Record-setting Megabucks jackpot won in Holyoke
A Megabucks ticket sold in Holyoke for the Monday, Sept. 7, drawing is the winner of a $29.71 million jackpot from the Massachusetts State Lottery, the largest jackpot in the game’s history.
The winning ticket was sold at King Mart, 494 Westfield Road. The winning numbers are 21-28-31-34-40-44. Megabucks prize winners have one year to claim prizes.
The previous record for the largest jackpot in game history was in the game’s Oct. 16, 1985 drawing when a $21.7 million prize was split among eight winning tickets. At the time, it was the third largest jackpot in U.S. history. Prior to Monday’s drawing, the largest jackpot won on a single ticket in game history was $16.35 million, won in the September 10, 2022 drawing on a ticket sold in Ware.
The original Megabucks game launched in November of 1982. Since then, the game has undergone multiple changes, most recently in November of 2023, when the field of numbers was reduced from 49 to 44, improving the odds of winning at all prize tiers. At that time, Monday drawings were added to the traditional lineup of Wednesday and Saturday drawings and the game returned to its original name.
Porchfest returns to Williamsburg Saturday
Williamsburg will host its second annual Porchfest from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in conjunction with the annual Grange Fair, with musicians performing both inside and outside throughout town, including in front of the Williamsburg Market, at Exhibit A Brewery, Tangle Chocolate and the American Legion.
Performers include Holly Munoz, Snapdragons, Louise Coombe, Stellaluna and Mill River Rounders. Children’s activities will be held outside the Meekins Library, Williamsburg Church will host an art exhibition, and Jennifer Black will lead a singalong at Angel Park.
The event, held at various locations throughout Williamsburg and Haydenville, is free. For the complete lineup, see williamsburgporchfest.com.
New historical information sign at Chesterfield Gorge
The Chesterfield Historical Commission, Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee and the Trustees of Reservations will hold a celebration on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. at the Chesterfield Gorge to mark the installation of an informational sign with historical information and the location of many mill sites on the Westfield River in Chesterfield.
The three organizations came together to research, design and construct the sign, working for more than 150 hours on the project. Community contributors included Justin West, who designed the sign, and Doug Fisher, who was invaluable in identifying and locating mill sites on a map.
In addition to locating the former mills, the sign also includes Indigenous influences as well as former resident and Medal of Honor recipient Samuel Eddy, who lived in the former Toll House/Tavern of the Boston to Albany Turnpike crossing at the Gorge. The Sage of West Chesterfield, Chandler Bicknell, constructed the Nutshell, where he manufactured wooden items and tools of his own design to sell to tourists.
Hibernians launch food drive
HOLYOKE — The Hibernians of Hampden/Hampshire Counties, in partnership with the Polish National Credit Union, are conducting a food drive for Providence Ministries from now through Dec. 1. The drop-off location is Rush Insurance, 270 Westfield Road in Holyoke.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts estimates that approximately 61,000 people are food insecure in western Massachusetts, and Providence Ministries needs food supplies as the winter months approach. Suggested drop-off items include Chef Boyardee products, pasta, mac and cheese, tuna, soup, rice, baked beans and cereal.
In addition to the food drive, every six weeks the Ladies [Ancient] Order of Hibernians and the Holy Cross Cursillo Group of Springfield make sandwiches for Kate’s Kitchen.
Anyone interested in supporting the sandwich program may call Rosalie Pratt at 413-532-1677.