Sunset Variety on Route 302 in Raymond is a great place to grab a cup of coffee, a newspaper and a winning lottery ticket.
Saturday’s winning Tri-State Megabucks ticket, worth $700,000, was purchased in the neighborhood store last Friday afternoon.
Although the lucky ticket holder has come forward to claim the prize, the Maine State Lottery Commission has not released the name to the public. They did confirm, however, that the winner is a Maine resident.
According to Dan Gwadosky, Maine State Lottery Director, “Winners are given five days to decide which way they want to take the money – in a lump sum or spread out.” Until that period of time is up, the Lottery Commission keeps the name confidential.
For selling the winning ticket, Sunset Variety will receive a check for 1 percent, or $7,000. Christine McClellan, who owns the store with her husband Don, said they would probably use the money for maintenance on the store.
In March of last year, Windham resident David Belisle hit it big with a Megabucks ticket he purchased at Hannaford in Windham. Coincidentally, it was at Sunset Variety that he discovered he had won.
When contacted by phone recently, Belisle said the best advice he could give the Lakes Region’s newest winner is from his investment counselor: “Before you make any decisions about what to do with the money, wait a year. After that, if you have things you still want to do, do them.”
Although Belisle said the $1.9 million he received did not change his life, he did admit it has made things a little easier for the future.
He still works at Dielectric in Raymond but now looks forward to an earlier retirement. He is also in the process of buying a house.
Belisle chose to take his money in one lump sum but said, “It depends on your personality.” And winning hasn’t stopped him from playing the lottery. He still buys two Tri-State Megabucks tickets and one Powerball ticket every Wednesday and Saturday.
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