The Lottery’s Amanda Serrano interviews Bonnie Weaver at the
store where she bought the winning ticket
WAPPINGERS FALLS – Hopewell Junction resident Bonnie Weaver hit
the big one when she played the New York State Lottery’s Royal Riches
scratch-off game last month.
The 61-year-old grandmother took home $516,204 in one lump sum after taxes.
She was introduced to the public and presented with a giant facsimile
check at the Lottery’s Fishkill office on Thursday.
Weaver said the win is a Godsend. “I plan to pay off my mortgage
and buy a new car,” she said. “Then eventually I’d like
to update the kitchen floor,”
When she scratched off ticket, she “didn’t think it was real.”
When Weaver walked into the Stewart Shops at Route 376 in Wappinger, she
had a feeling that game was for her. She brought it home and scratched
in the next morning.
“I just kept scratching and asked my grandson, ‘does this
say $1 million?’” she questioned.
