Remembering George
CARMEL – For the 37th consecutive year, George’s Place, a popular restaurant in downtown Carmel opened its doors to provide a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner for some 97 area residents who had no place to go for the holidays.
The celebration began when the late George Pourakis held the first “George’s Thanksgiving” to say “thank you” to a community that came to his assistance following a devastating fire that destroyed his business in 1981.
Since that time, George and in recent years, his son Gus and his family have opened their restaurant on Thanksgiving afternoon to provide a delicious meal to groups ranging in size from 35 to 100.
Gus Pourakis said Thanksgiving would not be the same for his immediate family if the restaurant was not open to serve those in need of a holiday dinner: “Isn’t this what Thanksgiving is all about?
Karen agreed: “It makes you feel good inside knowing that your kindness is making the day special for someone else. When I look around and see these happy people I thank God each year that we have decided to open our business for those with no place to go. It’s a tradition that hopefully will last forever.
George Tar of Lake Peekskill enjoyed the repast with his friends, Frances Pilorer of Putnam Valley and Nadia Soltys of Carmel while Lars and Ellen Osterling of Carmel dined with their friends on the home cooked dinner.
Two other regular guests, Marvin Novinsky and Norman Offeney, gave thanks to the Pourakis family.
“It is wonderful being welcomed like this. Thanksgiving is truly special,” said Novinsky while Offeney added: “Nice meal and great hosts have made Thanksgiving really special for us.”
