Three Lottery Millionaires Have One Thing in Common…They Bought Their WinningTickets at Stewart's Shops

SARATOGA, NY (10/09/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega presented three new Lottery millionaires with over-sized prize checks at a Stewart's Shops in Saratoga Springs today. All three winners purchased their $1,000,000 tickets at Stewart's locations in the Capital Region, bringing the total to seven in 2012 so far.

Bee-Keeper Wins Sweet Lottery Prize

Douglas Adams of Monroe, Westchester County was working at his honey bee farm in Cobleskill on September 29th when he stopped into Stewart's for a cup of coffee and what turned out to be a $1,000,000 Powerball second prize ticket from that evening's drawing.

He said he usually plays Mega Millions, but the higher Powerball jackpot convinced him to switch games. When Adams went to check his ticket at the same Stewart's the following Monday, the machine said it was a big winner. Adams did not know he was $1,000,000 richer until another customer told him the store had sold a winning ticket. Adams immediately went to the Schenectady Customer Service Center to claim his prize.

The winning ticket was purchased in Stewart's at 391 W Main Street in Cobleskill. The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid as a one-time lump sum. Adams will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. Adams said he does not have plans for the money yet, but is happy knowing now he can pay off his mortgage.

The New York Lottery contributed $63,526,317.29 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Westchester County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

Routine Stop for Milk Earns Mechanicville Powerball Player $1,000,000

Diane Staples, 45, of Mechanicville was buying milk at Stewart's on Saturday, September 22nd when she decided to purchase a Powerball ticket. Staples always plays a set of numbers that include birthdays and other special occasions, but bought a Quick Pick as well. The Quick Pick turned out to be a $1,000,000 winner from that night's Powerball drawing.

Staples explained that she doesn't usually think about checking her tickets right away. She only checked her numbers after receiving a call from her boyfriend about a sign that was posted at Stewarts celebrating a $1,000,000 winner. "I couldn't believe my eyes," when she checked the numbers on the New York Lottery website, she said. Staples had her coworkers look at the ticket and they all started "screaming and going nuts." She then called her boyfriend back to share the news. "He thought I was kidding," she said. Staples had to text him a photograph of the ticket before he would believe she had actually won.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Stewart's at 501 Route 9 in Saratoga Springs. The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid as a one-time lump sum. Staples will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. She plans to pay off all her bills and take a vacation.

Saratoga County Scratch-off Player Wins $1,000,000 Prize

82-year-old Ansel Lyman of Galway was on his way to visit a friend on September 14th, when he stopped to get a cup of coffee at Stewart's on Route 67 in Amsterdam. Lyman, a retired carpenter, bought four 20x the Bucks scratch-off tickets. He said he only plays the Lottery occasionally, but has been a player "since it started," calling it "a nice diversion." Lyman brought his tickets to a bench outside the store. The first ticket he scratched was the $1,000,000 winner.

The top prize on the 20x the Bucks game is paid as an annuity. Lyman will receive 20 annual payments of $33,090 after required withholdings. He said his first thought after scratching the $1,000,000 winner was, "What am I gonna do with all the money?" After giving it some thought, Lyman decided he'd like to donate to charity and joked that he would upgrade his fast food choices.

The New York Lottery contributed $34,697,675.10 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Saratoga County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's contribution represents nearly 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district's size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

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