Area Code: Batavia

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...

There's no new episode in your feed today because we're working fast to turn around a special Opening Day Boardwalk Shops episode. That episode will release this Friday. Thanks! Subscribe to our newsletter to be updated about Area Code: Batavia and find out when new episodes are available. Join The 630 t o support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our communit...

Batavia Public School Superintendent Tom Kim was forced to grow up fast. But as a second generation immigrant surrounded by family, teachers, and mentors willing to help him achieve his goals, he found his place in the world. Now, he's looking to do his same for Batavia's children. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, a conversation with Tom Kim about his early aspirations, the unique community...

This episode was first published on March 8, 2024. Building on a successful candle-business, Ariane Scholl wanted to create a space that was welcoming, people-oriented, and comfortable. And with her new location, she found a place perfectly situated to accomodate anyone. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, I talked to Ariane (who also goes by Annie) about the tensions between creating a space t...

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by Zen Loft Collective, a collection of wellness spaces located in the heart of downtown Batavia . Register now to receive $20 off a class or package with the code AREACODE. Kelly Vida has always dreamed of creating a supportive community space for women. When the chance to turn her aspirations into reality presented itself, she jumped at the opportu...

Before Paula Mueller started Paula’s Couture Consignment, she was a stay at home mom, and a self-described 'follower'. But after a painful period in her life, she found the courage to pursue her passion for fashion and establish a business that doubles as a safe haven. On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, a conversation with the owner of Paula's Couture Consignment about how she transformed her...