GNY EP.180 | Retro Games, Cosplay & Voice Actors Take Over Syracuse!

GNY EP. 186 | feat. Marc Baum & Monica Kinner from the All Things Oz Museum (Oz-Stravaganza)

Inside Chittenango’s All Things Oz Museum & the 49th Oz-Stravaganza Festival Host Noah Chrysler interviews Mark Baum and Monica Kinner of the All Things Oz Museum (International L. Frank Baum and All Things Oz Historical Foundation) in Chittenango, a 501(c)(3) founded in 2011 that now holds 18,000+ Oz items across a museum and two annexes, spanning original Baum materials through Wicked and other modern Oz productions. They preview Oz-Stravaganza, a three-day, free-admission festival (49th annual; about 30,000 attendees) featuring vendors, fireworks, a parade, evening guest programs hosted by Oz historian John Fricke, kids’ runs, costume contest, silent auctions, and museum hours (10–5; $12 admission) with three new exhibits kept secret. Guests include Baum’s great-granddaughter Gita Dorothy Morena, filmmaker Hugh Gross, and Wicked actor Marissa Bode, plus authors and artists. They also share notable artifacts, including a first-edition Wizard of Oz mailed untracked and costumes from The Wiz, Wicked, and other productions. 00:00 A Priceless Book Arrives 00:09 Meet the Oz Museum Team 00:52 Inside All Things Oz Museum 02:50 Oz Stravaganza Festival Preview 03:30 Guests and Weekend Highlights 06:37 Museum Hours and New Exhibits 07:25 The 135000 Dollar Mail Surprise 09:08 Wicked Boom and New Fans 11:25 Rare Items and Donation Stories 15:21 Baum Roots in Central New York 18:44 Why You Should Go This Weekend 21:13 Closing and Sponsor Message

GNY EP.185 | feat. Eric McElveen from the New York State Blues Festival

Erik McElveen Previews the New York State Blues Fest and Youth Programs On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Erik McKelvin, executive director of the New York State Blues Fest, about the admission-free festival June 11–13 at Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds. McKelvin highlights the lineup, including headliner Gary Clark Jr. on Saturday, plus artists such as Eddie Nine Volt, Vanessa Collier, Grace Bowers, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, and JW-Jones, with the student band Blues Ignition opening Saturday. He explains the fest’s funding through grants, sponsors, and a $10-per-day parking fee, and notes RV park options. McKelvin also details the nonprofit’s mission and youth initiatives: Blues in the Schools, Blues Ignition, and the Beginnings Credit Union K.J. James Memorial Scholarship. Noah closes with information about Click Stream Studios and free marketing plans for Central New York businesses. 00:00 Accessible Community Events 00:26 Meet the Blues Fest Director 00:42 Festival Dates and Venue 01:13 Lineup Highlights 02:04 Free Admission and Funding 03:54 Mission Beyond Aficionados 04:55 Youth Programs Overview 07:20 Blues in the Schools 10:17 Blues Ignition Student Band 12:09 Scholarship and Legacy 15:40 Why Live Music Matters 23:30 Final Details and How to Attend 24:40 Show Wrap and Studio Promo

GNY EP.184 | feat. Ryan Zlomek from Skill Shot Arcade

Inside Skillshot Arcade: Syracuse Pinball, Community Events, and Balls of Steel Improv Night On Good News York, host Noah Chrysler interviews Ryan of Skillshot Arcade, a Syracuse pinball arcade and event space opened in 2021 offering $15 all-you-can-play nights (Wednesdays and Fridays) and private rentals for events. Ryan describes Skillshot’s curated, rotating lineup of about 25 pinball machines spanning 1978 to 2026 plus arcade games, highlights favorites like Flash (1979), Swords of Fury, and a Star Trek machine, and discusses pinball’s French origins, Chicago-based manufacturing, and design/repair mechanics. They promote “Syracuse Improv presents Balls of Steel” on Saturday, June 6 at 7 PM ($20, includes an hour of pinball and multiple acts). Ryan emphasizes Skillshot as a welcoming “third space” and previews upcoming events including Pride Night (June 19), an SPCA fundraiser (June 26), Kids Play Free days (July 1 and 3), food truck nights, and themed evenings. Noah closes with a Clickstream Studios promo offering free marketing plans and thanks sponsor Ads on the Go. 00:00 Pinball Made in Chicago 00:37 Welcome to Good News York 00:47 Skillshot Arcade Overview 01:30 Improv Night Promo 02:42 Curated Machine Lineup 03:38 Favorite Machines Picks 05:30 Ryan’s Pinball Journey 07:42 Hidden Gem Location 10:19 Maintaining the Machines 11:32 First Time Pinball Tips 13:36 Pinball Origins and Design 16:10 Engineering Magic Tricks 18:08 Design Quirks Teaser 18:35 Pinball Mechanism Magic 19:42 Pinball as Third Space 20:29 How People Use Skillshot 24:26 Planning the Improv Night 25:59 Mission and Syracuse Energy 30:41 Building Community Through Classes 32:57 Upcoming Events and Theme Nights 36:17 Visit Skillshot and Support Local 37:15 Show Wrap and Studio Plug

GNY EP.183 | feat. Jack Pflanz from Erin's Angels

Aaron’s Angels of CNY: Weekend and Summer Meals for Food-Insecure Kids Host Noah Chrysler interviews Jack Pflanz, director of fund development and communications for Aaron’s Angels of CNY, a 501(c)(3) food pantry providing meal bags to children facing food insecurity on weekends, school breaks, and during summer. Jack describes the Phoenix School District program where volunteers pack about 500 meal bags per month and teachers discreetly place them into students’ backpacks to protect anonymity. He cites that one in five kids in Oswego County and Central New York go to bed hungry and shares his own experience of hunger harming learning. Jack explains the nonprofit’s growth from a church basement to expanded outreach, an endowment, and two $1,000 scholarships, and notes it is named in memory of Erin Maxwell. He highlights needs, volunteer opportunities, donations (including an Amazon wish list and $5 feeding a child for a weekend), upcoming events including a June 13 bed build with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and an NFL Alumni meet-and-greet and charity golf tournament benefiting summer meals. 00:00 Hunger and School 00:31 Meet the Host and Guest 00:49 What Aarons Angels Does 01:08 How the Backpack Program Works 02:17 Local Hunger Stats and Jacks Story 03:49 Origin Story and Growth 06:27 Most Requested Foods and Wish List 07:43 Five Dollars Feeds a Weekend 07:58 Build a Bed Event 11:54 Meet and Greet and Golf Classic 14:41 Summer Meals When School Ends 16:22 How to Volunteer and Donate 17:53 Why Jack Does This Work 19:05 Volunteer Impact and Friendsgiving 20:14 Final Call to Action and Future 23:15 Wrap Up and Studio Promo

GNY EP.182 | feat. Carrie Wojtaszek from Taste of Syracuse

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 [http://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