Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 Million dollar winners T Two Saugonians win big in Massachusetts State Lottery wo Saugus residents hit it big recently, purchasing $1 million prize-winning tickets in the Massachusetts State Lottery. Paul Constantino won a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “Diamond Millions” instant ticket game. The grand prize on this ASKS | FROM PAGE 5 Some highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: So, please tell me how it is you became a Saugus po$30 ticket is a $1,000,000 cash prize (before taxes). He bought his winning ticket at Linden Convenience, which is located at 455 Lynn St. in Malden. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket. Walid Geha won a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “The Fastlice offi cer. A: My whole family has always been truly service-oriented, helping people out. That went back to my grandparents, so we’re talking way est Road to $1 Million” instant ticket game. Geha chose the annuity option on his prize and received the first of 20 payments of $50,000 (before taxes). He bought his winning ticket at Richdale located at 149 Walnut St. in Lynn. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket. back in the 50s. My grandmother took in 62 foster children. And my grandfather, Edwin “Bucker” Holmes, was a member of the volunteer Fire Department for Saugus. By no means did they have money, but they were always helping people out. My mom has taken in 51 foster children; I have four adopted brothers that came through the foster care system, so we’ve always grown up knowing that people need help. Q: Your mom still lives in Saugus? A: Yes. She’s my next door neighbor and our yards are joined, which is great. It was HITTING IT BIG: Paul Constantino celebrates winning the grand prize of $1 million in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “Diamond Millions” instant ticket game. (Courtesy photo of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission) great growing up for my children. My two kids are very close to their grandmother. She became their friend, which is awesome. My mother is 86 and she teaches water aerobics at the Melrose YMCA and Lynn YMCA. Q: If things worked out and you didn’t get laid off, you would have made a career as a fi refi ghter as opposed to a police offi cer. A: Yep. But they’re both commendable fields of service. It just happened that – as fate brought it – I started there and I was a temporary firefighter; then there were budget cuts in the town ANOTHER WINNER: Walid Geha won a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “The Fastest Road to $1 Million” instant ticket game. (Courtesy photo of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission) and the funding for the Fire Department. And several months later, they had funding for police officers and I took both tests and I applied to the Police Department and I got on the Police Department. And then, everything changed from that side there. Q: And you made a career of it? A: Yeah. Yeah. A good career. I enjoyed it. I liked going to work every day. I truly liked my job. There wasn’t a day when I didn’t feel like going to work; I enjoyed going to work every day, and I didn’t look upon it ASKS | SEE PAGE 7 BECOME A VITA VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER WITH LEO INC! LEO Inc. offers free tax help through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program Interested? No previous experience is necessary and training is provided. Work remotely or in-person with flexible hours December - April. Volunteers must be 18+ years. Gain valuable tax experience and build transferrable skills. Your service will keep tax dollars in the community and help build a strong local economy. Questions? Email LEO’s VITA Coordinator at ayeshar@leoinc.org or call 781.309.5623 Ready to Volunteer? Scan the QR code for the volunteer application! SCAN ME ESCANÉAME DIGITALIZA-ME ESKANE M FREE HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS Want to apply? Call 781.581.7220 M - F 8:30 - 4:30, visit toapply.org/LEO, or scan the QR code for the fuel application! Applications accepted through 4/30/22 Fuel assistance for residents of Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, Swampscott, and Wakefield LEO provides free assistance to help pay for heating costs through April 30, 2022
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