Vestal Custodian Is First Broome County Lottery Millionaire of 2011

JOHNSON CITY, NY (03/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Forty-nine-year-old George Metritikas of Vestal, Broome County, has been a custodian for Wegmans for the past five years. During his morning breaks he enjoys playing Lottery instant tickets to help pass the time. On February 10th, his morning ritual paid off to the tune of $2,000,000. Metritikas scratched his ticket and revealed a coin symbol on the popular $500,000,000 Extravaganza ticket, earning him and instant $2,000,000 win.

"When I realized I had won, I brought the ticket to my boss. He congratulated me then laughed and said I still had to finish my shift for the day. It was the longest shift of my life!" joked Metritikas.

Metritikas bought his winning ticket at the Wegmans on Harry L Drive in Johnson City. He claimed his prize on February 16th at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Syracuse. "I put the ticket in a vault for safe keeping and that's where it stayed until I could go into the Lottery's Customer Service Center to claim it," he said.

As with most instant games, the $2,000,000 prize on the $500,000,000 Extravaganza instant ticket is paid as an annuity. Metritikas will collect his prize as $100,000 a year for 20 years. He will receive an annual net check totaling $66,030 through 2030. The new Lottery millionaire said he has some specific plans for the money. "The first thing I'll do is take a vacation. Some place warm like Florida. When I get back, I'll head right to the car dealer to buy a four wheel drive vehicle so I'm ready for next winter."

Metritikas is the tenth Broome County resident to win a Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more in the last ten years. Other recent Broome County Lottery millionaires include:

• Mirdza Abele from Johnson City - $1,000,000 on Win $1,000 a Week for Life in 2000

• Jesus Lopez from Binghamton - $11,000,000 on Lotto in 2003

• Randy Kocher from Binghamton - $2,000,000 on $150,000,000 Prize Payout Bonanza in 2005

• Michael Cohn from Binghamton - $5,000,000 on Set for Life in 2005

• Mary Ann Hrywnak from Johnson City - $45,000,000 on Lotto in 2006

• Diane Vaughn from Endicott - $5,000,000 on Set for Life in 2007

• Gary Winans from Windsor - $1,000,000 on Win $1,000 a Week for Life in 2008

• Rana Kisacky from Johnson City - $1,000,000 on $500,000,000 Extravaganza in 2009

• Michelle Zayas from Binghamton - $1,000,000 on Win $1,000 a Week for Life in 2010

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, earning more than $39.3 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago. The Lottery contributed nearly $2.67 billion in fiscal year 2009-2010 to help support education in New York State, which was over 12 percent of total state education funding to local school districts.

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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