Lowell community leader wins $1 million in ‘Jaws’-themed lottery event
LOWELL After winning a trip to Martha s Vineyard on a second chance drawing from the Massachusetts State Lottery Lowell group leader Dave Ouellette was the lucky winner of a million prize during the island s celebrations of the th anniversary of the theatrical release of Jaws Ouellette was one of people chosen for the all-expense paid weekend trip to Martha s Vineyard after submitting a non-winning JAWS instant ticket which went on sale last year The second-chance winners were treated with a three-night stay for two at the Harbor View Hotel ferry transit to and from the island with black car utility to and from the port spending cash a JAWS island tour dinners daily breakfast and a private screening of the original Jaws It s incredible it s incredible revealed Ouellette joined by his wife Lynn straightaway after winning the championship show s million top prize We ve had a great time The Lottery the crew that helped us everyone has been terrific throughout this whole weekend And thank you to all the friends we met out here In a phone call with The Sun Monday Ouellette explained even after he had won he still had trouble believing it Ouellette won the money during a competition show he and the other second-chance winners participated in Sunday The contestants were presented with a series of numbered tiles each selecting one to turn around to reveal their prize Four of the contestants won two won won and won Ouellette and one other contestant Joe Candido of Quincy selected tiles that indicated they would face off in a final round Ouellette chose tile which he noted he decided on at the pool earlier in the day when he overheard a kid who was counting out loud and had shouted the number louder than the rest I thought holy expletive I was just advised a number for the contest announced Ouellette That random inspiration for a number paid off Ouellette and Candido then were faced with more tiles of which were winners and of which were losers The two were tasked with just choosing random tiles until the first person got five winners Sitting on the stage facing the screen showing the tiles with his back facing the audience Ouellette picked his final tile with confidence Number five he mentioned which was followed by a limited tense seconds before confetti popped from both sides of the stage and Ouellette was declared the winner While the money has not yet hit his bank account Ouellette revealed he plans to purchase a new car for he and his wife and perhaps pay off their mortgage We are absolutely thrilled for our million-dollar prize winner and for all the players who were able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip explained Mass Lottery Executive Director Mark William Bracken in a report Monday We look forward to providing our players with more unique and memorable opportunities through our games in the future Ouellette is also heavily involved around Greater Lowell He as of now serves as the vitality director for the town of Dracut was the past president of the Coalition for a Better Acre and founder of the Acre Coalition to Improve Our Neighborhood Last year he made an unsuccessful bid for the th Middlesex District seat in the state legislature Ouellette in recent months appeared in The Sun for his efforts towards finding a use for the former St Jean Baptiste Church on Merrimack Street in Lowell In May it was reported that country music star Zach Bryan would purchase the property for million with the intent of establishing the Jack Kerouac Museum and Performance Center inside the church which was famously attended by Lowellian writing legend Jack Kerouac Ouellette has served on the Kerouac Foundation board of directors since Right now Ouellette explained work is being done to determine what can go into the church but revealed he anticipates a nice museum and entertainment venue possibly with a restaurant or coffee shop inside
