🍇 Trade-off

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Spalding County!

Did you spring forward? If you're reading this a little bleary-eyed on Monday morning, you're not alone. That lost hour hits different when the alarm goes off. The trade-off of longer evenings, warmer light, the feeling that winter is truly behind us, is worth every minute. Spring is starting to show up all over Griffin, and with it comes an exciting amount of events coming up of things to do around town. Whether you're looking to get out and enjoy the weather, try something new, or support a good cause, there's plenty happening here in Griffin. If you're looking for something meaningful midweek, Feeding Griffin Together returns Wednesday with soup, art, and a great cause. We've also got author events, and more lined up, so grab your coffee, shake off that time change, and let's get into it.

- Chad Robert

There Are People Who Were Born to Work the Land. They Just Need to Find It.

Somewhere right now, an organic farm in Tennessee is short-handed at harvest. A family ranch in Montana needs someone who knows cattle. A permaculture garden in the Carolinas is looking for a dedicated apprentice willing to learn.

And somewhere right now, the right person for each of those jobs is still looking.

PlayInDirtJobs is America's job board built specifically for farming, gardening, and ranching. Hundreds of listings. Every type of operation, from CSA vegetable farms to biodynamic vineyards to working ranches. Many positions include housing, meals, and hands-on training from experienced farmers.

Job seekers browse and apply completely free. Employers post in minutes and reach thousands of people who are passionate about agricultural work, not just looking for a paycheck.

This is not a desk job site with a farming filter bolted on. It was built from the ground up for people who'd rather have dirt under their fingernails than fluorescent lights overhead.

Find your place on the land at PlayInDirtJobs.com.

One of Spalding County's most beloved neighborhood institutions is saying goodbye. B. Cook's Grocery & Meats on Memorial Drive will close at the end of March after more than 40 years in business. Barry and Therese Cook have run the shop since 1985, earning generations of loyal customers with their cut-to-order meats, homemade pimento cheese, and personal touch. The land has been sold, and the building will be demolished in April. For many families, it's the end of an era.

Four Griffin-Spalding County seniors have earned the top academic honors for the Class of 2026. Griffin High School's valedictorian is Skyler Carroll, with Zaiden Selby named salutatorian. At Spalding High School, Anna Foster leads as valedictorian and Rhoda Osemwenkhae as salutatorian. Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for May 21-22 at Memorial Stadium. Congratulations to all four students and the families, teachers, and mentors who helped them get here.

A property across the street from Sun City Peachtree in Spalding County is one step closer to becoming a small commercial space after receiving a favorable recommendation from the county's Planning and Appeals Commission. The owners of a single-family home on Baptist Camp Road are seeking to rezone the property to allow for office suites offering financial services and a possible coffee shop. The proposal drew support from Sun City residents who spoke at the Feb. 24 hearing, citing a need for nearby commercial services. No one spoke in opposition. The project got an additional boost when county staff revealed that construction plans for a long-awaited shopping plaza across the street have also been approved. That 120-acre development is expected to cater to Sun City residents and will be golf cart accessible from the community. County staff recommended approval of the rezoning with conditions related to building safety, entrance standards, and compliance with the approved variance.

It's a busy week for local government, with boards and authorities meeting across Griffin nearly every day. The week kicks off Monday when the Griffin-Spalding County Airport Authority convenes at 5:00 PM. Tuesday brings a morning session with the Griffin Downtown Development Authority at 8:15 AM, followed by the City of Griffin Commission meeting at 6:00 PM that evening. Midweek, the Griffin Historic Preservation Committee meets Wednesday at 12:00 PM. The week wraps up Thursday with back-to-back sessions: the Griffin Environmental Council at 5:30 PM and the Spalding County Parks & Leisure Services Advisory Committee at 6:00 PM (agenda pending).

Meeting schedules current as of March 8, 2026. Visit the linked agendas for the latest updates.

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.

Spalding County National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training

When: Monday, March 9, 1:00 PM

What: First responders and community members will gather as a multi-disciplinary team to enhance responder safety at roadway incidents. The session involves reviewing best practices and conducting free training.

Where: Spalding County Emergency Management Agency Administration Complex, 1005 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Feeding Griffin Together 2026

When: Wednesday, March 11, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

What: Join the community for the annual Feeding Griffin Together luncheon benefiting the Backpack Food for Kids program. Enjoy a warm bowl of soup served in a hand-painted ceramic bowl you take home as a keepsake. The afternoon includes live music and an art raffle. This beloved event brings neighbors together for a great meal and an even greater cause. Tickets are $32.10.

Where: Historic Griffin Hotel, 132 W. Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Author Series - Carolyn Curry

When: Thursday, March 12, 6:30 PM

What: The UGA Griffin Author Entertainment Series welcomes award-winning author and historian Carolyn Curry. Curry will be discussing her latest novel, "Trudy's Awakening," a work of historical fiction set in post-Civil War Georgia that follows three women as they navigate loss, societal barriers, and their fight for freedom and independence. Curry is also the author of "Suffer and Grow Strong," which was named One of the Books All Georgians Should Read, and the murder mystery "Sudden Death." Free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Where: Stuckey Auditorium, UGA Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223

D&D Club

When: Thursday, March 12, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

What: Gather your party and head upstairs to the nonfiction room for the library's monthly Dungeons and Dragons club. Prepare for an exciting evening of tabletop adventuring, dice rolling, and collaborative storytelling with fellow local players.

Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Camelot Theatre: The Prince of Egypt

When: April 17-19, 2026

What: Camelot Theatre Company presents The Prince of Egypt, the sweeping DreamWorks musical featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, including his Oscar-winning "When You Believe." Journey through Ancient Egypt as Moses and Ramses are torn apart by a secret past, one destined to rule as Pharaoh, the other to free his people. Tickets are $15 and available at camelottheatre.com.

Where: Griffin Auditorium, 234 East Taylor Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

73° 🌡️ 59° | ⛈️ | 79% | 💨 8 mph (7 knots)

77° 🌡️ 60° | 🌧️ | 76% | 💨 8 mph (7 knots)

79° 🌡️ 60° | ☁️ | 67% | 💨 13 mph (11 knots)

60° 🌡️ 40° | ☀️ | 52% | 💨 14 mph (12 knots)

Thanks for being part of the Griffin Grapevine! If you found some of the information today useful, make sure you share it! Forward them this email. Growing our readership helps us deliver the local news you care about most. As always, if you catch wind of something happening around town, a grand opening, a community event, anything the rest of us should know about, just hit reply. Your tips keep this newsletter running. Enjoy your week and extra daylight in the evening, Griffin.

P.S. Every week, folks across Griffin open the Grapevine to find out what's going on around town. If you'd like your business to be part of that conversation, reach out at [email protected].