THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412060165
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
Guess who's coming to dinner?
Well, Becky Nilsen doesn't know yet. She hasn't made up her mind.
That's what she told me, anyway, when I finally got in touch with her after her winning ticket was drawn in the ``First Night at the Light'' sweepstakes.
Becky still hadn't come down off the cloud she ascended to when she heard from Smithfield Kiwanis Club ticket salesman Bob Clay that she was the lucky one.
``I was shocked, I want you to know,'' Becky said, still laughing a day or so after the winning ticket was drawn. ``And I'm absolutely thrilled. I've never won anything before in my life.''
Too bad she didn't win the lottery. Isn't it about time Isle of Wight had a big winner in that?
But if you can't win the lottery, I guess, the First Night at the Light is nice. This way, at least you know what you've got.
The big giveaway started when Smithfield Station owner Ron Pack started getting teased about who was going to spend the first night at his swank reproduction of a river lighthouse at the end of the boardwalk at the restaurant and marina.
He told me he came up with the idea of letting the Kiwanis Club raffle off the first night when he had so many inquiries about it.
``It was either make one person happy and 100 people mad, or let the Kiwanis Club handle it,'' he said.
So that's exactly what he did. The local club was to sell no more than 200 tickets at $25 each for the luxurious night in the lighthouse.
And the winner doesn't only get to spend the night there. The winning package includes a special gourmet dinner for 10 - the winner and eight of her closet friends.
How about breakfast in bed the next morning? Doesn't that sound like fun? And now, Becky can sleep in a pair of satin pajamas with the Smithfield Station logo. She can wear those PJs not only on the first night at the light, but forever, if she wants. They're hers to keep.
Becky, a divorced mother of two teenage girls who lives on Main Street and works in sales at Smithfield Foods, said she hasn't decided yet exactly how she'll spread her prize around.
One of the big problems is, since she's no longer married, she hasn't got anybody special in mind to spend the night with. Hmmm. This could get interesting.
``Find me a husband, Linda,'' she said, laughing again. She added, of course, that she was kidding.
It might be worth it for some lucky man, on a temporary basis, anyway. The upstairs lighthouse suite includes a king-sized bed, wet bar with microwave and fridge, fireplace, executive-style desk, television, circular staircase to the third-floor observation deck, built in yacht-style dining area and ``a wonderful, romantic bath featuring a whirlpool tub for two and a large steam shower,'' so says the brochure.
The drawing was held last Thursday at the Kiwanis Club meeting. Judy Hare, public relations director at Smithfield Station, drew the winning ticket. Since Becky isn't a member of the club, she wasn't at the meeting when her ticket was drawn, and it took a little detective work to locate the winner.
Bob Clay, of course, knew her well, and so did Hare. When I tried to contact her on the telephone, however, I didn't have much luck. Finally, I learned that she worked at ``the plant.''
You know how that goes - first, you have to determine which plant. Then, you've got to find out where in the plant the person works.
When I called Smithfield Foods and asked for Becky, the operator was unfamiliar with the name. So she connected me with personnel. Personnel connected me with sales. Sales didn't know her.
``I don't know her either,'' the operator told me. ``Well, hold on again.''
Finally, I got back into sales and found someone who knew this elusive winner. I felt like I'd won something.
Becky called me a little later, giggling. She hasn't been working at the plant long, she said. But she's the same lady who once managed the Smithfield Inn and later worked at Cowling's Restaurant. She's originally from Hampton. Her parents live in Moonefield. She's lived in Smithfield for about six years.
I'll predict now her popularity will skyrocket. After all, she can invite nine people to this dinner. Maybe even you can wangle an invitation. If you're an available male, your chances increase.
Lawrence Pitt, who was in charge of the raffle for the Kiwanis, said the club sold 180 tickets. Bob Clay sold 47 of them. Pitt said he was glad that Clay, who worked so hard, had sold the winner. Profits to the club were $4,550. Some of the proceeds may go to the club's annual toy drive for needy children. It will certainly go to good use, Pitt said. It will be filtered through some charity right back into the community.
``I'm glad a local person won,'' Pitt said. ``Through friends of club members, we sold tickets as far away as Baltimore.''
And the club, Pitt added, certainly appreciates Pack's idea and his generosity.
``It really created a lot of interest,'' he said. ``The lighthouse is a real asset to the community and will certainly do a lot to stimulate tourism in this area.''
And now that we know who won the First Night at the Light, the next question is one that Pitt said everybody is asking.
``Well, Ron, what will you build next?'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GRACE BROWN
Lawrence Pitt, the Kiwanis member in charge of the raffle, assists
Smithfield Station's Judy Hare as she draws the winning ticket.
by CNB