On Friday, April 10, more than 100 guests joined the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital staff for the official ribbon cutting at the new hospital.

Ben Lindekugel, executive director of the Washington Public Hospital Districts, filled in for Mary Selecky, retired secretary of health, as the guest speaker. Lindekugel described the new hospital as an “incredible undertaking and great success,” and “the end of a process, also the beginning of a new era… this is not your father’s hospital.”

As health care changes, he urged the hospital to celebrate its accomplishments.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, hospital CEO Rodger McCollum and COO Tom Parker also spoke at the event. Larson described the hospital as an “economic anchor” of the valley, resulting in 200 jobs and $100 million stimulus over the last 10 years.

An open house for the public to visit the new facilities will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 19. The festivities will include teddy-bear checkups, prizes, tours and a chance to perform a “Skittlectomy.” The hospital is located at 9801 Frontier Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie. For more information, visit www.snoqualmiehospital.org.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson speaks at the ribbon cutting.

Members of the Danny Kolke Trio, from left, Danny Kolke, Will Crandell, and Jonathan Henriksen, performed during the event.

Ben Lindekugel, executive director of the Washington Public Hospital Districts, was the guest speaker at the event.