Lucky at lottery
Guilderland man wins $5 million



GUILDERLAND — Luck changes.

Louis Sgambellone was hit by a delivery truck outside of a Stewart’s shop 25 years ago, when he was 12, and yesterday he was awarded $5 million from the New York Lottery as the payout from a ticket he bought at that very same shop.

Sgambellone, a Guilderland resident who works as a partner and manager at Mad Dog Recording Studios, bought the ticket at the Stewart’s at 1827 Western Ave. in Westmere.
"He’s an everyday customer," Dave Martin, who works at the store, told The Enterprise on Wednesday. "It’s great to see something nice happen to him."
It’s also been nice for the shop, Martin said: "Sales have gone up." And there was a special perk for one of the clerks.
"I gave my truck to the girl who sold me the ticket," said Sgambellone at a press conference held by the State Lottery to present his winnings. "I wanted to share my fortune, so I gave her my ’05 Dakota."
Brenda Matthews, the clerk who sold the ticket, was at the event and said of the gift, "It’s bigger than any tip I’ve gotten."

This isn’t the fist lottery win for Sgambellone. He also won $10,000 in the Cashword Instant game and $2,500 in another Win For Life game.

His latest win will bring him $5,000 a week for life, which could well exceed the $5 million minimum, in the Set For Life scratch-off game.

Sgambellone doesn’t plan any major lifestyle changes with his winnings. He said he might move to a bigger apartment, visit family in California — and he’ll keep playing the Lottery.
"I got some in my pocket," said Sgambellone of tickets he has bought since his last win.