Valley Record SNOQUALMIE
101RS YEA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014 n DAILY UPDATES AT WWW.VALLEYRECORD.COM n 75 CENTS
Never a dull moment Year in Review shows 2014 was filled with sirens, smiles, striving and change
Bend, to Snoqualmie Valley hospital’s exploration of a sale, to transitions at Boxley’s, Encompass, Snoqualmie Fire Department, the Snoqualmie City Council, the year was filled with excitement and change, sirens and smiles. Follow the big events of the year in the Valley Record’s Year in Review.
BY CAROL LADWIG AND SETH TRUSCOTT
PHOTOS
SPORTS
Valley Record Staff
They got heart: Cedarcrest girls step it up for needed win Page 10
See our top photos of the year in two-page retrospective Pages 8-9
INDEX Opinion 4 5 Puzzles On the Scanner 6 Classifieds 11-14 15 Calendar
Vol. 101, No. 32
The year that ends today was far from quiet, at least when it came to the news. From the April explosion that flattened buildings in downtown North Bend, yet amazingly left just one person with light injuries, to the police changeover in North
January • A bear hopped the fence of a neighborhood in the Heights neighborhood of Snoqualmie Ridge, and was chased away by a small dog. The dog followed— SEE REVIEW, 2
Seth Truscott/File Photo
King County Sheriff’s officers inspect the rubble of the former Pizza Place on East North Bend Way early Friday, April 25. A natural gas explosion leveled the restaurant, burning down a next-door barbershop and spreading damage and debris for blocks.
First steps Encompass Executive Director Nela Cumming talks about goals, growth, love for new role BY CAROL LADWIG Staff Reporter
What Encompass is best known for is its work with children and families, particularly low-income families and children with developmental struggles. Business strategy and innovation probably don’t make the top of the list, and that’s just fine with Nela Cumming, executive director of Encompass. To her, Encompass is its staff, and they are “very, very knowledgeable about early childhood development and developmental therapies, and they love kids. That’s the most important part.” Don’t think the cold hard analytical business functions are forgotten, though. Cumming just puts them into their rightful place, in serving the organization’s higher priorities.
Carol Ladwig/Staff Photo
Nela Cumming, Encompass executive director, works at her office in December. The Valley-based preschool and children’s organization serves more than 1,000 children, but is eager to help the many more children who need its services. “We’re very proud of the fact that we’re for every child,” says Cumming, executive director. “If your child has special needs, we’re great at that. If your child is typically developing, we’re still great at that. Anything, for any kind of
child, we’re trying to be the go-to.” Until earlier this year, Cumming herself specialized in early learning for children with developmental challenges, as the director of pediatric therapy. She was named the interim executive director in July,
when directory Gregory Malcolm left the organization for an opportunity with Swedish Hospital, and the Encompass board made her role official Dec. 1. SEE ENCOMPASS, 5
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