Community Corner

$1 Buys Hope for Mega Millions: What'd You Do With It? [POLL]

The $640 million jackpot created a ticket-buying frenzy on Friday afternoon. So maybe the chances are extremely small—but a buck or two buys a little hope.

With the multi-state lottery game Mega Millions up to $640 million Friday afternoon, buyers have been snapping up tickets all over the place.

At in Katonah, NY, not far over the border from Stamford, lottery buyers fantasized about how they'd spend those enormous winnings.

"I'd pay off my kids' college loans, set up trust funds for them and give some to the Briarcliff Animal Shelter," said Wendy Cummings, taking a break from her work at the

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And what about herself?

"Oh there'd be some left for me," she said.

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Ann Luria, owners of Steger's, said she'd seen a steady stream of customers  after the jackpot grew by over $100 million overnight Thursday. The average customer seemed to be spending $10, she said.

They were also buying at multiple stores.

"I'm on my third stop," said Kim Stasiak of Mt. Kisco, explaining she hoped it would increase her chances. She said she would travel, hire a life coach and buy a farm if she became an instant millionaire—after paying off her bills.

"I'd like to owe nothing to no one," she said.

Tricia Freeman of Katonah had personal and charitable dreams in mind and said she'd buy a vacation house and then set up a foundation.

"Wouldn't that be fun, giving away tons of money? Like Oprah," she said.

Shirley Stilgenbauer of Mt. Kisco said she'd retire and give a lot of the money away.

The game—jointly created in 2002 by the states of New York, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia—is now played in 42 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to its website. Jackpots start at $12 million.

Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.; you can buy tickets until 10:45 p.m. Check for winning numbers online.


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