Good News York

Gary Simons has a simple message for the street racing crowd: bring it to the track. He has no issue with car culture or the street scene, but Esta Safety Park Dragstrip is ready to give anyone — Honda, Charger, Camaro, you name it — a safe place to find out what their car can […] More

Gary Simons breaks down the real cost of drag racing — and it is not cheap. From $100 fill-ups for his truck to race fuel running over $10 a gallon, and a five-gallon drum of M12 going for $150, the expenses add up fast. With fewer tracks around, longer drives, and mechanical parts harder to […] More

Gary Simons hears it all the time: "Wait, there’s a drag strip in my neighborhood?" Esta Safety Park Dragstrip has been a family-friendly destination since 1960, and Gary wants everyone to know the doors are open. You do not have to be a car enthusiast to enjoy it. Bring the family, walk the pits, and […] More

Good News York EP.177 | Gary Simons from Esta Safety Park Dragstrip Welcome back to Good News York, the show that shines a light on the amazing people, places, and stories right here in Central New York! In this episode, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Gary Simons, manager of Esta Safety Park Dragstrip in […] More

Front, back, or middle — does it actually matter where you sit on a rollercoaster? In this clip from Good News York, host Noah Chrysler puts the age-old debate to Allen La Venture of Main Event Amusements, a guy who practically grew up at Darien Lake and rode the same coasters enough times to have […] More

The Tilt-A-Whirl turns 100 this year, and Allen La Venture of Main Event Amusements thinks that deserves some recognition. In this clip from Good News York, Allen and host Noah Chrysler dig into the surprising history of one of the most enduring rides in American carnival culture — invented by a Minnesota farmer, powered by […] More

Ever wonder how safe carnival rides actually are? In this clip from Good News York, Allen La Venture of Main Event Amusements breaks down what really goes into keeping riders safe. From certified weld inspections to numbered ride cars, New York State takes a surprisingly thorough approach — and inspectors are on-site every single time […] More

GNY EP.176 | feat. Allen La Venture from Main Event Amusements Step right up! In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Allen La Venture, co-owner and logistics director of Main Event Amusements — a traveling carnival and entertainment company with 25+ years in the business. Allen gives us an […] More

Joe Senf of De-Escalation and Control Solutions opens up about the upcoming Women’s Self-Defense Seminar — and the common myths it aims to bust. Many people assume violent encounters happen with strangers in dark alleys, but the data tells a very different story. The seminar is designed to inform, introduce, and empower women with a […] More

Joe Senf of De-Escalation and Control Solutions makes it clear that their training is not reserved for security professionals or first responders. Anyone can find themselves in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation at any moment — even something as ordinary as a trip to the grocery store. DECS exists for anyone who feels vulnerable or […] More

Joe Commisso of De-Escalation and Control Solutions shares one of the core principles behind their training philosophy — what they call "stacking your advantages." He breaks down the importance of anticipation, picking up on cues, and positioning yourself well before a situation ever becomes a problem. As Joe puts it, the hope is that their […] More

Good News York | EP. 175 feat. DECS (De-Escalation and Control Solutions) What if the training that law enforcement and military professionals use to handle the most dangerous, high-pressure situations on the planet was available to everyday civilians? That’s exactly what Joe Commisso and Joe Senf — both active officers with the Syracuse Police Department […] More

Christine shares a remarkable case of history repeating itself. Charles Dickens visited Syracuse in 1868 and famously complained that the entire city seemed to be under construction at once, with scaffolding crowding every street. When she arrived to film the episode, she found eerily similar conditions — rerouted traffic, renumbered exits, and a city in […] More

Before there was Disneyland, there was Santa’s Workshop. In this clip Christine shares the surprising origin story of the American theme park — tracing it back to a small attraction in Lake Placid, New York, that drew 14,000 visitors in a single day. Walt Disney took notice and ultimately hired the very same architect who […] More

Christine Darrow breaks down what’s going down at this year’s Bigfoot Festival. You’re not going to want to miss this one! More

Good News York | EP.174 feat. Christine Darrow – Christine the History Queen In this episode of Good News York, host Matt Masur sits down with Christine Darrow, better known as Christine the History Queen. Christine is a historian, PBS television host, and soon-to-be published children’s book author with a passion for uncovering the untold […] More