November tradition calls for a thanksgiving lunch and the celebration of Nellie Williams’ birthday at the Whidbey News-Times.

But this year’s celebration carried with is an extra-special occasion: Nellie’s 100th birthday. Among the big names that attended were Chester Cheetah, who deposited half a dozen bags of Nellie’s favorite Cheetos snacks in her lap.

Mayor Jim Slowik and Councilmen Jim Palmer also took part in the festivities and honored Nellie by naming the street behind her home Williams Ave, after her surname.

Former News-Times owner Wallie Funk and past and present employees gathered to feast and give thanks for Nellie, who started working at the News-Times in 1953.

And KING 5 News recorded it all. Be sure to tune in to channel 5 at 5 or 6:30 p.m. to catch KING 5’s coverage of Nellie’s special centennial celebration.