshell - she would be giving up ownership of Paula’s. But this announcement came with another announcement: Paula’s now has a new owner, long-time Paula’s employee, and entrepreneur herself,...

Take our listener survey to help shape the future of Area Code: Batavia . (and earn a chance to win $25 in Chamber Bucks!) This week, we're dropping a bonus episode to hold you over until our next main installment! We're sharing two segments from our exclusive bonus content series, Batavia Favs . This series is an ongoing feature for members of our official membership community, The 630 , where gu...

Just in time for Bat Fest, it's the live recording of our Spooky Season Celebration hosted at Sturdy Shelter. This episode features: A conversation about Bat Fest with Kristen Desler and Beth Walker from Main Street A True Crime Mystery featuring the Batavia Paranormal Investigation Squad A conversation with Zach Sage, the mastermind behind the Halloween display, Midnight on Morton. Every year, Za...

Jennifer Orta is on the front lines of a crisis of belonging. As the only Spanish speaking licensed mental health provider at Suicide Prevention Services of America, located here in Batavia, she's talking every day to people who are impacted directly by the dramatic increase of ICE activity in the Fox Valley. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, Jennifer, a psychotherapist, describes the hidden...

Don't forget! Our 2nd ever live episode, a Batavia Spooky Season Celebration, is happening October 9th, 7pm at Sturdy Shelter. We'll be featuring conversations with the people behind Batfest, the guy responsible for Midnight on Morton, and a special visit from the Batavia Paranormal Investigation Squad. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here , but members of our membership program, The 630 get...

Heads Up! Our 2nd ever live episode, a Batavia Spooky Season Celebration, is happening October 9th, 7pm at Sturdy Shelter. We'll be featuring conversations with the people behind Batfest, the guy responsible for Midnight on Morton, and a special visit from the Batavia Paranormal Investigation Squad. Tickets are $10, but members of The 630 get in free! Subscribe to The 630 for free access to our Oc...

Today's episode features the second conversation from our City Council series, with Jennifer Baerren and Christopher Solfa, alderpersons from Ward 1. Ward 1 is a unique blend of the old and the new. There are decades-old neighborhoods occupied by young families who just moved here. This range of residents - newcomers and established residents - young families, and settled retirees - can present so...

The closing of Berkley Finer Foods left a hole on Batavia's east side. But what seemed like a community loss quickly turned into a win with the arrival of Cinco De Mayo Market. For this episode, I spoke to Daisy Parra about her family's whirlwind transition from running a bakery to a full-scale grocery store and what it means to bring their distinctly Hispanic approach from Aurora to a town with a...

This episode is a conversation with Brittany Sabatino, the owner of Arlo. Hendrix . A store that carries children’s clothes, toys, and accessories, Arlo. Hendrix is located in the heart of The Mercantile. Between the candy and the candles, The Mercantile in general is an inherently bright experience, but for Brittany, brightness seems to be a primary value for her shop. There’s a distinct positivi...

This week, we're kicking off a brand new series that we'll be running throughout the year. Every so often I hope to share a new conversation with aldermen and alderwomen from various wards in Batavia. We'll go beyond typical policy discussions and get them talking about the human element of city governance – and how they personally interact with the challenges and opportunities that tend to come u...

Introducing Area Code: Batavia's new community, The 630 . This isn't just about supporting a podcast; it's about becoming part of a community dedicated to fostering a deeper sense of belonging right here in Batavia. As a member of The 630, you'll not only help sustain this vital community effort, but you'll also gain: Exclusive bonus audio Influence on future Area Code: Batavia content An online c...

On the day this episode is released, Batavia kicks off Boo Boo Days. For me, Boo Boo Days is a new concept, a sort of quaint and slightly bizarre throwback that just started a few years ago. But the reality is, Boo Boo Days originated decades ago and played a crucial role in the origin of the Windmill Festival.  But what really interests me is the whole concept of this oddly named celebration...

Just before the pandemic, Chris Otepka helped open Riverside Pizza and Pub in his hometown of Batavia with a few of his friends. Now he's helping run it. But most of his adult life, Chris Otepka was a touring musician. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, I speak with Chris about his long journey back home, what he learned about himself and Batavia while traveling the country, and his consistent...

It's not easy to live in Batavia while remaining unaware of its historical roots. Around here, it's talked about a lot. But what does this history really mean for a town in the here and now? According to Depot Museum Director Kate Garrett, Batavia's appreciation for its own history provides opportunity for what she calls "pro-social behaviors." And it turns out, those kinds of behaviors ultimately...

From landscape to architecture, spaces matter. And for Josephine Tucci, creating spaces that inspire belonging is a lifelong pursuit that started with museums and continued into the Batavia Library. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, a conversation with the executive director of the Batavia Public Library about the winding career path that brought her to Batavia, her love of landscapes, and in...

Some, who make grand claims of being self-made, might see their success as being a result of their own hard work. But Scott Beltran openly acknowledges the many people who have come alongside him to help make Daddio's a reality. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, a conversation with the owner of Daddio's Diner about those in his family and community who have helped make Daddio's the staple in...

The stakes are high. Every year, an entirely new group of entrepreneurs set up shop on the corner of Wilson and River street, each one with their own idea of what it means to thrive in Batavia. And by the end of the season, they'll have a very real sense of just how likely their business is to succeed. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, we talk to the 2025 slate of Batavia Boardwalk Shops abou...