🍇 Nonstop Options

Good morning, Spalding County!

Occasionally, a conversation reminds me that something I routinely complain about is actually something I’m lucky to have. This time, it was the Atlanta airport.

I was talking with a friend from out of town who was describing the better part of a day spent taking connecting flights just to get somewhere in the Midwest. Not some remote island. The Midwest. By the time you add up the flights, the layover, and the time spent waiting to board another plane, getting there becomes an event of its own.

Meanwhile, we have the world’s busiest airport just up the road, with enough nonstop options that I tend to consider a connecting flight a personal inconvenience. We are a little spoiled.

Of course, that is easy to forget when you’re paying for parking, inching through traffic, or discovering that your gate is apparently in another ZIP code. Nobody standing in a security line is thinking about how fortunate they are.

But being able to board one plane and get where you’re going is a pretty significant perk of living here. It can mean more time with family, an easier work trip, or a weekend away that doesn’t require sacrificing half of it to travel. So the next time I’m making that drive to the airport, I’ll try to remember that plenty of people have to catch a flight just to get to the place where our trip begins.

- Chad

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Three games into the season, neither Griffin nor Spalding has blinked. The Bears and Jaguars both improved to 3–0 on September 4, taking very different routes to another winning Friday. Griffin handled Northgate 35–3, giving the Bears their third straight victory and local fans plenty to celebrate. Spalding’s trip to Trinity Christian delivered considerably more suspense. The Jaguars escaped with a 34–33 win, protecting their lead by stopping a late two-point conversion. Camauri Berry powered the ground game with 172 rushing yards as Spalding piled up 348 yards rushing overall. One team won comfortably. The other had to hold its ground until the finish. Together, they kept Spalding County’s two public high school football programs perfect heading deeper into September.

Literacy shared the spotlight with line dancing at a Griffin-Spalding County Schools gathering on September 3, bringing families and staff together for an evening of learning, music, and connection. The district’s Literacy & Line Dancing Town Hall paired engaging literacy activities with a chance to enjoy music and spend time with others in the school community. In its recap, GSCS celebrated the combination and the families and employees who participated. The appeal was easy to understand: school involvement can include an evening people enjoy together. Giving reading a place alongside music and movement helped make literacy part of a shared community experience. For Griffin-Spalding families, the gathering offered a welcoming reason to show up, connect, and put learning at the center of the evening.

With the school year underway, Griffin-Spalding County Schools is putting September’s Attendance Awareness Month on the community’s radar. The district is encouraging families, teachers, staff, and neighbors to help make regular attendance a shared priority. Its message connects showing up with the opportunities students gain each day: time to learn, build relationships, participate in activities, and develop their potential. It is a straightforward focus with relevance well beyond September. A school year takes shape through ordinary days, and being present gives students more chances to take part in what their classrooms and school communities offer. GSCS is asking the community to carry that message together as the year continues, keeping consistent attendance connected to the larger goal of student success.

Monday & Thursday: Carver (610 Carver Rd) and Woodroof (4245 Old Atlanta Rd) 11am-7pm

Tuesday & Friday: Blalock (5756 Newnan Rd) and Cabin (3865 Jackson Rd)
11am-7pm

Saturday: All centers open 7am-1pm (plus Akin for bulky items only)

Sunday & Wednesday: Closed

Got big stuff? The Akin Collection Center (841 S McDonough Rd) is for bulky items only—no regular household garbage. Open Saturdays 7am-1pm.

All centers closed on county holidays.

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Shop the Griffin Grapevine tee and wear your hometown pride.

Griffin Downtown Development Authority Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 8, 8:15 AM
What: The authority will review downtown façade and business assistance grant applications, East Broad Street redevelopment properties, financial reports and the downtown hotel project.
Where: One Griffin Center, second-floor courtroom, 100 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Spalding County Board of Assessors Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 8, 9:00 AM
What: The board will consider homestead exemptions, a property assessment appeal seeking to proceed directly to Superior Court, a conservation-use assessment matter and an update on appeals.
Where: Spalding County Courthouse Annex, Room 108, 119 East Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

City of Griffin Cemetery Trust Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 8, 5:00 PM
What: The trust will consider entering a closed executive session to authorize negotiations to purchase, sell or lease property. The executive session will not be open to the public.
Where: W. Elmer George Municipal Hall, 100 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

City of Griffin Board of Commissioners Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 8, 6:00 PM
What: Commissioners will consider a $500,000 downtown property acquisition allocation, authorization for settlement negotiations over Flint River PFAS contamination, utility purchases and a Highway 16 lighting infrastructure agreement. Public comments are on the agenda.
Where: W. Elmer George Municipal Hall, 100 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Spalding County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 8, 6:00 PM
What: The board will hear the elections director’s report, consider approval of its June 23 meeting minutes and receive citizen comments. No new or old business is listed.
Where: Spalding County Courthouse Annex, Room 108, 119 East Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Griffin Historic Preservation Committee Meeting
When: Wednesday, September 9, 12:00 PM
What: The committee will hold a public hearing and consider a projecting blade sign at 208 West Broad Street. The agenda also includes approval of previous meeting minutes and a Main Street appointment.
Where: W. Elmer George Municipal Hall, 100 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Griffin Environmental Council Meeting
When: Thursday, September 10, 5:30 PM
What: The council advises city commissioners on protecting natural resources, reviews tree removal requests and promotes environmental education and community improvement projects. A detailed September agenda was not available when checked.
Where: City of Griffin Municipal Courtroom, second floor, 100 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA

Spalding County Parks & Leisure Services Advisory Commission Meeting
When: Thursday, September 10, 6:00 PM
What: The commission will consider replacement playground projects at Tyus Baseball and Sunnyside Park, review a senior center outdoor facility survey and revisit policies covering disciplinary appeals, photography and personal devices.
Where: Our Legacy Museum, 547 North Third Street, Griffin, GA 30223

The Griffin Library Book Club
When: Tuesday, September 8, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
What: Join the Griffin-Spalding Library Book Club at Myrtle’s Plot Twist for a discussion of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The evening offers readers an opportunity to share their thoughts about the book and connect with other local readers.
Where: Myrtle’s Plot Twist, 209 South 6th Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Campus Tree Symposium
When: Wednesday, September 9, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
What: Georgia Tree Council’s annual symposium brings together arborists, grounds professionals, educators, students, and tree advocates to explore healthy campus forests and community forestry. UGA Griffin and the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture host this year’s program. Online registration closed September 2; contact the organizer at 470-905-8650 about availability before making plans. Registration status.
Where: UGA Griffin Campus, Student Learning Center, Room 115, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Business Networking Lunch
When: Wednesday, September 9, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce hosts a casual networking lunch at LongHorn Steakhouse. Local business owners and professionals can meet over lunch and make new connections.
Where: LongHorn Steakhouse, 1653 North Expressway, Griffin, GA

Lunch and Learn: Native Plants
When: Wednesday, September 9, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
What: UGA Extension’s Spalding County office hosts Andrew Carroll for a discussion about native plants, their importance, and ways to incorporate them into home yards and gardens. The session also covers alternatives to common invasive plants. Admission is $10 and includes lunch. Call 770-467-4225 to register by Tuesday, September 8, and share any dietary restrictions.
Where: Spalding County Extension Office, 403 East Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Brightmoor Hospice Annual First Responder Appreciation Lunch
When: Thursday, September 10, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
What: Brightmoor Hospice honors Spalding and Pike County first responders with a complimentary appreciation lunch. First responders may stay and eat or take their meals to go, and door prizes are planned. Free for all first responders.
Where: Kiwanis Building at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds, 1025 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Flint River Astronomy Club Meeting
When: Thursday, September 10, 7:30 PM
What: The Flint River Astronomy Club gathers for its September meeting at the UGA Research and Education Garden. Club meetings feature astronomy education, with programs that can include talks, demonstrations, and telescope information. This meeting will also be available on Zoom.
Where: UGA Research and Education Garden, 129 Ellis Road, Griffin, GA 30223

12th Annual Doc Holliday Festival
When: Saturday, September 12, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What: The Doc Holliday Festival returns to Griffin City Park for a free day of barbecue, history and family entertainment. The festival will feature more than 30 professional teams competing in a Georgia Barbecue Association competition, along with a People’s Choice tasting where visitors can sample barbecue and vote for their favorite. Spurred West will perform three reenactments of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral while sharing the story of Griffin native John Henry “Doc” Holliday. A portion of the event’s proceeds will support the Spalding Collaborative for Families and Children.
Where: Griffin City Park, 601 Camp Northern Road, Griffin, GA 30224

Moonlight and Magnolias
When: Wednesday, September 16 – Sunday, September 27. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM.
What: Main Street Players opens its 2026-27 season with Moonlight and Magnolias, a fast-paced comedy set behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most famous films. Producer David O. Selznick has halted production of Gone With the Wind because he needs a new screenplay, so he pulls screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming away from their own work and locks them in his office. For five frantic days, the trio survives on bananas and peanuts while racing to rewrite the script. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors 55 and older, and $15 for students. The production runs for two weekends at Main Street Players’ intimate downtown Black Box Theatre.
Where: Main Street Players Black Box Theatre, 115 N. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

80° 🌡️ 69° | 🌦️ | 22% | 💨 10 mph ENE

89° 🌡️ 67° | ☀️ | 2% | 💨 9 mph ENE

89° 🌡️ 71° | ☁️ | 11% | 💨 6 mph E

93° 🌡️ 75° | ⛅ | 7% | 💨 6 mph WNW

That’s all for this edition of the Griffin Grapevine.

Whether this week takes you through airport security or just along your usual route around town, I hope today’s issue helped you feel a little more connected to home. Keeping up with what’s happening here shouldn’t require a layover, either.

If you hear about a new business, an upcoming event, or a neighbor doing something worth sharing, reply and tell me about it. Some of the best stories in the Grapevine start with a reader passing something along.

And if you enjoyed today’s issue, forward it to someone who calls Spalding County home. I’d love to have them reading along with us.

Until next time, enjoy the week ahead.

P.S. Local businesses interested in reaching Spalding County readers can reply as well or email [email protected].