F.C. Bulletin, Feb. 14, 2025: Tysons Casino, Homestretch, Falls Church Arts
Tysons Casino Update
Quick update on the Tysons Casino bill (Virginia, SB 982) on which we reported Feb. 10 here:
Christopher Jones
It died in committee.
However, it's likely to return next legislative session and, technically, could still be voted out of committee for a General Assembly plenary vote by Tuesday, Feb. 18.
"For the third straight legislative session, efforts to win passage of a bill that would start the process of building a casino in Fairfax County have failed," the Falls Church Patch reported Feb. 12. "Members of the Commerce, Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee in the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously late Wednesday to pass by Senate Bill 982, so it will not proceed in the current legislative session, Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax) told Patch."
Per the Patch, Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) spoke in opposition to the casino bill on Wednesday, issuing the following statement after the bill floundered in committee:
"I was pleased the House Appropriations Committee took the action to kill the casino proposal. All along it was an unvetted project. There was absolutely no guarantee that labor protections would happen," Boysko said. "There was not a legitimate independent study that provided analysis. And finally, forcing one specific location for a major land use with zero buy-in from the community doomed the project from the start."
"Tysons and the Silver Line corridor have, I would argue, the most economically robust business climate in the Commonwealth and were carefully planned with community input," Boysko continued. "A casino is not an appropriate land use there. My constituents have been contacting me to say how grateful they are that the bill has died."
Labor unions in Virginia have generally voiced approval for the Tysons Casino project, however, because of the jobs potential.
Lynne Mulston, chair of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition, concurred with Boysko: "This bill was not requested by the local government, unlike the five other casinos that were authorized. [It's] the product of a local developer who stands to benefit from the carefully crafted language of the bill that targets his holdings and possibly one other nearby site. Further, the idea of a casino has been rejected by thousands of residents of the county, who believe that a casino does not comport with the long term plans for Tysons.”
Before the bill was layed to rest for this session, SB 982's chief proponent, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) urged the subcommittee to green light the Tysons Casino as a major revenue generator. “We need this kind of project in Fairfax County to bring tourists, come and spend their money in our state, to support our Metro and support our economy,” Surovell said, according to The Patch. “For the state in authorizing this, there's $2.3 billion per decade of money for school construction, a lot more of that for the general fund."
Homestretch's Kidstretch Program Among Virginia's Top 3 %
Last August, we reported on Homestretch – one of the Little City's most laudable teaching and support centers – whose mission is to "build a better world through education," and for 34 years has been "helping families experiencing homelessness in Virginia [to] become self-sufficient by giving them the skills, knowledge and hope they need to become productive participants in the community." Here's the piece:
Christopher Jones
One of Homestretch's most successful programs is Kidstretch, a Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) classroom – a state initiative that provides access to high-quality preschool programs for 4-year-olds with eligible incomes. VPI programs support school readiness and success in kindergarten and beyond.
"Kidstretch provides a secure, enriching environment for children while their parents work, pursue education, or participate in other Homestretch programming, ensuring that each family has the opportunity to build a stable and prosperous future," Homestretch says.
In a recent press release, Homestretch announced that Kidstretch has "received an “Exceeds Expectations” rating from the Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) system, placing it among the top three percent of preschools and childcare programs in the state. Of the 3,121 sites evaluated across Virginia, Kidstretch is one of only 79 programs to achieve this distinction.
Virginia’s VQB5 rating system rigorously assesses childcare and early education sites across the state to ensure high-quality learning experiences for children. The “Exceeds Expectations” designation recognizes sites that go above and beyond in fostering a supportive, engaging and developmentally appropriate environment for young children. "This honor highlights Kidstretch’s commitment to educational excellence and its impactful role in preparing children for success in school and beyond," Homestretch said.
“At Homestretch, we’re serious about breaking cycles of poverty,” said Barfonce Baldwin, executive director of Homestretch. “By equipping homeless families with financial education and tools, we offer them a pathway to regain control of their finances and rebuild their lives. Kidstretch’s recent rating underscores the impact of high-quality early education in empowering families facing homelessness to build brighter futures.”
"While Kidstretch serves families in the Homestretch program, it's also open to the public and provides full-time care to children regardless of their economic status," Homestretch says. "Kidstretch values diversity and believes it's beneficial for children to interact with one another regardless of their families’ economic, social, or religious backgrounds. Homestretch’s small, state-licensed preschool program is a hidden gem in Falls Church City, particularly for working families."
For more information on Homestretch, Kidstretch and how to support or get involved, please visit https://www.homestretchva.org. Homestretch and Kidstretch and located at: 303 S. Maple Ave.
Falls Church Arts: Lindsay's 'Full Circle in Blue' Wins People's Choice Award in 'Full Circle' Exhibition
Michael Lindsay was voted the People’s Choice Award-winner for his acrylic painting, “Full Circle in Blue,” on display at the gallery of Falls Church Arts through Feb. 23. His painting is one of 42 featured in Full Circle, a multi-media exhibit, which "explores the circle or the concept of 'coming full circle.'"
In his artist statement, Michael shares insights about himself. “As someone with autism who has trouble expressing themselves, I often feel like I’m talking in circles, with no one understanding. Expressing yourself through art is so freeing, and these circles are free, never ending or giving up. They are also blue – which to me is the most beautiful color of all – shades of water, sky, and bluebells.”
Michael described his interest in colors. “I’ve always loved learning about colors. I like to know everyone’s favorite color and what it means to them. The color blue is my favorite. Blue brings me peace. It’s happy, calming and the color of many beautiful things. I always try to use some blue in my art. I love studying the great artists. My favorite painting is “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh. The way he paints the blue sky is an inspiration to me. Acrylic painting and paint pouring are my favorite mediums. I’ve been creating art since I was a child, both in school and taking lessons at home. I’m grateful to my teacher, Randa Fakes LoGerfo, for teaching me so much. Thank you for the honor. It’s an incredible feeling to know people saw my painting and it brought them happiness.”
To see Michael’s painting, visit Full Circle at the Falls Church Arts gallery at 700-B West Broad St. (Route 7), Falls Church. His painting can also be viewed online at https://fallschurcharts.org. Admission is free and the gallery is open Tuesdays-Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, contact info@fallschurcharts.org.
By Christopher Jones
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