By Lori Evans
Homer News
Carrara Poindexter’s husband, Logan, thought she was crazy to spend $130 for a Homer Chamber of Commerce car-ATV raffle ticket. His thinking: No one ever wins those things.
But Carrara said she had a feeling in her gut — unlike anything that she had ever experienced — that she would be this year’s grand prize winner of a $25,000 credit from Stanley Ford or $15,000 in cash. It’s only the second time she’d ever bought a chamber raffle ticket.
Carrara said she was really disappointed when the original day for the raffle drawing came and went and she didn’t receive a call. She began to question her gut.
Then, she noticed that raffle tickets were still being sold. She called the chamber and found out that the drawing date had been changed to Dec. 6.
Last Thursday, the day of the raffle drawing, Carrara had been with other family members celebrating the birthday of her husband’s aunt, Beth Christensen. She had returned home and was visiting on the phone with her best friend who has been in Hawaii for the past month.
She started getting phone calls from unknown numbers and then a text message from her mother-in-law: Carrara had won the chamber raffle.
Her gut had been right, after all.
There’s no question what she’ll do with the prize: She’ll take the $25,000 credit for a new vehicle, specifically a van that can be modified with a wheelchair lift for her special-needs son Bentley, who will turn 3 in March.
Bentley’s diagnosis is unknown. He is unable to crawl or walk and can’t hold his head up; he’s also visually impaired. Tests are still being conducted.
“He’s my cute disaster child,” says Carrara. “He makes me smile.”
A used modified van costs $42,000 or more, so the Stanley Ford credit will come in handy. Carrara and Logan, who live in Anchor Point, may go van shopping this weekend when he returns from his job on the North Slope.
Meanwhile, Carrara is still a little in shock about the “weird feeling” that prompted her to buy the raffle ticket in the first place. She’s also a philosophical about the future. “You can’t look into the future. You have to take it day by day, breath by breath.”
For others experiencing hard times, Carrara knows the feeling: “We’re not alone, but you feel alone a lot.”
Other raffle prizes and their winners were:
2012 Honda Rancher ATV:
Charles Rehder from Homer
One night lodging from NMS Lodging: Tabor Ashment
$20 gift certificate from
Barb’s Video and $50 gift certificate from VBS Heating: Tom Stroozas
Family membership and goodies from Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies and
a $40 gift certificate from
AJ’s Oldtown Steakhouse: Charles Rehder
A book from Homer Bookstore and $25 gift certificate from Timeless Toys: Carole Mann
A $100 gift certificate from
Fat Olives: Becky Lundqust
Half-day charter for one from Homer Ocean Charters:
Nancy Rockett
Goodie bag and $25 gift certificate from First National Bank and NAPA: Carmen Ramos
Three-quarters day kayak trip for one from True
North Kayak Adventures: Rebecca Thomas
One night lodging, up to
$100 from Driftwood Inn: Caroline and Franco Venuti
A$100 gift certificate from
Jin Shin Jyutsu: Edward Post
Mermaid and halibut home decor from The Spyglass Inn: Leanna Raymond
One night lodging from NMS Lodging: Liz Doan
Timber Ridge Camp Lounger from Save-U-More: Dave Rush
A $100 gift certificate from Kachemak Gear Shed:
Liz Doan
Fishing charter for one from Captain B’s Alaskan C’s:
Mike Hatten
A $200 gift certificate from Timber Bay B&B:
Jerry Eastham
A $100 gift certificate from Spenard Builders Supply:
Barb Ault
One night lodging from NMS Lodging: Linda Carlos
Two tickets for a six-our whale watching cruise from Major Marine Tours: Trisha Davis
One night lodging from NMS Lodging: Reuben Sherwood
Two round trip tickets Homer to Anchorage from Era Alaska: Robert Hulse
