August, 10, 2011: Eat your heart out everyone.  It was Kathy and Donald Gray, not you, who won the annual Seniors Citizens Council raffle entitling them to free parking in the Bronxville business district for one year. That's right--one whole year.

The raffle took place over Memorial Day weekend, but the free parking began on July 1. All the Grays have to do until July 2012 is put their orange  Senior Citizen Council parking placard on the dash board of their cars (no fair parking two cars in town at the same time) and they're set for free in any parking place in the Bronxville business district on the east or west side of town and even at the train station.

"Parking at the train station is particularly nice," commented Kathy, "because sometimes I go into NYC for a whole day. Donald use to drop me off at the station so I wouldn't have to scrounge around for quarters or a parking space. Now he doesn't have to."

And did the Grays purchase a gazillion raffle tickets in order to be the victors? No. They purchased two booklets with six tickets each coming to grand total of $30. "It's not a scholarship to Harvard," Kathy mused, "but it sure is handy around town."

This is the first time Kathy recalls winning a prize or raffle like this in the States. Once when the Grays lived in London she won a Liberty of London dress, but otherwise she's never won anything. "This is the biggest and best ever," she declared.

Kathy and Donald's association with the  Senior Citizens Council is not just through raffle tickets. Kathy has participated for over thirty years in various activities for the organization; was a member the Board for many years; and even served as treasurer. "I have always been very supportive of the  Senior Citizens Council, she said. "I think it is a wonderful organization and I think the raffle is a wonderful way to raise money for it."

Said Jean Yankus, Chairman of the Senior Citizens Council, "The Senior Citizens Council is always grateful for the wonderful support we receive from the community and the generosity of the Village in providing the space [at Village Hall]. I was so excited to hear that Kathy and Don Gray won this year. That was one phone call that I really enjoyed making."

The Senior Citizens Council is the parent organization of the Bronxville Senior Citizens and the Tuckahoe Senior Citizens.

Pictured here:  Kathy Gray standing by her car parked in the Bronxville business district in a free parking space.

Photo by N. Bower