Snoqualmie Valley city leaders, business representatives and residents attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new District 4 hospital on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

More than 125 people attended the ceremony, which marked the beginning of construction for the building.

Gregory Malcolm, executive director of Encompass, was the master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking. Speakers included Dick Jones, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Board of Commissioners president; Matt Larson, mayor of Snoqualmie; Larry Benaroya, manager of the Benaroya Companies; and Mary Selecky, Washington State Secretary of Health from 1998 until April of this year.

The hospital, which is scheduled to open in late 2014, will feature 25 single-occupancy rooms and expanded departments for patient services.

Larry Benaroya, Manager of The Benaroya Companies, the hospital developer, speaks at the commemoration.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson commemorates the moment.

Gregory Malcolm, director of Encompass, takes the podium.

Kathy Battey and Gloria McNeely, part of the audience at the Sept. 25 groundbreaking.