Taste of Syracuse Preview: $2 Samples, Live Music, and Art in the Park Host Matt Masur interviews Carrie Wojtaszek of Taste of Syracuse about the upcoming downtown Syracuse festival, held the first Friday and Saturday of June from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Carrie, in her 18th year with the event, explains that the free festival features food vendors, food trucks, and restaurants offering $2 samples so attendees can try many options, plus three stages of nonstop live music with over 30 bands, mostly local, and a Saturday appearance by Fuel. The event also includes beverage tents and an expanded Art in the Park area in Perseverance Park showcasing local artists. Saturday partners with Paige’s Butterfly Run, and this year’s charitable partners are Honor Flight Syracuse and Feed Our Vets. She shares parking and timing tips, recommends coming hungry, and directs viewers to tasteofsyracuse.com for details. 00:00 Come Hungry Teaser 00:12 Meet The Host And Guest 01:15 What Is Taste Of Syracuse 02:37 Two Dollar Samples And Prep 03:22 Success Stories And Impact 04:33 Music Lineup Highlights 05:58 Crowds Hours And Charity 08:40 Parking Timing Pro Tips 10:04 Art In The Park Spotlight 11:25 Final Invite And Sign Off

CNY Jazz Central’s Larry Luttinger on Arts Incubation, Education, and Jazz in the City Host Noah Chrysler interviews Larry Luttinger, founder and executive director of CNY Jazz Central in Syracuse, about Jazz Central’s mobile performing-arts mission, its downtown mini-theater used as a fully equipped arts incubator (instruments, Steinway, lighting, audio/video recording) for under $200 with ticketing, marketing, and front-of-house support, and how the pandemic reduced local user groups. Luttinger outlines CNY Jazz’s education pipeline, including the Summer Jazz Workshop at Le Moyne College, in-school cultural history shows aligned to NYS standards, a paid youth orchestra partnership with the American Federation of Musicians trust fund, and the One Culture Curriculum for urban children and new Americans. He recounts CNY Jazz’s 1996 founding, the 2001 storefront grant that led to opening in 2004, and lessons learned about not over-programming and building fundraising. They preview the free Jazz in the City public health concert series (starting June 4 at Jubilee Park with Wayne Tucker & The Bad Muthas) and discuss keeping arts talent in Central New York. 00:00 Early Gig Money Talk 00:15 Meet Larry Luttinger 00:34 What Is Jazz Central 01:53 Affordable Venue Rental 03:29 Programs Beyond The Theater 04:57 Education Pipeline Breakdown 07:14 Equity And Mobile Arts 10:29 Origins And Mission Of CNY Jazz 17:06 Festivals And Jazz In The City 18:05 Advice To His Younger Self 19:15 Touring Rock Musician Days 21:08 Lifelong Drummer Roots 21:37 Teen Drummer Hustle 23:21 Syracuse Roots Story 23:55 Why Talent Leaves Town 25:05 Jazz in the City Homecoming 27:53 Building a Local Arts Incubator 29:49 Bedroom Community Explained 32:30 How to Support CNY Jazz 33:39 Summer Concerts Lineup 36:25 Swing Dancing Side Quest 37:29 Wrap Up and Sponsor Plug

Retro Game Con 2026 Spring Edition: Free Play, Vendors, and Voice Acting Guests in Syracuse Noah Price visits Retro Game Con 2026 Spring Edition in Syracuse for Good News York, explaining it as a scaled-down spring version of the fall event featuring a large free-play area, vendor hall, artists, retro sellers, and celebrity guests. Organizers describe the convention’s growth since 2013 into a multi-day On Center event drawing regional and international attendees, with the spring edition selling out. Guest Alicia Glidewell discusses voicing Carmelita Fox and Constable Neyla in Sly Cooper and doing Zero Suit Samus lines in Smash, plus being the Portal character model, and shares wholesome fan interactions and cosplay. The episode highlights vendors like a 3D-printing small business, an online Syracuse dice shop, and Megaton Games, along with attendees enjoying games from the 1980s through 2000s, and ends with calls to subscribe and repost. 00:00 Welcome to Retro Game Con 00:25 What the Event Offers 00:50 How It All Started 01:26 Meet Voice Talent 02:01 Wholesome Fan Moments 02:48 Vendor Spotlight 3D Prints 03:39 Free Play Nostalgia 03:55 Family Gaming Connection 04:18 Dice Shop Hustle 05:12 Designing Retro Vibes 05:57 Running Megaton Games 06:28 Everyone Is a Gamer 06:57 Come Next Year 07:15 Subscribe and Farewell

Good News York: GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse Expands Free Programs, Seeks $50K to Sustain Growth Host Noah Chrysler interviews Alyssa Johnston, Executive Director of GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse, and Ruthann Raposo of ProNexus and interim board president. They explain GiGi’s mission to provide free educational and therapeutic programs for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, including math and literacy tutoring, speech therapy, kitchen skills, and GiGiFit from ages 0 through adulthood, largely run by volunteers. They describe the Playhouse layout that fosters family connection, text groups that extend peer support, and tangible impact such as a child told he might never read who began reading and empowered his mom and school with tutoring methods. GiGi’s programming has grown 40% year-over-year to over 1,000 hours monthly, prompting a $50,000 fundraising campaign. ProNexus supports nonprofits via retained search, interim leadership, and finance/accounting services. Website: gigisplayhouse.org/syracuse. 00:00 Reading Breakthrough Story 00:33 Welcome to Good News York 00:59 What Is GiGis Playhouse 02:25 Inside the Playhouse Tour 06:24 Community Impact and Growth 08:13 How ProNexus Supports GiGis 12:36 GiGis Origin and National Reach 14:08 Success Stories Across Ages 17:01 How to Interact Respectfully 19:29 Alyssas Personal Journey 21:06 How to Help and Donate 22:53 ProNexus Services and Hiring Fit 25:11 Final Thanks and Sponsor Plugs

Retro Game Con Spring Edition Goes Two Days: Guests, Free Play, Vendors, and Charity Host Noah Chrysler interviews Nathan Grant, an event coordinator for Retro Game Con, about Retro Game Con Spring Edition on May 16–17, its first two-day run and how it differs from the larger fall event. Saturday-only tickets are sold out; Sunday tickets remain available at retrogamecon.com, along with schedules and guest pricing. Grant explains the event’s evolution from a post-pandemic partnership with the Museum of Science and Technology, a brief “Retro Game Con Jr.” phase, and growth leading to expanded programming at the Oncenter. He announces four voice-acting guests: Alicia Gladwell (Portal), Kevin Miller (Sly Cooper), Kenny James (Bowser), and Daisuke Tsuji (Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin; Mortal Kombat 1’s Scorpion). The episode highlights free-play retro hardware, panels, vendors and artists, and raffles benefiting Extra Life and Upstate Golisano via Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, plus RetroGameCon social channels and Discord. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:48 Dates and Tickets 01:59 Why Spring Edition Exists 05:48 Meet the Special Guests 10:21 Panels and Fan Moments 11:14 Free Play and Game Preservation 15:44 Vendors and Charity Raffles 18:02 How the Con Keeps Evolving 22:11 Social Links and Community 23:32 Nate’s Best Games 25:07 Wrap Up and Studio Promo

Esta Safety Park Dragstrip: Family Drag Racing, Track Prep, and Upcoming Events in Cicero Host Noah Chrysler interviews Gary Simons, longtime announcer and current manager of Esta Safety Park Dragstrip in Cicero, NY, a family-owned dragstrip operating since 1960 that runs quarter-mile and eighth-mile racing with a quarter-mile runoff. Simons explains what visitors can see—from street cars and motorcycles to 200+ mph dragsters—and describes weekly track resurfacing by scraping old rubber and dragging/brooming the surface for traction and safety. He outlines bracket racing basics, including dial-ins, ET strategy, reaction timing, and “racing the stripe,” emphasizing driver skill alongside car performance and luck. Simons discusses rising costs, fewer tracks, and efforts to move street racers to a safer venue, including extended Test and Tune hours and No Prep events featuring Daddy Dave (June 14). He lists tentative upcoming Test and Tune and Sunday bracket races, Monday car shows starting June 1, entry pricing, and where to find schedules. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:14 Welcome And Introductions 01:09 What The Dragstrip Is 02:19 Cars And Classes Explained 03:53 Track Prep And Rubber 06:38 Weekly Maintenance Routine 08:02 Driver Versus Car 08:59 Bracket Racing Strategy 12:55 Why Visit The Track 14:36 How Racing Has Changed 17:15 Racing Changes Driving 18:05 Track Safety Mindset 19:23 Street Racing Reality 20:06 Run What You Brung 21:52 No Prep With Daddy Dave 23:02 Favorite Racing Movies 24:29 Upcoming Track Events 27:52 Visit And Pricing 28:18 Community And Sponsors 29:22 Studio Promo And Wrap

Syracuse Spring Carnival Returns: Rides, Food, and the Business of Traveling Carnivals On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Allen LaVenture of Main Event Amusements, a traveling carnival company, about the Syracuse Spring Carnival at the New York State Fairgrounds (Gray Lot) with free admission and parking via Gate 6. Allen says the event features 18 rides (kiddie, family, and thrill), about eight food trucks, and around 20 games. He discusses the carnival industry’s history and resurgence, the staying power of classic rides like the Tilt-A-Whirl (including their refurbished 1954 unit) and Scrambler, and explains how the Tilt-A-Whirl works and how modern shows run on generators. Allen describes New York State’s rigorous ride inspections and shares how he helped develop post-COVID health protocols later reused by the state. He encourages following Main Event Amusements on social media for details and mentions another fairgrounds food truck battle. 00:00 Cold Open Carnival Banter 00:14 Meet Allen And The Show 00:43 Event Details And Attractions 01:47 Back To Fairgrounds Post Covid 03:39 Carnival History And Classic Rides 06:32 Tilt A Whirl Mechanics Explained 08:13 Why Live Events Are Back 09:56 How The Carnival Business Works 10:42 Ride Costs And Booking Reality 12:19 County Fairs And Community Impact 14:06 Ride Safety And Inspections 15:40 Safety Layers Explained 16:25 New York Ride Inspections 17:12 Whats Hot on the Midway 18:26 Classic Rides Always Win 19:49 Best Seat Debate 21:44 People Watching and Mystique 22:51 Carnival Games and Winning 24:59 Prizes Kids and Storytelling 27:13 Event Info and Call to Action 28:48 Community Fairs Bigger Picture 29:37 Final Thanks and Sponsor Plug

Syracuse Officers Launch De-Escalation & Control Solutions to Train Civilians for High-Stakes Situations On Good News York, host Matt Masur interviews Syracuse Police Sgt. Joe Commisso and Joe Senf about their business, De-Escalation and Control Solutions (DECS), which provides civilians tailored training for high-pressure situations such as school fights, physical aggression, and civilian responses to “active killing.” Drawing on law enforcement and military backgrounds, including academy leadership and reality-based training certification in New York State, they adapt skills like physical de-escalation, awareness of cues, and decision-making under adrenaline to civilian needs, often training on-site at client locations; they also use partner facilities when needed. They explain the business started in 2023 after repeated community requests and concerns about department liability and fairness. They promote a limited-cap women’s self-defense seminar in late May at a vineyard, featuring data-driven myths, practical basics, and a Q&A. 00:00 Academy Training Mission 00:50 Meet the Two Joes 01:19 Why Civilians Need Training 03:33 Tailored Skills and Credentials 04:43 School Fights and Active Threats 06:48 Confidence and Decision Making 09:22 Reality Based Training Logistics 11:09 Common Threats and Awareness Cues 13:44 Why They Started DECS 16:23 Beyond Violence Performance Skills 18:11 How to Find and Contact Them 20:58 Situational Awareness and Intuition 22:25 Womens Self Defense Seminar Details 25:46 Wrap Up and Thanks