We're thrilled to host Scott Womer, songwriter, musician, event producer and founder of Song City, a creative venture focused on the local songwriting community which kicks off their fourth season in the Collar City on September 9, 2025.

During the episode, we discuss Scott's life growing up in the Capital Region, working in Nashville in the Christian music industry in the 1990s and early 2000s (and a chance encounter with M.C. Hammer), his musical output as Fenton Hardy, and the story behind the creation of Song City to support the area's eclectic songwriting community.

Episode Notes:

• Song City
• Fenton Hardy - The Ghost EP (Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud)

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

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Listened to the radio during the last 37 years? Then it's likely you've heard the voice of Ralph Renna transmitting across the airwaves. In this episode, the WABY DJ and singer/songwriter shares his memories of growing up in Troy, life in the Capital Region's hardcore music scene, and his encyclopedic knowledge of heavy music.

Watch the video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_p2ooJHYV6w

From his early years booking Type O Negative and Life of Agony at the South Troy Community Center, sharing the stage with Anthrax, Sebastian Bach, Agnostic Front, Prong, Dragonforce, Kittie, Atreyu, and Unearth as front man of Troy-based hardcore band Last Call, or decades promoting heavy music on WVCR, 104.9 The Edge, and now WABY, Ralph Renna has some incredible stories to share.

Episode Notes:

• 93.9-FM WABY
• Biohazard - South Troy Community Center, July 10, 1993 https://www.instagram.com/albany_hardcore_archives/p/CJvxDH_JkKD/?img_index=1
• South Troy Community Center hardcore shows https://www.setlist.fm/venue/the-south-troy-community-center-troy-ny-usa-53d16b71.html
• Last Call "Wings Of The Northforce" - Live @ Altamont Fairgrounds EDGEFEST (Sept. 22, 2007)
• War-Time Manner - Preppers

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

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On June 16, 2025, Troy’s city council gathered at city hall in the historic Hedley Building, located along New York's iconic Hudson River in upstate New York, to consider legislation which allows the city to borrow money for investments in Troy’s fire department.

While the council ultimately approved nearly all the borrowing requests that evening, Troy's mayor Carmella Mantello decided to single out a council member for their decision to abstain from votes due to a potential conflict of interest.

Using public records, videos of public meetings, and news reporting from the last decade, we scrutinize the mayor's claims and take a closer look at her own rationale for abstaining from votes when serving as council president between 2016 and 2023.

Episode Notes:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GX01VLzhfY (Council Meeting, June 16, 2025)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kislTE9xI_w (Council Finance Committee Meeting Aug. 1, 2019)
• https://www.youtube.com/live/_EaCER9Ji88 (Regular City Council Meeting, Aug. 1, 2019)
• Troy Record: Troy City Council reluctantly signs off on new police contract (Oct. 19, 2017)

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

Connect with Troy Story on:

• Facebook
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• Threads
• YouTube
• Bluesky