DORCHESTER, Mass. (WWLP) - Two lucky people got to kick off the first month of the year in a special way after each winning big on the "2,500,000 Merry & Bright" $10 lottery ticket. New Bedford woman to buy house with $1M lottery winnings On Friday, Kirk Phinney won $2.5 million on the ticket he purchased at Quick Stop Liquor on N. Main Street in Leominster. Phinney chose the annuity option on his winnings and received the first of 20 annual payments of $125,000 before taxes. (Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.) Phinney said that he plans to use his winnings to buy a new car and travel. Quick Stop Liquor will receive a $25,000 bonus for selling this winning ticket. On Monday, Helena Greenleaf of Thompson, Conn. won $1 million on the same holiday ticket, bought at Cumberland Farms on Washington Street in Auburn. The store will receive a bonus of $10,000 for selling the prize ticket. (Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.) Greenleaf chose the cash option on her prize and received a one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes. She said she plans to invest her winnings, but not before treating herself to a nice lunch. Local News Headlines Senator Gomez names new member of staff The dangers of wildfire smoke on your health Funding awarded for more hours at local health center Springfield Thunderbirds to host Cammer Cup sled hockey event with local celebrities WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.