FISHKILL – The Hudson
Valley winners of three New York State Lottery games were introduced to
the public on Wednesday where they were each presented with oversized
ceremonial checks at the Lottery’s Fishkill office.
Anthony Vitolo, 57, of the hamlet of Wallkill is the first New York State
Lottery player to claim a top prize of $10 million on the $350 million
Cash Spectacular game.
Vitolo enjoys playing the $20 and $25 games because he likes to win big.
This time he said he bought his ticket because he was out of alternatives.
“I needed money plain and simple,” he said.
Vitolo said he has worked in the restaurant business since he was 16;
his family once owned an Italian restaurant. He currently works for an
Italian restaurant in Modena, but not for much longer.
“If I don’t have to work anymore, then I’d rather not,”
said the father of one. “I’d like to get out of debt, retire
and spend time with my family.”
Vitolo will take his $10 million prize as a one-time lump sum payment
of over $6.6 million after required withholdings.
The winning ticket was purchased at Speedway at 1215 Route 300 in the
Town of Newburgh.
Paul and Norma Fox of Cortlandt Manor claimed their second-prize of $5million
on the September 22 Mega Millions drawing. They have opted to take their
winning in one lump sum with each receiving over $1.6 million after withholdings.
They plan on using the money to help their three children and five grandchildren,
fix their house, pay debts and donate to their church.
Norma is retired from Westchester Medical Center and Paul is retired from
Chase Manhattan.
They purchased their winning ticket at ROA Hook Food Mart at 98 Hook Road
in Cortlandt Manor.
Katherine Lukin of West Nyack has claimed her $1 million Cashword scratch-off
game prize.
She bought a $10 ticket, went to her car, scratched it and thought she
won $5,000. She went back into the store to check on the scanner and found
she was a “Big Winner.”
She got the surprise of her life when she drove to the Fishkill Lottery
center to claim her prize only to learn she won $1 million, not $5,000.
She will take it in one lump sum of almost $662,000 after required withholdings.
She said she will make sure her four children’s educations are paid
for and plans on traveling.
