Area Code: Batavia

Save the date for our next LIVE show at Sturdy Shelter on December 6th at 4pm!

It's been four months since Alexa Swidenbank became Area Code: Batavia's co-host. But it's not the first time she's made big steps to get involved in her community.

On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, it's host/guest inception. I spoke to Alexa at her primary place of business, Sturdy Shelter, about the personal chaos that led them from the city to Batavia, the reasons they chose to stay, and how she dealt with her struggles to make local friends.

PLUS: This week's Batavia Insider is one of our favorite yet. Available for 630 members only, listen as Alexa and Richard pitch their ideas for Batavia-specific Hallmark Channel romance movies.

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

Why have stop signs become the most heated discussion in Batavia? This week, Alexa and Richard discuss the ongoing saga of two intersections that seem to desperately need a little friction introduced into the mix.

PLUS: T.A.P. has passed! Alexa and Richard discuss what they'll be looking for as it's rolled out, and share some thoughts on the nature of the discussion itself.

How are you feeling now that T.A.P. is officially coming to Batavia? Do you have places you'd love to see a stop sign added, or do you have better ideas for how to slow drivers the fast down? 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.

Also in this episode:

• Don't miss Area Code Presents: A Batavia Christmas Carol on December 6 at 4:00 PM at Sturdy Shelter Brewing (featuring Kate Garrett from the Depot Museum and The Brothers Sinatra). Free for members of The 630!
• Dystopian toilets!
• Another episode of Batavia In Tune, featuring music trivia, a Sturdy Shelter Mainstay, and an exploration of spiritual music.
• A road-centric complaint of the week (brought to you by Things to Complain About in Batavia, a Facebook Group, brought to you by friend of the show, Joe Runde)
• Good Energy: Was this Batavia's best spooky season ever?

This episode of Area Code: Batavia is brought to you by Good Energy Women’s Health, a women-owned integrative gynecology practice in Batavia, where women’s healthcare is finally getting the time and attention it deserves. To book your first visit, go to goodenergywomen.com.

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

Just by virtue of being here, Joe Erbentraut knew that he'd be making an impact on Batavia. "When we moved out here, I was like, 'we're going to be queering the burbs," Joe says. "Which to me just means turning something on its head or making something maybe not what you thought it would be."

But there's a difference between making an impact and making a home. In this episode, I talk to the creator of local newsletter and zine, Queering the Burbs, about how he's managed to make Batavia home through storytelling, accountability, and holding on to his "delulu" until it becomes true.

PLUS: Joe shares the story of discovering that his home was actually a documented stop on the Underground Railroad - and a seasonally appropriate story of a ghostly encounter.

• Read and subscribe to Queering the Burbs on Substack.
• Purchase Queering the Burbs Issue #3 here, or at New Moon Vegan, Bad Luck Club, or Beardsgaard Barbers.
• Save the date for our next LIVE show at Sturdy Shelter on December 6th at 4pm!
• For 630 Members This Week: Richard and Alexa rank the scariest things in Batavia.

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

Just in time for spooky season, Batavia is facing one of the scariest prospects of all: the possibility of downtown businesses slowly dying.

These days, it's been hard to walk around downtown without being haunted by empty storefronts. There's no sugar-coating it: it's been a hard year for downtown businesses, and recent spate of closing announcements from Daddio's, Everdeens, Red Hive Market, and Beardsgaard, things are starting to feel pretty dire.

To get some perspective on this fear, we invited local business consultant with Start Something Studio and former MainStreet Batavia director Jamie Saam to join us. In a wide-ranging installment of our Neighborhood Watch segment, we discuss whether this news should truly trouble us or if this is simply part of the local life cycle of downtown. Then, we talk about the possible causes, and what local government, citizens, and business owners can do to keep things flourishing.

PLUS: Jamie sticks around for Batavia In Tune, a uniquely poetic Complaint of the Week, and then we leave you with a much-needed dose of hope with Good Energy.

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

Most know Leah Leman as a co-owner of Limestone Coffee & Tea. But for six years, she's been balancing that with her role as alderperson for Ward 2, which Leah describes as Batavia's "introverted ward." And as a self-proclaimed introvert herself, Leah's a good fit.

So I wanted to know: how do you represented a part of Batavia that doesn't speak up very often? And what does her role as a downtown business owner bring to her time at city council?

On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, Leah Leman comes out of her shell long enough to talk to me about the inherent tensions involved in local politics, the inherent personality clashes in council meetings, and what it was like being the lone "No" vote on the data center.

PLUS: Richard and Alexa discuss the closing of Red Hive Market. Sad!

• Listen to our very first episode - a conversation with Leah and Joy from Limestone Coffee & Tea.
• Red Hive Market Announces their closure
• For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.
• For 630 Members This Week: Richard and Alexa rank their top 5 favorite local Halloween decorations!

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

This week, Alexa and Richard spend time talking about gambling in Batavia - how it helps small business - and how it hurts. Then, they revisit what has become quite the hot topic in Batavia: the proposed TAP Text A Physician service. Richard sits down with TAP Telehealth's VP of Business Development, Brian Davis to ask some of the questions on his mind.

PLUS: The debut of our brand new theme song, by Graham Swidenbank!

This Week:

• Neighborhood Watch - Gambling in Batavia
• Batavia In Tune (Brought to you by Rae of Sunshine Music)
• Downstream - Revisiting TAP, with a conversation with TAP Telehealth's VP of Business Development

For more information on things discussed in this episode:

• The House Always Wins: Inside Batavia’s $214 Million in Bets Since 2021
• City of Batavia TAP Information Page
• Listen to our previous discussion about TAP

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

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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What happens when a 4th grader sits down with her former preschool teacher to talk about growing up in Batavia?

In this episode of Kids These Days, Superintendent Tom Kim introduces us to Shae (a 4th grader at J.B. Nelson Elementary) and Pam Foelske (director of Batavia Nursery School).

Shae and Pam share how much the town has grown, debate whether "old Batavia" or "new Batavia" is better, and explore why Batavia's sense of close-knit community hasn't changed.

Ultimately, this conversation shows us how education, extracurriculars, and district investments exist to foster the lifelong connections we find in 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 Kouba'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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.

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.

For small businesses looking to to partner with Area Code: Batavia to invest in thoughtful, engaging local storytelling while introducing your business to Batavia’s most engaged, community-minded residents, find more information about becoming a Community Partner here.

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. Theme song by Graham Swidenbank.