SACRAMENTO – At a Ralph’s grocery store in Hollywood a lucky couple won $100,000 with a “Stars and Stripes” Scratchers ticket. A waitress, Linda Sindon, who works at a local Beverly Hills restaurant told California Lottery officials that she, “bought two $5 Scratchers because I knew that if I won something the prize would be higher.” She was right because the higher priced ticket paid off. Linda scratched off only part of the ticket which revealed she was the lucky winner of $100,000. “I saw the comma after seeing a 100 and asked, ‘What do I do and where do I go?’”

She brought home the half-scratched winning ticket to her husband, Erwin, of 27 years. He recollects that after she burst through the door he knew right away something was different. “She was so excited and there was no color in her face.” After telling Erwin the news she let him scratch off the rest of the ticket, revealing three $100,000 numbers – confirming the prize. “I looked and scratched off the rest of the ticket. I was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say. I had to sit down,” Erwin revealed.

After they made their way to a Lottery District Office, Jeff Bermont, Van Nuys Lottery sales manager laughed as he said, “They wouldn’t let go of the ticket.” But who could blame them?

Winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim prizes.