BY NANCY HILER
Ironically, she bought the winning ticket in the Mega Millions game on what many might consider an unlucky date -- Jan. 13.
Alnwick, New York Lottery officials said, "was thinking big when she walked into the 7-Eleven on Newbridge Road in North Bellmore, looking for a Big Gulp and a Mega Millions lottery ticket."
The retired saleswoman turned full-time caretaker said she is not a regular lottery player, so no one was more surprised than she to learn that she had won the big prize. "I play maybe once a month, $2 or $3 at most," Alnwick said. "I'm probably an unlikely winner, but a thankful one nonetheless."
Long Island's new multi-millionaire said she plans to buy "a few more nice things" for herself, like a fully loaded Corvette convertible, and take more frequent vacations to sunny spots like Aruba and her beloved Sanibel Island in Florida.
Alnwick purchased her ticket as a Quick Pick, meaning that a computer randomly chose her numbers. They were 22, 25, 33, 36, 48 and powerball 40.
The biggest win the North Bellmore 7-Eleven had seen before Alnwick was $5,000, store owner Steve Hirschheimer said. Since she chose the lump-sum option, she will receive a one-time payout of $15,182,885, and will net a little more than $10 million after taxes.
There have been 15 Mega Millions winners from New York since the state joined the game in 2002, New York Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman said, though she was uncertain how many of those lived in Nassau County. Twelve states take part in Mega Millions, with jackpots starting at $12 million.
Comments about this story? NHiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
