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

Christine the History Queen on Upstate New York’s Untold Stories, Bigfoot in Whitehall, and The MOST Storytelling Festival On Good News York from Click Stream Studios, host Matt Masur interviews Christine Darrow, known as “Christine the History Queen,” who is filming season two of her PBS series focused on overlooked Upstate New York history. She discusses her museum studies education (SUNY Potsdam, University of Oklahoma, and Harvard coursework) and her interest in untold historical twists, including an episode about Benedict Arnold starting the Navy in Whitehall and the town’s 1976 Bigfoot sightings, ongoing Bigfoot Festival, and planned documentary featuring a Sasquatch calling contest. Darrow previews her May 17 Children’s Storytelling Festival appearance at The MOST, where she’ll perform a first-draft story, sign autographs, and share a sneak peek about Charles Dickens’ visit to Syracuse. She notes PBS and her YouTube/Facebook pages for viewing and says two children’s history books are planned for fall 2026. 00:00 New Story Teaser 00:17 Welcome to Good News York 00:55 Meet History Queen 02:07 Defining Upstate New York 02:54 Books and Museum Roots 03:56 Untold Tales and Twists 04:46 Whitehall Bigfoot Legend 05:26 Bigfoot Festival Details 06:45 Storytelling Festival at The MOST 07:22 Disney Christmas Book Update 08:22 Where to Watch and Follow 09:14 Dickens in Syracuse Episode 10:43 Tickets and Event Plug 11:23 Upstate Origins of Disneyland 12:46 Wrap Up and Sign Off

Inside the Syracuse Food Truck Battle: 55+ Trucks, Live Music, and Wood-Fired Pizza with Nick Sanford Host Noah Chrysler interviews Nick Sanford, owner of Toss & Fire Pizza and head of the event committee for the Syracuse Food Truck Association, about the annual Food Truck Battle happening May 8–9 at the Great New York State Fair near Chevy Court. Nick says the event will feature over 55 food trucks offering $3–$5 samples and full menus, two days of live music (including Dangerous Type and Mayday Parade), an artisan village with 50+ vendors, a kids’ zone, games, craft beer, and wine slushies. Attendees can vote for favorite trucks while judges—including local media and the Syracuse Fire Department—award custom wrestler-style belts, including a uniqueness category. Nick shares advice for new food trucks to be visually appealing and unique, highlights items like a vodka cutlet sandwich and Colombian empanadas, and recounts building Toss & Fire from a trailer into multiple locations. He directs viewers to syrfoodtrucks.com for tickets and bookings, and Noah plugs Click Stream Studios’ free marketing plans and sponsor Ads on the Go. 00:00 Tomato Talk Cold Open 00:22 Meet Nick Sanford 00:39 Food Truck Battle Preview 01:41 How Judging Works 02:31 Championship Belts 02:53 Live Music Lineup 03:20 SFTA Origins and Booking 05:10 Food Truck Success Tips 06:06 Must Try Trucks and Samples 07:57 Picking a Winning Sample 09:03 How The Event Evolved 10:25 Chef Movie and Recap 11:42 Toss and Fire Origin Story 12:46 Learning Wood Fired Pizza 00:04 Tomato Varieties Deep Dive 14:08 Kitchen Culture and Service 16:36 Final Plug and Thanks 17:04 Show Outro and Sponsor