Community Corner

Marshmallow Pit, Bunnies And Ballerinas, Broadway Star: NoVA Good News

Good news in NoVA this week includes Candytopia to sweeten Tysons, costumed students read children's books and best small towns to visit.

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Candytopia will bring a sweet experience to Tysons Corner Center beginning in mid-March.
Candytopia will bring a sweet experience to Tysons Corner Center beginning in mid-March. (Courtesy of Candytopia)

VIRGINIA — This week's good news stories in Virginia include costumed students reading books to children at Alexandria's Charles Barrett Elementary School, Candytopia bringing delicious fun to Tysons Corner Center, and a 10-year-old actor and hockey player meeting Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin.

Plus, read about a Broadway star conducting a workshop with students at Marshall High School's Statesmen Theatre, a McLean native opening a new smoothie shop in his hometown, some best small towns in the U.S. to visit, and the Town of Vienna and the City of Falls Church battling to win the Mayors Fitness Challenge.

Here are some of this week's good news headlines:

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Candytopia Brings Sweet Life To Tysons Corner Center

Tysons Corner Center shoppers will get the taste of the sweet life as a new candy experience opens in mid-March. Candytopia will have 14 interactive experiences as well as photo opps and tastes of candy favorites. The 16,000-square-foot space will be open for a limited time starting in mid-March through May. Some of the Candytopia experiences at Tysons Corner Center will include a candy art gallery, candy confetti room, marshmallow pit and candy samples.

Costumed Shark, Bunny, Ballerina Read To Students In Alexandria

Children at Alexandria's Charles Barrett Elementary School were in for a treat Thursday as costumed students read books to them for Read Across America Day. Read Across America is a nationwide event to encourage love of reading. It also falls on the birthday of Dr. Seuss, the popular children's book author.

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'Last Of Us' Actor, Aspiring Hockey Player Meets Capitals' Ovechkin

A look of surprise appeared on 10-year-old Keivonn Woodard's face as he entered the room and saw Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. Woodard, a deaf Prince George's County, Maryland, native who acts on the HBO series "The Last of Us," is also an aspiring hockey player. A forward on the Bowie Bruins, Woodard was named one of the Capitals Youth Hockey Rising Stars recognized for making strides for Black hockey players.

McLean Native To Open Smoothie Shop In Chesterbrook Shopping Center

South Block, an acai bowl, smoothie and juice shop, will be opening a new location on Monday, March 6 in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean. Amir Mostafavi, CEO and founder of South Block, grew up in McLean, where is parents owned and operated Box Office Video in the Langley Shopping Center for more than 20 years.

Broadway Star Helps Marshall Students Prepare For Spring Musical

As Marshall High School's Statesmen Theatre prepares for its spring musical "Xanadu," there was no one better to help than one of the musical's Broadway stars. Kerry Butler, who has played roles in Broadway musical premieres like "Hairspray," "Xanadu," "Mean Girls" and "Beetlejuice," visited the high school theater program on Feb. 17. Butler did a musical workshop with students after doing a similar workshop for Oakton High School's upcoming musical "Mean Girls."

3 VA Cities On 'America's Favorite Small Towns To Visit' List

Three Virginia communities have made the list of America's favorite small towns to visit. FamilyDestinationsGuide.com surveyed 3,000 families to pinpoint the top 150 towns across the country where they'd like to vacation this year.

Spring Is In The Air

Who Will Win The Fitness Crown?

Pet Rescues And Festivals

Bars And Restaurants

A Few More Good News Stories:

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