Groton Senior Center Serves Thanksgiving Lunch [VIDEO]

Lew Hare started cooking at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

He had to make Thanksgiving lunch for 130 people, so he had to start early, even though the pies were made.

This was supposed to be his retirement job - working as kitchen supervisor at the Groton Senior Center - but he's stayed 20 years.

"I am done," he said, putting the last of the turkey and stuffing together at 10:30 a.m.

He made turkey, stuffing, gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, turnips, squash, cranberries and rolls. He had help with the pies: pumpkin, apple, blueberry, and fruits of forest.

Fruits of what? "It's a combination of fruit. Very nice. Very nice," he said.

Elsie Gardner, of Groton, said she never misses the annual lunch. "I'm just looking forward to the turkey and the cranberry sauce," she said.

"He's a great, great cook," said Marion Hatch, of Groton.

Hare retired from Connecticut College as manager of the dining service, and before that was co-owner of Sailor Ed's in Mystic. He's just always liked cooking.

The hard part comes later.

"Cleaning up," he said.