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Local Photographer Zooms in on His Neighborhood's Natural Beauty

Bill Stankus starts photo blog to help preserve part of Woodinville's character.

When news broke that the , Woodinville's Bill Stankus decided that he had to make a photographic record of the neighborhood - his neighborhood - so that people would be able to remember and appreciate his little slice of Woodinville the way it was.

"I'm just going to go out and take pictures of the area as often as I can," Stankus said about his initial inspiration.

Stankus said that he wants to show people what the neighborhood is like, warts and all, and make a photographic record of its natural beauty and unique character.

Stankus, who once dreamed of being the next Ansel Andams, said that he's always had a particular sensitivity for nature photography. That shows in his images of vibrant green fields, local wildlife, and snow covered trees.

Stankus believes that it's these kinds of spaces that drew many of the region's residents to the Puget Sound, and he's concerned that some people seem too willing to just let them go in the name of progress.

"I think we realize that these places are good for health, good for sanity," Stankus said.

Stankus' work can be found on his Wellington Hills blog.

Have your own photos of Woodinville that you'd like to share? Head to the Pics and Clips page and upload your own photograpic memories.

Annie Archer (Editor) August 7, 2012 at 09:20 pm
Bill, I love the idea of recorded what our neighborhoods look like. I'll be out tonight and take some photos of downtown.
Alice C August 7, 2012 at 09:41 pm
Bill - what a shame the natural greenscape is going to be destroyed. Thank you for your photos!
Ron Olson August 8, 2012 at 12:19 am
Better news! Woodinville has a potential buyer/developer for the Woodinville Wine Village property. This is really good news for Woodinville taxpayers since the wine village is already in the city limits. Maybe now we can drop the idea of annexing agricultural land and work to develop the 20 acre parcel for a Woodinville resident instead of spending Woodinville tax dollars trying to annex properties owned by non-residents.
Annie Archer (Editor) August 8, 2012 at 01:05 am
Wow Ron, tell us more! Where did you hear about this and where can we find out more!
Ron Olson August 8, 2012 at 01:45 am
The developer spoke during public comment time at this evening's Woodinville council meeting. This can open up 20+ acres of land already within the city limits for the tourist district and a hotel. The city spent millions of dollars on road improvements right at that intersection. We need to direct city staff to stop spending Woodinville tax money time assisting John Corrado and his push to develop rural and agricultural land, and get down to business supporting our own landowners.
Annie Archer (Editor) August 8, 2012 at 01:19 pm
Thanks Ron!
Local Guy August 8, 2012 at 01:31 pm
This is good news indeed...
Ron Olson August 9, 2012 at 11:07 am
Having somebody interested in the Woodinville Wine Village is one thing, getting actual support from the Woodinville council and staff will be difficult. Woodinville, along with a local realtor and a former mayor, have been pushing hard to annex properties in the Sammamish Valley suggesting the city is in dire need of additional land for the tourist business. One of the strongest voices for annexation has openly discounted the Wine Village as a viable option for expansion of the commercial tourist business by saying: "To me it became very apparent at the meeting Thursday night that the legal grounds the HH Association etc. is going to use to fight the UGB changes is that Woodinville has vacant land that can be used for a hotel and the wine village project has a hotel in the development agreement with the City. Marsha Martin from the HH Association told Kathy Lambert that they were going to sue and they will.
Is the City going to respond to the County as to reasons why other vacant land IN THE City is not suitable? For example - Wine Village: upscale hotel vs. mid price hotel and in litigation with the City and in foreclosure Then probably a new development agreement with the City. (5 – 7 years before anything will happen). Other property in the city is not suitable because of location – not adjacent to the agriculture lands for tourist experience. Canterbury is multi-family. Hotels don’t want to locate in the industrial area that has the tourist overlay".
Ron Olson August 9, 2012 at 11:07 am
These comments should be under a new heading...Wine Village developer?
Annie Archer (Editor) August 9, 2012 at 01:18 pm
We are working on a story on the new developer interested in the Wine Village.
Ron Olson August 9, 2012 at 02:47 pm
Is the developer aware that the Wine Village will be direct competition for the annexation effort of Agricultural and Rural land in the valley? Granted, Woodinville taxpayers will be delighted. But given the politics in Woodinville and the great influence a realtor and former mayor have with Woodinville staff, I wonder if the developer will be given the support they deserve.
Dave Henry August 9, 2012 at 04:28 pm
The potential developer, Paul Taylor, is a A+ Class act, a first rate person, high integrity, with a moral compass and very successful developer. Owned Cadman Sand and Gravel years ago. Contributes greatly to the communities he invests in.
Understands the impact on each community he develops. Woodinville just hit the DEVELOPER LOTTERY and will benefit greatly from his involvement.
Can't Bury Me August 9, 2012 at 05:10 pm
I’ve been around Woodinville long enough to know not to count the chickens before they hatch. The woman who led the now bankrupt Frontier Bank that financed the previous village developer has a history for suing other land owners (fixed-income elderly people) and developers—especially when they look like they might have a chance to be successful.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Margaret Coombs Hughes June 18, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Nicely written Angela! Nicely written.
Margaret Coombs Hughes June 18, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Hello Mr. Francois and NSD School Board, I have been keeping an open mind about the choice ofRead More Wednesday as the early release day. I kept an open mind, but not so open that my brains fell out. I voted for Friday for a reason. Not to take my child out of school early or in hopes that teachers would see it as a day off, but because it made the most sense for my family. Wednesday wasn't a horrible day and was my 2nd choice. Personally, now, after reviewing others input, your input and doing some thinking on my own, I believe you made the wrong choice. Your parents have brains, we are educated and we gave you our opinion and trusted that you would actually use the poll data wisely. You failed us, therefore you failed our children. It is okay so say you made a mistake, that is what we teach our children. Please tell your parents you made a mistake and make Friday early release day for the new school year. Positively hopeful! Margaret Hughes Woodinville, WA
Atammayatarama Buddhist Monastery June 17, 2013 at 01:15 pm
Please note this is not a religious activity. YOUR GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THOUGHTS, FEELINGS,Read More SENSATIONS, AND EMOTIONS IN SILENT MEDITATION, AND WITH MINDFULNESS THROUGH-OUT THE DAY.
auran June 13, 2013 at 09:14 am
We did not see the cougar recently, but interestingly saw one in the same location several monthsRead More ago.
Gail June 12, 2013 at 06:15 pm
No-brainer, switch to someone else. And tell everyone else to do so too. Like you already are here.
DebbieKat June 12, 2013 at 07:10 pm
I've been using BECU for 13 years and they are awesome. I also have an account with Alaska FederalRead More Credit Union. They're decent too.
Photo credit:  Scott Garside
Torrey June 10, 2013 at 07:49 am
We saw one land in Wilmot Gateway Park on Saturday morning.
Lisa Baumann (Editor) June 10, 2013 at 08:52 am
Cool Torrey. Thanks for sharing!
Don Means June 10, 2013 at 03:01 pm
I have lived in Woodinville for over18 years. For around 5 years after we moved there on any warmRead More summer night you could look up and see at least 3 balloons and many times 4,5,6 or 7 of them but that all stopped abruptly one year. The explanation we got was that the balloonist were following the French historical practice of awarding a bottle of champagne to any land owner who's land they happened to land on. Well, the state couldn't allow that since the balloonist had no liquor license. Don't you just love government?