Wilkes-Barre couple wins $25K in Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes

WILKES-BARRE — A city couple are the latest winners of the Publishers’ Clearing House Sweepstakes.

Maria and Stan Oldenski were presented with a check for $25,000 Thursday by the Publishers’ Clearing House Prize Patrol.

It’s the second time this year that the prize patrol has been in Luzerne County. In February, a Wilkes-Barre Township couple was awarded $1 million, a $35,000 car and $5,000 a week for life.

Reaching the Oldenskis proved a little challenging, however.

First, the Prize Patrol was slightly delayed by the traffic backups that spilled off Interstate 81 due to emergency bridge repairs at Exit 165 in Wilkes-Barre Township.

Then they arrived at the Oldenskis’ home to find they were not there. After consulting with their son, the Prize Patrol, followed by local media, trekked down to Nanticoke, where the couple was having dinner at Oldenski’s sister’s house.

“I hear that Maria is here,” PCH’s Dave Sayer said when Oldenski answered the door.

“Maria who?” she initially responded.

When Sayer explained that the team was there to give her $25,000, Oldenski gasped and embraced her sister on the porch.

“Can you use this?” Sayer asked, holding a large cardboard check.

“Yes,” a tearful Oldenski responded.

Oldenski said she plans on paying bills and buying herself a small Christmas gift.

Dave Sayer of Publishers Clearing House suprises Maria Oldenski of Wilkes-Barre with a check for $25,000 while her sister Gina Canejo looks on. Oldenski and her husband Stan were enjoying a family dinner at Oldenski’s sister’s Nanticoke home before going to see lights in Berwick when Sayer showed up with the oversized check balloons and roses. Sayer first stopped at Oldenski’s Sheridan Street home in Wilkes-Barre when he found out she wasn’t there. Oldenski said she plans on paying bills and buying herself a small Christmas gift.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_TTL121418publishers1-2.jpg.optimal.jpgDave Sayer of Publishers Clearing House suprises Maria Oldenski of Wilkes-Barre with a check for $25,000 while her sister Gina Canejo looks on. Oldenski and her husband Stan were enjoying a family dinner at Oldenski’s sister’s Nanticoke home before going to see lights in Berwick when Sayer showed up with the oversized check balloons and roses. Sayer first stopped at Oldenski’s Sheridan Street home in Wilkes-Barre when he found out she wasn’t there. Oldenski said she plans on paying bills and buying herself a small Christmas gift. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader