Gene Valicenti stepped from the evening news show he co-anchors on Channel 10 Thursday night to another show at Chelo’s Restaurant on Post Road Warwick where the Rotary Club of Warwick held its cash and car raffle drawing.

 Present for the occasion was Chris Hurd of Hurd Auto Mall in Johnston that provided the Chevy Trail Blazer that was on display at Greenwood Credit Union in Warwick. Valicenti drew the following winners after club president Oliver Brady spun a barrel. After each ticket was drawn, it was reentered to the barrel, giving the winner another chance at the car, which was the final drawing.

When it got down to the final drawing, Brady gave the barrel a few extra spins. Then he stopped, reached down inside, closed the hatch and spun it again. He opened the hatch and Valicent reached inside. He pulled out a ticket, handing it to Brady. He read off “Robert Boss Jr.” and gave a Warwick address. He looked out at the audience. Did anyone know Boss? Had anyone of them sold him the ticket? He was greeted by silence.

Valicenti looked at the ticket.

“Let’s call him,” said Brady taking out his phone. He dialed the number and handed Valicenti the phone which he put on speaker holding it next to the microphone. It rang and rang before directing to leave a name and number.

Valicenti introduced himself, emphasizing this wasn’t a crank call. Club members laughed. Valicenti explained where he was and that he had just drawn the winning ticket in the Warwick Rotary Club car raffle and that he, Boss, was the winner.

And the winners are:

5th - Chris Ginolfi (Ticket # 1541) $250

4th - A. Snyman (Ticket # 624) $500

3rd - Judy Hanna (Ticket # 517) $1,000

2nd - Carol Clement (Ticket # 1266) $1,500

1st - Robert Boss Jr (Ticket # 292) the car

All the winner tickets were sold from Greenwood Credit Union. Proceeds from the raffle will support Rotary charitable projects.