A 13-year-old Queens boy and his family are celebrating after he was named the winning champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night.

Arvind Mahankali won the coveted gold trophy after correctly spelling “knaidel” — a German-Yiddish term for a matzo dumpling.

Mahankali, who resides in Bayside Hills, said he is done competing in the national contest after this win. The M.S. 74 eighth grader finished in third place in the competition the last two years. German words “schwannoma” and “jugendstil” stumped him in those contests.

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“It means I’m retiring on a good note,” Mahankali told The Daily News.

A total of 11 spellers were competing for $30,000 in cash and other prizes. Mahankali said he will save the money for college. He plans to attend Stuyvesant High School next year.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee was nationally televised on ESPN.

Mahankali was cheered on by his mother, father and 9-year-old brother, who says he wants to compete in the spelling bee next year, the News reports.

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It was a night of heels, sparkles and talent that can only be found in New York’s nitty gritty Hell’s Kitchen.

The second annual Miss Hell’s Kitchen drag queen pageant wasn’t just an eyeful for audience members who appreciate the city’s finest queens, it’s also a fundraiser for AIDS Lifecycle – a 545-mile bike ride across seven days that raises funds for HIV and AIDS patients.

Contestants competed across several categories including a presentation where they must wear something red to represent HIV awareness, swimsuit, talent and evening gown.

In the end, there could only be one fabulous and talented Miss Hell’s Kitchen. Last year’s reigning queen, Miss Bootsie LeFaris, graciously gave up the crown to this year’s well-deserving winner: Tina Burner.

Believe it or not, this lovely lass grew up on a horse farm before leaving at the tender age of 16 for the bright lights of the city in search of stardom. She appeared in Off-Broadway shows and made cameos as a waiter in NYC’s dining scene until she emerged as a rising star on the drag scene.

Burner is known as the host of “STAR SEARCH” at Barracuda, a long-running drag competition on Thursday nights. Now, she’ll be known as Miss Hell’s Kitchen 2013.

Contributed reporting by Bess Adler.

Follow Cassandra Garrison on Twitter at @CassieAtMetro.

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A 44-year-old bodega owner from Passaic, N.J., is the sole winner of the $338.3 million Powerball jackpot.

Pedro Quezada, who regularly purchases a lottery ticket along with a couple of beers at Eagle Liquors in Passaic, bought the winning ticket Saturday when he played the Quick Pick option and hit all five numbers and the Powerball, the New York Post reports.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Quezada came to the U.S. 26 years ago. He worked in a factory before opening his bodega in 2006. He has three daughters and two sons.

Quezada said he does not know what he will do with the money yet, but that he will help his family. His winnings will total $152 million if he takes the lump-sum payout, the Post reports.

Lottery officials announced Monday that the winning ticket had been sold at the liquor store. Quezada did not know he was the winner until he came into the store after 4 p.m. and checked the boards.

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Things got wild and whacky at the 14th Annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant Thursday night. Metro went inside the one-of-a-kind event, hosted at Cake Shop on Ludlow Street. The contestants participated in a 1-minute talent competition, a swimsuit competition, evening-wear and question and answer session.

As expected, things got interesting during the competitions for “best male tits”, “congeniality” and “best nutsack” — especially since “any woman or gay man who shows up is automatically a judge,” according to the pageant rules.

In the end, there could one be only lucky gentleman to rule and reign over the Lower East Side. That honor went to a special young man named Johnny Bizarre.

Well done, gents — you’re all winners in Metro’s eyes. World peace for everyone!

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