April 26, 2013 By Christian Murray
A Woodside woman won $1 million last month in a scratch-off game she purchased from a nearby store on 47th Avenue.
Melba Ortez Arias, 51, won the top prize on the new Family Feud scratch-off game that she purchased at Jaymaharaj Grocery, which is located at 45-01 47th Avenue in Woodside.
On the morning of March 28, Arias went into the store and purchased four tickets.
“The winning ticket was the last one I scratched,” Arias said in a statement.
She said she was very excited about winning, but tried to stay calm to avoid drawing attention to herself.
She claimed her ticket at the Lottery’s Customer Service Center in New York City that same day.
The $1 million will be paid in 20 annual payments of $50,000. Arias will receive net annual payments of $31,152 after taxes.
Arias said she is undecided on her plans for her Lottery prize, other than maybe looking for a new apartment.
