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Tuesday, 03 November 2026
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Written by Jamie Bishop
A grilled cheese sandwich may last only a few minutes. The comfort attached to it can reach much farther--back to childhood kitchens, familiar hands, and the feeling that someone cared enough to make something warm.
That connection sits at the center of the second annual Grilled Cheese Festival, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom in Hope Mills. The fundraiser brings food trucks, music, children's activities, local vendors, and craft beer pairings together in support of the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County.
"Grilled cheese is more than comfort food," said Mary Sonnenberg, president of the Partnership. "For many of us, it brings back memories of home, childhood and being cared for. Those same feelings of security, connection and support are at the heart of the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County's mission."
That mission is to empower families, advance children's well-being and strengthen Cumberland County's early care and education system. The organization helps families connect with childcare, early education, developmental support, parenting resources and other services. Sonnenberg said the need is not always a lack of programs; sometimes it is the difficulty of finding them and navigating several systems at once.
"A lack of transportation can make it difficult to reach a childcare provider," she said. "Limited childcare availability can affect a parent's ability to work. A work schedule may prevent a family from attending an appointment or completing an application during regular business hours."
The festival gives the Partnership an inviting way to make those resources more visible. Sonnenberg calls it both a fundraiser and a "friend raiser," an opportunity to meet families, welcome new supporters and turn a shared meal into lasting advocacy.
"People may come for the cheese, but we hope they stay connected to the cause," she said.
Daniele Malvesti Petti, the Partnership's community engagement administrator, provided the detailed competition and attendee information for the event. Five contenders will compete for the Big Cheese crown. Defending champion Bus Stop Melts returns with a classic blend of sharp cheddar, Muenster and smoked Gouda. Cousins Maine Lobster will add Maine lobster to its entry. Once Upon a Bite | Bookish Bistro will serve a sandwich inspired by "A Court of Thorns and Roses," while G-Ma's Fried Ribs & Southern Cooking combines pulled pork with macaroni and cheese. Household Catering 6 will offer vegan tomato-basil provolone and a turkey patty melt.
Ticket holders receive tokens that may be exchanged for samples at dedicated grab-and-go lines. Guests can spread their tokens among several competitors or return to a favorite, then vote for the second annual Big Cheese Champion. The food trucks will also sell items from their regular menus, and Dirtbag Ales will offer a suggested beer pairing for each competition sandwich.
Tickets are available at ccpfc.org/cheesy. Packages include four- and seven-sample options. On festival day, a four-sample package will cost $20 and must be purchased electronically through QR codes posted at the event. Tasting tokens cannot be used for beer, drinks, merchandise, or regular-menu purchases.
Five-Star Entertainment will provide music throughout the afternoon. The event will also include children's activities, a marketplace of local vendors and opportunities to learn about the Partnership's programs. Parking is available on the Dirtbag Ales property, and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. The festival is expected to continue in light rain, with a covered pavilion and other sheltered areas available. Severe weather could delay or modify activities.
The first festival sold more than 500 tickets and generated nearly $12,000 in cash and in-kind support. Sonnenberg said those resources strengthened outreach, family engagement, and connections to early-learning services. This year's proceeds will help address needs that traditional funding may not cover while expanding awareness of assistance already available.
The work continues after the last sandwich is served. Businesses can sponsor family events, donate children's books or professional services, encourage employees to volunteer and invite the Partnership into other community gatherings. Sonnenberg pointed to Little Land 2027, scheduled for March 13 at the Crown Expo Center, and story times at the Partnership's Learning Library as additional opportunities to participate.
"When businesses invest in children, they are also investing in the future workforce, resilience and overall strength of our community," she said.
Success on Nov. 7 will be counted in dollars and attendance, but not by those measures alone. It will also appear in the parent who discovers a useful resource, the customer who meets a local business and the guest who leaves understanding that a child's strong start is a community responsibility.
The sandwiches will disappear. The champion will be crowned. If the afternoon works as intended, the relationships formed around those tables will remain, carrying the warmth of a familiar meal into work that helps Cumberland County's children thrive.
(Photo: Mary Sonnenberg, president of the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, left, presents Bus Stop Melts owner Kerry Washburn with the Big Cheese award at the 2025 Grilled Cheese Festival. Photo courtesy of Mary Sonnenberg)
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Tuesday, 03 November 2026
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Written by Sheila D Barker
For 35 years, Cumberland Choral Arts has brought together voices, created musical experiences that connected generations, and celebrated artistic traditions. Now, as they embark on their 2026-2027 anniversary season, they are honoring their history while embracing new opportunities for growth under the leadership of artistic director Curt Kinzey.
The anniversary season is titled "It's About Time" and features seven concerts, which started in October and continue through to May. The season will showcase everything from beloved classical masterpieces to contemporary compositions and truly celebrates the diversity of choral music.
For Sandy Cage, president of the Cumberland Choral Arts Board of Directors, the milestone represents much more than three and a half decades of performances.
"CCA's 35th anniversary is a time to celebrate our musical history while looking toward the future," Cage said. "What began as community singers coming together to perform Mozart's Requiem in 1991 became the Cumberland Oratorio Singers and evolved into Cumberland Choral Arts, a dynamic organization that brings people of all ages together through the transformative power of song."
Throughout its history, the organization has cemented its part in Fayetteville's cultural landscape, collaborating with other artistic groups such as the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Cape Fear Regional Theatre. They also bring music into the community through appearances at Festival Park and local sporting events.
"This milestone represents the dedication of generations of singers, artistic leaders, audience members and donors who have sustained and enriched our organization," Cage said.
The anniversary season opened on Oct. 17 with "Time Pieces" at the Hay Street United Methodist Church. The sanctuary was filled with audience members and the performance featured the premiere of Song of Life, a newly commissioned work by local composer Theodore Schwamm.
The opening concert also introduced audiences to the newly expanded Fayetteville Youth Chorus, whose junior and senior ensembles brought 75 young voices to the stage. The opening performance established the season's central theme of time and explored the passage of time through music.
"Our season theme 'It's About Time' covers beginnings, minutes, middles, and evening, seasons, stages, and endings while still celebrating 35 years of Cumberland Choral Arts," Cape explained.
Among the season's most anticipated concerts is the December 12 performance of George Frideric Handel's Messiah, presented in collaboration with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. This will mark the first time Kinzey will conduct the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. The performance will also introduce four soloists new to the production.
The season will continue with "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in February, a musical journey through Black history with selections from movies and musicals. "All We Need is Love" will be the March concert and "Along the Way" performance in April. The season will conclude in May with Johannes Brahms ' Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem).
Unlike traditional requiems that focus on prayers for the deceased, Brahms' pieces talk of the comfort, consolation and peace for those who are experiencing loss. This monumental piece will feature an orchestra and two professional soloists.
For Kinzey, stepping into the artistic director position during such a significant anniversary presents an opportunity to build on an already strong foundation.
"It's wonderful that I'm inheriting an engine that's already firing on all cylinders," Kinzey said. "Stepping into an organization with 35 years of momentum is an absolute gift."
Kinzey brings experience conducting military and professional ensembles, a background that has helped shape his commitment to musical precision, discipline and artistic excellence. However, he also recognizes that directing a volunteer community choir requires something beyond technical expertise.
"What makes CCA so incredibly special is that these singers are volunteering their time purely out of love for the craft," he said. "My role is to balance that pursuit for precision with the authentic, heartfelt joy and sense of community they bring to rehearsals every single week. When you combine discipline with passion, magic can happen."
That combination of musical excellence and personal connection is central to his vision of the organization.
"It is entirely the sense of family. There is a rare and beautiful warmth in this group." Kinzey said. "The singers care just as much about the person standing next to them on the risers as they do about the music on the page."
One of the most significant developments in CCA's recent history has been its commitment to giving young singers the opportunity to learn and perform.
12 years ago, the organization created the Cambellton Youth Chorus to fill the need for accessible community choral education. This program has since expanded and was renamed the Fayetteville Youth Chorus.
This youth program now includes two ensembles. The Junior Choir serves students in grades four through six and is under the direction of Lisa Packer. The Senior Choir serves students in grades seven through twelve under the direction of Richard Butler. Both ensembles offer high-quality choral instruction and performance opportunities without any tuition costs for the participating families.
For Kinzey, expanding the youth program is an essential part of ensuring that Cumberland Choral Arts will continue to thrive for generations to come.
"Looking ahead, I hope to expand our educational footprint through the Fayetteville Youth Chorus, giving our youth a truly transformative musical home," he said.
As the organization looks toward its next chapter, the anniversary season serves as both a celebration of its past and a reminder that the most meaningful musical experiences are created not simply by the notes on the page, but also by the people who come together to sing them.
For the full concert schedule, performance details, and ticket information, be sure to visit the Cumberland Choral Arts website at https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/.
(Photo: Cumberland Choral Arts performs "Time Pieces" at an Oct. 17, 2026 concert at Hay Street United Methodist Church. The concert included a commissioned work by local composer Theodore Schwamm. Photo courtesy of Sandy Cage, president of the Cumberland Choral Arts Board of Directors)
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