Massachusetts: Waltham Man Wins $1 Million Powerball Lottery
The lottery hit close to home yesterday. According to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, a Waltham man claimed the third $1 million Powerball lottery prize.
All our local stations are based in Waltham, so seeing a neighbor score a winning ticket is great news. In addition, the winning ticket was also apparently purchased in town at the Quic Pic, Global Montello Gulf. Boston News25 states, “he collected his prize in Dorchester at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters on Thursday.”
Boston.com reported this winning ticket was claimed by Brendan Stewart of Waltham. Talk about a lucky ticket; the first five numbers of the ticket were called. “He said he hopes to use part of his earnings to buy a smartwatch,” the story states.
The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission detailed the other two $1 million Powerball winners were from Hadley and Norfolk. Rae Wenthworth-Cadieux’s winning ticket was purchased in the Pride Station and Store in Hadley. Lastly, Jan Busby was the third winner. She bought her winning ticket In Franklin at Shaw’s Supermarket.
What About The Stores Who Sold The Lucky Tickets?
As Boston.com also states, these three stores that sold the winning $1 million lottery tickets will each receive their own $10,000 prize.
If this news that a Waltham man won the Massachusetts Powerball lottery this week has given you the itch to take your chances on winning, here are some of your options.
MassLottery states the Mega Millions drawing is tonight at 11 pm. That estimated pot is a cool $910 million. The next Powerball drawing is Saturday. That estimated pot is $60 million. Lastly, also drawing tomorrow, the Megabucks estimated pot is $8.4 million.
The state is required to report such lottery prizes claimed. So far, in 2023, MassLottery shows 27 winners in the $1 million or more prize category. There has been a winner here every month of the year. $31 million was reported as the biggest prize pot. This was won twice in January.
Massachusetts Brewery Is Crushing It With Their Merchandise
“We have been given the name of Merch King Kong by our peers,” Dino Funari, founder of Vitamin Sea Brewing says. That is because this brewery has some of the most recognizable merchandise in Massachusetts.
Chances are you’ve seen (or have) a hat or t-shirt that sports the branding “VSB,” “South Shore,” “Sea,” an ocean/sunrise vector, or a duck on it. That’s all Vitamin Sea Brewing. In fact, some of their items are so popular they fly off the shelf as soon as they are stocked. Furthermore, you can’t buy them online. They are all purchased onsite.
Weymouth, MA
Vitamin Sea Brewing opened in February of 2019. Their taproom (and headquarters) in Weymouth features twelve taps covering a wide range of craft beer styles. IPAs and stouts are also available to purchase in cans. Some of the beers vary per season, while others are more standard. The Summer IPA, currently on tap, for example, is hopped with Citra, Cascade, and Columbus hops. In addition, on tap number 12, you will find Seas and Desist Blueberry Lemonade. This is Vitamin Sea’s take on hard seltzer.
Their location has a beer garden feel where outdoor seating is available, and they typically partner with food trucks onsite at least three days per week. If you go inside VSB’s Weymouth home base, you will find a colorful wall of t-shirts adjacent to the bar and rack of hats, jackets, sweatshirts and more along the right-side wall.
The Merch Line
“Our marketing strategy happened organically. Well before we opened, I was handing out hats, t-shirts, pins, and stickers to get the word out. And it paid off. We’re constantly asked to advertise monetarily, but we see more value in getting our merch out to people or groups (musicians, athletes, media personalities) with their own audiences and fan bases, which introduces them to our brand,” Funari explains, about VSB’s intent to create such merch.
They have one of New England’s more recognizable logos. Whether you are walking in downtown Portland, ME or attending the Levitate Music and Artist Festival in Marshfield, it is likely you will see the Vitamin Sea round logo or duck along the way. People are proud to represent the passion that Vitamin Sea pours into everything they do. Wearing their gear also shows pride in where you are from.
Here, Funari will take us inside the taproom to provide some insight into this killer Vitamin Sea Brewing merch.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
