Area Code: Batavia

It was only two years ago when Megan McDermott moved to Batavia. But when she saw a need, she didn't hesitate to get involved. All it took was a conversation with a fellow parent to inspire her to co-found Distraction-Free Batavia, a parent advocacy group seeking to reduce screen time in schools.

Not only did McDermott and her friend and co-founder Megan Danielle's efforts succeed in creating change - they opened the door to a deeper sense of belonging, for both Megans and the other parents who were inspired to speak up themselves.

On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, a conversation with Megan McDermott about intentional technology use, the realities of advocating in a tight-knit town, and why true belonging means having the courage to "move the furniture" in your community.

PLUS: Richard shares a stunning statistic about who lives and works in Batavia, and Alexa processes her mouse trauma.

• Read the BPS statement about technology shifts at BPS101
• View the Distraction-Free Batavia Petition
• View the presentation to the City Council that includes the statistics about who lives and works in Batavia.
• For 630 Members This Week: Richard and Alexa rank their top 5 downtown Batavia strip malls. This is important!

Disclosure: Area Code Audio also produces Kids These Days, the official podcast for Batavia Public Schools. While the district is a production client, this conversation was conducted independently.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by 212° Construction Group.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

If it seems like we're in your feed a little early, you'd be right. Starting now, Area Code: Batavia is going weekly! Every other week, in between the same one on one conversations you know and love, we're exploring what it means to belong in Batavia through the a more timely lens.

Through regular segments like Neighborhood Watch, Complaint of the Week, and Good Energy, we're exploring the hot topics of the moment, the stuff that people are annoyed by, and the things that make Batavians happy. Plus: a few surprise segments every week.

This Week:

• Neighborhood Watch - Thinking through what the proposed "Text A Physician" plan means for Batavia
• Small Pleasures - The most satisfying place to ride your bike
• Batavia In Tune (Brought to you by Rae of Sunshine Music)
• Complaint of the Week - Parade frustration
• This Week in Batavia History - Welcoming home war veterans
• Good Energy - Batavians make lemons out of Daddio's lemonade

For more information on things discussed in this episode:

• City of Batavia TAP Information Page
• Dolly Parton Day
• Karaoke For A Cause
• Oktoberfest: Hoss in the Garden
• Historic WW1 Parade Photos
• Daddio's GoFundMe

This episode of Area Code: Batavia and our special segment, "Batavia in Tune" is brought to you by Rae of Sunshine Music. If you're looking to get your child started with Violin, Viola, or Piano lessons, visit raeofsunshinemusic.com.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Every month, Lindsey Roussel and Chris Prunckle host a pop-up art show in downtown Batavia. Initially hosted at Sidecar Supper Club and now taking place monthly at Sturdy Shelter, ArtBar Batavia has helped to redefine the feel of Batavia simply by providing a space for creativity and self-expression.

In this episode of Area Code: Batavia, I spoke to the founders of ArtBar Batavia what drew them to Batavia, why this town is ideal for a lowbrow art gallery, and why AI has no place in their shows.

PLUS: Richard and Alexa mourn the closing of Daddio's. And Richard went kayaking at Clark Island!

For 630 Members This Week: Richard and Alexa rank the elementary mascots from worst to best! Important! Also, find out some of Chris and Lindsey's favorite things in Batavia.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Recently, Daddio's Diner announced the sad news that they will be closing for good after Wednesday, September 23rd. "With rising costs of goods and an expiring lease, we had to make the very hard decision to close our doors at the end of next month."

Daddio's is a long-standing fixture in Batavia, and one of the key locations that defines Batavia and its' downtown. We'll have more to say about Daddio's closing next week, but for now, we thought it would be a good time to look back on my conversation with Scott Beltran, first published in May of last year.

In the meantime, make sure you stop by and have one more meal. And if you're able, show them support through this GoFundMe.

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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 Batavia it is today.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

This week, a live episode of Area Code: Batavia recorded on the brand new Sturdy Shelter Deck. On this episode, our cohosts Richard Clark and Alexa Swidenbank are joined by the guys who helped build the deck itself (212° Construction Group), a local plant expert (Marcus Jansen), a conservation-minded gardener(Stephanie Gilbert of Meadowcrafters), and a city-council member and VP at the Conservation Foundation (Abby Beck, 5th-ward Alderperson).

Also featuring: Sturdy Shelter's own Oliver Bulley as our special guest announcer!

Join us and a live audience as we explore our favorite decks of all time, the local river ecosystem, how we can connect with the river as individuals, and what we need to do as a community to conserve the river.

PLUS:

• Introducing our brand new special segment: Batavia In Tune, brought to you by our sponsor, Rae of Sunshine Music. For every segment of Batavia in Tune, Alexa and Richard give a run down of their most anticipated musical events in Batavia.
• For 630 Members this week: Our special guest announcer Oliver Bulley leads our live audience in a Batavia-themed round of Scattergories! Can our audience beat Richard and Alexa at their own game? Become a member to find out!

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is brought to you in part by Alpha. Follow this link for more information.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia and our special segment, "Batavia in Tune" is brought to you by Rae of Sunshine Music. If you're looking to get your child started with Violin, Viola, or Piano lessons, visit raeofsunshinemusic.com.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is brought to you by Meadowcrafters.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by 212° Construction Group.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Mark your calendars!

Area Code: Batavia - Live on the River will take place Thursday, August 27th at 7pm. We'll be podcasting live from the Sturdy Shelter deck as we talk to special guests about what the river means to Batavia, how to make the most of it, and what we need to do to keep it around.

630 Members get free entry for themselves and a guest. For all others, tickets are available for $10 at the door via cash or Venmo.

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Ten years ago, almost on a whim, Melissa Monno bought herself a bar. Five years after that, she made it her own.

For Melissa, Sidecar is more than just a business model. It's a direct expression of who she is and an acknowledgement of the people in her life that are most important to her.

Established in the same location as a "long line of watering holes," Sidecar Supper Club has become a stable place for all kinds of people to find rest - especially restless people.

In this episode of Area Code: Batavia, I sit down with the owner of Sidecar Supper Club and talk about how Sidecar Supper Club injects a sense of whimsy and energy into Batavia.

PLUS: Richard and Alexa find relief at the end of the Great Electric Scooter Takeover of 2026, and discuss the recent string of storms in Batavia.

• For 630 Members This Week: Richard and Alexa discuss the future of Area Code: Batavia, and Melissa Monno shares her Batavia Favs.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is brought to you in part by Alpha. Follow this link for more information.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by 212° Construction Group.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Ward 7 is made up of the west side of Batavia, and contains a lot of the West Side staples we often think about: Engstrom Park, the Mooseheart Corn Fields, the High School, and yes, Randall Road. And then there's the large groups of brand new homes, a bunch of houses with little history, and a downtown that is not as walkable as you might like to most.

It's an area without a lot of focal points for gathering, and the ones that are there are largely commercial and impersonal. So how do those who live in Ward 7 create a sense of belonging where they are?

In this episode, we spoke to city council members Robin Barraza and Bob White about the proactive ways Ward 7 residents create opportunities for connection and community in their neighborhoods.

PLUS: Richard and Alexa discuss the uneasy local reaction to a brief run-in with a certain famous blimp.

• For 630 Members: Richard and Alexa discuss local uses of AI, and Robin and Bob share their Batavia Favs.
• Listen to previous conversations with Batavia City Council members.
• Check out previous episodes of the Batavia Insider, available for 630 members.

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by 212° Construction Group.

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Arden Warner is an accelerator physicist and a self-described "simpleton." His uniquely straightforward way of looking at the world has made him uniquely equipped to solve some of the world's biggest problems.

When Arden saw coverage of a devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico back in 2010, he had an idea: what if we could remove oil from the ocean using magnets? It turns out, not only did his idea work, but it turned out to be a revolutionary approach to cleaning up oil spills.

On this episode, I talk to Arden about the life-long journey that lead him to being on the verge of solving one of earth's most significant problems, and how working and hanging out in Batavia keeps him feeling grounded and connected to community.

PLUS: Richard and Alexa talk smoke, bees, blood rivers, gambling, movies, and cocktails. Vices and plagues!!

• For 630 Members: A discussion about local gossip and Arden Warner on the "FermiBubble" and his favorite things in Batavia.
• Read the proposed gambling ordinance

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

This episode, we abandon our assumptions about how great Batavia is and give ourselves over to objectivity.

Ward 4 Alderman Dustin Pieper is back to run through 10 questions that help determine whether a town is truly a strong town. Dustin runs the Strong Towns Batavia Local Conversation and has become well-versed in what makes a thriving, resilient town.

Will Batavia pass the test? You'll have to listen to find out.

PLUS: We introduce Area Code: Batavia's new co-host, Alexa Swidenbank and a brand new opening segment, Neighborhood Watch!

• For 630 Members: Alexa and Graham's Batavia Favs
• More info on the Cat Cafe!
• The State of The Tri-Cities
• More about the Strong Towns Movement
• Strong Towns Batavia

Have a hot take, a story we should know, or a question? Simply click this link to leave us a voice message. You can record right from your phone - no need to download a special app or anything like that. And you don’t need to be polished. Just keep it under a minute or so.

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates about Area Code: Batavia and to find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Cray Allred. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Mentioned in this episode:

212 Construction Group

Here is the latest episode of Kids These Days, a podcast made in collaboration with Batavia Public Schools that I think listeners to this podcast will love.

New episodes will release every month on this feed, but to get them the day they drop, subscribe to the podcast here. Enjoy!

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On this episode of Kids These Days, Liz Mcalpin is reunited with her former fifth-grade student, Kim Nolasco.

Now in middle school and thriving, Kim is confronting the differences between elementary school and middle school, the challenges and opportunities that come with being bilingual, and the possibility of achieving her aspiration of one day being a police officer.

But what happens when things get hard? From navigating the awkwardness of raising your hand in front of a classroom crush to breaking massive obstacles down into small, manageable goals, Kim reveals her practical playbook for facing adversity head-on.

Kids These Days is a podcast from Batavia Public School District 101, produced in partnership with Area Code: Batavia. New episodes every month.

For more information about all the great things BPS101 is doing, sign up for our newsletter.

To contact us about the episode or recommend a future guest, email us at [email protected].