A memorable personal moment in Troy
When I first started working with The Record in 2015, I never thought that I would establish so many relationships, connections with people and create so many memories in the Collar City. From covering presidential candidate’s visits in Troy to interviewing professional athletes like David “Big Papi” Ortiz and Matt Breida, it has all been a fun experience for me. Another fun experience for me was covering the New YorkPenn League All-Star game at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium a few years ago. Little did I know that just a few years later, I would create one of the best memories of my life at that same stadium. Back in April, I took a leap of faith and reached out to officials with the Tri- City ValleyCats and asked them for a big favor. I asked them if it would be possible for me to propose to my girlfriend, Rachael Pollack, of 8 years on the field with family and friends nearby watching the moment.
Without hesitation, Elyse Zima, from the ValleyCats wrote back to my email and said that they would be glad to help make the moment happen for me.
After talking with Elyse and Chris Chenes of the ValleyCats for several months and meeting them face-to-face a few times, they took every idea I envisioned and made it the best day of my life.
I requested that we have it set up so that I would be getting a tour of the stadium and that I would bring Rachael along with me. I also requested that Paul Constable, of Constable Photography, would follow us around during the tour to take photos that I would use for my column about the “tour.”
They showed us the press box, a suite, and the ValleyCats home locker room before we got onto the field.
Throughout the whole tour, Rachael had no clue that she was there for something a lot more special than just a tour.
Paul also helped create a slideshow video of photos of Rachael and I over the years, which was played on the video board once Rachael and I got onto the field at the end of our tour.
Once the video started playing with the three songs I picked, “Catch” and “Here Tonight” by Brett Young and then “Big, Big Plans” by Chris Lane, Rachael then knew that something special was really happening in that moment.
While the video was playing, Rachael also had no clue that more than 20 of our family members and close friends were hiding in the visitor’s dugout and that they came onto the field to watch the video and be a part of the special moment.
After the almost 9-minute video, I said some private things to Rachael and then got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. Thankfully, she said “Yes!”
After she said “yes”, Paul took more photos of us with our families and the ValleyCats presented us with a minor-league baseball as a token to remember the day. The ValleyCats also were nice enough
to put a congratulations message up for us after the moment. We continued the memories in Troy after leaving the stadium and all went down the road to Moscatiello’s and enjoyed a nice dinner party and were treated with very good service and delicious food. I’m so thankful to Elyse and Chris from the ValleyCats and to Paul for capturing such good photos to remember the day forever. I can’t believe just how much Troy means to me now. Before I started with The Record, I would never come to do anything in Troy and now
I am grateful for all the memories that I’ve had in the Collar City and happy to say that I enjoyed such a special moment in the city. I can’t wait to make more professional and personal memories in Troy! For more information on Paul Constable Photography visit https:// con stable photography. zenfolio.com/ For more information about the Tri- City ValleyCats visit https://www.milb.com/tri- cityvalleycats Nick on the Record appears in print every Wednesday. Nicholas Buonanno is the city editor for The Record and can be reached at nbuonanno@ medianewsgroup.com.