Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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14 UCW AUGUST 9 - 15, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM This summer has been the first season of Cape Fear Botanical Garden's Third Thursday series. Every Third Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., the Garden stays open late and hosts a special event. "We have been able to bring in different groups of people who have never been to the Garden before, and that was our goal. So in that way, yes, it's been successful," said Taryn Hughes, marketing manager. "We are hoping to continue our attendance growth and have the com- munity know where to go on every Third Thursday of the month!" This month's Third Thurs- day is on Aug. 17 and is Latin Soiree-themed. Anna Fiore of A la Fiore Arts will lead Rueda de Casino, which is an energetic Cuban group dance. "Our first Third Thursday was Tango unTapped, where Anna showcased the evolution of tango and also taught them how to do the traditional tango steps," Hughes said. "However, this Third Thursday is not so much a showcase, but a get up and dance event." Admission is free with en- trance into the garden. Anna Fiore is the founder of A la Fiore Arts. She has a background in fitness, move- ment and the arts. She spe- cializes in yoga, Latin dance, acro yoga and aerial acrobat- ics. "Through her mission as a local artist and educator, she strives to inspire people to understand the connections between various movement styles and, ideally, explore these ideas through personal engagement and participa- tion," Hughes said. "Through intentional movement, we increase our body's aware- ness, and from this awareness grows greater respect for our bodies and ourselves. Inevi- tably, this respect inspires us to make decisions that lead to healthier, happier and more balanced lives." My Boricau Kitchen will provide delicious Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine for the night. There will also be a cash bar. "The cash bar has a variety of beer and wine selections," Hughes said. "We do carry local brews from Dirtbag Ales, their IPA, Mo- cha and Kolsh. My Boricua Kitchen will provide the nonalcoholic beverages such as water and tea." All audience members, regardless of experience, are invited to take part in dancing and learning Rueda de Casino. "While dancing can be intimi- dating, it's a whole lot of fun," Hughes said. "Don't worry about your dance level, Anna is a phenom- enal teacher and will make sure you enjoy yourself! We welcome all dance levels and hope to see every- one out there dancing. If you don't feel comfortable dancing, no worries, you're welcome to walk the grounds or just sit and relax and watch everyone else dance." The last Third Thursday of this summer takes place on Sept. 21. The theme is Foodscaping 101. Brie Arthur, an author and horticulturalist, will ex- plain how to turn your yard into edible landscaping that can provide you and your family with produce. Find out more at w w w.capefearbg.org. Cape Fear Botanical Garden Hosts a Latin Soiree by ERINN CRIDER EVENTS ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. (910) 484-6200. Cape Fear Botanical Garden is set to host Third Thursday on Aug. 17. On Aug. 25, Operation Ceasefire is set to host a free movie night. Operation Ceasefire is a program with a clear and central goal: to reduce violent crime in Fayetteville and Cumberland County by reducing gun and gang violence. While this issue is immediately and viscer- ally important, it is also complicated. Operation Ceasefire employs a three-tiered strategy fo- cused on intervention, suppression and preven- tion. Each tier focuses on a different aspect of the community so that everyone affected can be fully engaged in creating a solution. The intervention tier is about being proactive and stopping violent crime before it happens. Operation Ceasefire identifies probationers with histories that suggest they could become involved with violent crime. Then they use tools like "call-ins" to help connect the probationers with resources and programs that offer training, counseling and treatment. According to Operation Ceasefire, statistics show that without any help, most offenders will be imprisoned again within three years of their last conviction. Connecting ex-offenders with these resources helps both the individuals involved and the wider community. Having the support of these programs can help people make the difficult transition away from a life of drugs and violence, which makes for a safer city for everyone. For this to happen, for the program to be successful and for the cycle to be broken, the entire commu- nity needs to be involved. Operation Ceasefire calls specifically for businesses willing to hire ex-felons and organizations that can assist with daily needs and challenges. The suppression tier involves teamwork. Opera- tion Ceasefire and Violent Crimes Taskforce work together to identify repeat violent offenders to ensure that they face prosecution. While there are many programs available to help people turn away from violence, it's impossible to force people to take advantage of them. In these instances, the com- munity still needs to be protected. The Taskforce focuses specifically on cases where firearms were recovered in Cumberland County. In a year, they have submitted over 50 cases to the United States Attorney's Office for prosecution so that dangerous individuals can be removed from the area to serve their sentences in federal prison. The third and final tier is prevention and out- reach. Operation Ceasefire has a series of pro- grams that are designed to engage the community, particularly the youth. It focuses on teaching gun safety and building positive relationships with law enforcement. Officers get involved with after- school activities and work to educate the youth on gun safety and the consequences of gun violence. The aim is not to reduce the legal possession of firearms. The goal is to create a safe, well-prepared and informed community. The outdoor movies shown on movie nights are entirely free. The next movie night is at Hope Mills Recreation Center at 5776 Rockfish Rd. The event will last from 7 to 10 p.m. All the movies in the series are family-friendly. The only goal here is to build a healthy community relationship between neighbors and local law enforcement. Participants are encouraged to make the viewing experience more comfortable by bringing chairs and blankets to enjoy the outdoor venue. Find out more at http://operationceasefire.com. Operation Ceasefire: Creating Safer Communities by ERINN CRIDER Operation Ceasefire's next movie night is on Aug. 25 at Hope Mills Rec. Center.