People, Places and Things: 2-4-15

Way to go, Joe!Congratulations to YMCA of Metro North Super Bowl contest winner, Lynn resident Joseph Croteau, who drew the winning ticket at the Peabody YMCA last Wednesday and won two round-trip tickets and accommodations to Phoenix for the big game.”It was out of this world,” said Croteau.He traveled to Phoenix last Friday with Salem buddy Jeff Sakowich, and Croteau said the pair enjoyed good seats for the game, even though they were “in the nosebleed section.”More than 300 Lynn, Melrose, Saugus and Peabody Y members participated in the contest, raising $30,000 minus costs associated with the winner’s travel. Metro North President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Macdonald said the Y has held a Super Bowl contest for each of the Super Bowls the New England Patriots played in.Croteau and Sakowich managed to return home Monday night even with the bad weather thanks to the efforts of New England Sports Tours’ Dan Pranka.Chamber’s carpool request snow jokeWith one of its biggest annual events scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. at Spinelli’s, the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce is asking members to carpool to its Business Excellence Awards dinner “due to the large amount of snow accumulated over the past few days.” The dinner is sold out with more than 250 people planning to attend, and Spinelli’s management, according to a Chamber announcement, has warned parking could be tight in the Lynnfield function facility’s lot even with ongoing snow clearing efforts.