Burtonsville Retiree Wins $50,000 in Maryland Lottery, Clears Debt (2024)

BURTONSVILLE, MD — A retired school administrator from Burtonsville has struck it lucky with a $50,000 top prize from the Joker’s Wild scratch-off lottery ticket. Having retired a few years ago, she had taken up part-time work to supplement her retirement income and carefully managed her finances, including setting aside a small weekly budget for her favorite lottery scratch-offs.

Her routine purchase at the Giant store on 12028 Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring led to the surprising win. The winner bought the ticket and only remembered to check it hours later while at work. Using the Maryland Lottery app, she scanned the QR code and received a message to visit a retailer. After scratching off the entire ticket, she discovered her match and the $50,000 prize.

The winnings will significantly ease her financial planning, allowing her to pay off debts and focus on savings and charitable contributions. She expressed plans to travel to Europe and visit her adopted family in Kenya. Besides her lottery hobby, she volunteers at her local church and crafts gifts.

The store that sold the winning ticket will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery. Despite this win, the Joker’s Wild game still offers six remaining top prizes and over 830,000 smaller prizes, ranging from $5 to $5,000, since its release on July 22.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - A recent study conducted by SnusBoss, using data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), reveals that New Jersey has achieved significant progress in reducing smoking rates over the past decade.

According to the study, the smoking rate in New Jersey decreased from 17.8% in 2012 to 10.6% in 2022, marking a 7.2% reduction.

This decline positions New Jersey as having the 10th largest reduction in smoking rates among all states. The study highlights various states' efforts in curbing smoking habits, with Kentucky leading with an 11.7% decrease in active smokers. In contrast, California recorded the smallest decrease, with only a 2.6% drop, indicating a struggle in reducing smoking rates.

The BRFSS, a comprehensive health-related telephone survey, collects data on health behaviors, chronic health conditions, and preventive service use across the U.S. It conducts over 400,000 interviews annually, making it the largest health survey system globally.

The report places New Jersey's achievements in a broader national context, noting that the average decrease in smoking rates across the U.S. from 2012 to 2022 was 6.19%. States like Kentucky, the District of Columbia, and Michigan have seen significant reductions, underscoring the varied success levels across the country in combating smoking.

FAIRVIEW, NJ — Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella has announced the arrest of 38-year-old Cassandra M. Gianotti of Fairview, NJ, on charges related to child endangerment. The arrest followed an investigation led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under Chief Matthew Finck, and the Fairview Police Department, under Chief Vincent Bellucci.

The investigation began last Friday when the Fairview Police Department alerted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit about an alleged physical abuse of a child. The victim, a juvenile under sixteen, was reportedly assaulted by Gianotti in Fairview on Thursday.

Subsequent investigations confirmed the allegations, leading to Gianotti's arrest on Tuesday in Paramus, NJ. She faces charges of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Gianotti has been remanded to the Bergen County Jail. Her first court appearance is scheduled at the Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.