Once The Smoke Clears

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Good morning, Spalding County!

I hope you had a great Fourth of July weekend and got to enjoy the kind of celebration America’s 250th birthday deserved.

I spent part of mine watching what I thought was going to be a simple neighborhood fireworks show. My neighbor described it pretty casually, like he had picked up a few boxes for fun. Then he walked out with one of those remote firing systems, and suddenly we had a full production going in the yard. It was impressive, and honestly, a pretty perfect way to end the night.

But once the smoke clears and the folding chairs get packed back into the garage, the bigger thought is still there. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was not the finish line. It was the beginning of a long, difficult, remarkable project. Freedom had to be defended. Generations had to decide whether the country they inherited was worth preserving and improving. Now that responsibility is ours. Here’s to 250 years behind us, and to doing our part so that our descendants can look back one day and celebrate 500.

- Chad

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THE DIGEST

Spalding Opens Cooling Stations as July Heat Settles In

Spalding County is giving residents a few places to cool down as summer heat settles over Griffin. The county has designated cooling stations at Flint River Regional Library on Memorial Drive, Fairmont Community Center on Blanton Avenue, and City Park Community Center on Camp Northern Road. The idea is simple: give people an air-conditioned place to rest, recharge, and get out of the heat during the hottest parts of the summer. Hours vary by location, with the library offering daytime access and the community centers opening during select evening and Saturday hours. It is a small but useful reminder that July heat in Georgia is not something to take lightly, especially for older residents, young children, and anyone without reliable air conditioning at home.

Star Spangled Scavenger Hunt Sends Families Across Spalding Parks

Spalding County is turning its America 250 celebration into a countywide treasure hunt. The Star Spangled Scavenger Hunt runs July 4 through July 11 and sends residents looking for hidden globes at local parks across the county, including spots like City Park, Fairmont Park, Dundee Lake Park, Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park, Airport Road Park, and others. Inside each globe are instructions for what to do next, with participants able to bring a key to the Leisure Services office to unlock a treasure chest and claim a special prize. It is free to participate and gives families a simple reason to get outside, explore a few local parks, and add a little adventure to the holiday week.

CIVIL NEWS

Monday starts with the Spalding County Board of Commissioners work session at 3:00 PM, followed by the board’s regular meeting at 6:00 PM. The county agenda system confirms both meetings for July 6.

Wednesday has one utility-related meeting: the Spalding County Water Authority Finance Committee is listed for 10:00 AM on July 8. This is relevant for residents who follow water and sewer finances, infrastructure costs, rates, and long-term utility planning for unincorporated Spalding County. The Water Authority’s schedule says a quorum of the authority is expected at every committee meeting, so it is worth treating as a public-body item.

Thursday is the busiest day. The Griffin-Spalding Board of Education has a called meeting at 5:00 PM in the GSCS Board Room, 216 S. 6th Street, Griffin. Also Thursday, the Griffin Environmental Council meets from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The city describes the council as a volunteer advisory body that makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on policies and procedures tied to protecting Griffin’s natural resources. Later Thursday, the Spalding County Parks & Leisure Services Advisory Committee is listed at 6:00 PM in the county agenda publisher. This one is most relevant for residents who follow parks, recreation programming, leisure facilities, and county recreation priorities.

DUMP SCHEDULE

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

MONDAY

Composting with UGA
When: Monday, July 6, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding County Library has a composting program on the calendar with UGA. It should be a practical stop for gardeners, homeowners, or anyone trying to do something useful with food scraps and yard waste instead of sending it all to the trash.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

TUESDAY

Tie Dye Event
When: Tuesday, July 7, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
What: The library is hosting a tie-dye activity as part of its summer programming. It is a good midweek outing for kids and families who want something hands-on, creative, and indoors during a hot July afternoon.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Netwalking - July
When: Tuesday, July 7, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber is bringing people together for an evening walk through downtown, mixing light networking with a little movement. The group will meet at the Welcome Center and follow the “Get Your Walk On” path downtown. Red, white, and blue is encouraged for the America 250 and Spalding County 175 theme.
Where: Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce / Griffin Regional Welcome Center, 143 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Academic Open House
When: Tuesday, July 7, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
What: Griffin First is holding an academic open house for families interested in Griffin Christian Preschool, Griffin Christian School, and Valor School of Leadership. Local parents looking at school options can tour, ask questions, and get a better feel for the programs before the new school year.
Where: Griffin First, 2000 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, GA 30223

WEDNESDAY

Cirque Du Todd Juggling Show - Summer Reading Program
When: Wednesday, July 8, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
What: The library’s summer reading program continues with a juggling show from Cirque Du Todd. This is one of the better kid-friendly picks of the week, especially for families needing an easy morning activity that does not require a full-day commitment.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Ribbon Cutting for Downtown Griffin Playground
When: Wednesday, July 8, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
What: Griffin will celebrate the new Downtown Griffin Playground with a ribbon cutting hosted with the City of Griffin Board of Commissioners and the Rotary Club of Griffin. The new train-themed playground is meant to add another family-friendly stop downtown, and residents can stop by to see the space for themselves.
Where: Griffin Regional Welcome Center, 143 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223

Compassionate Conversations in the Workplace
When: Wednesday, July 8, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
What: NALO Spalding is hosting a workplace-focused lunch program on compassionate conversations. This one is best suited for employers, managers, nonprofit leaders, and local professionals who deal with hard conversations at work and want a more thoughtful way to handle them. Lunch is listed as provided.
Where: 222 Meriwether Street, Griffin, GA 30224

Business Networking Lunch
When: Wednesday, July 8, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
What: The Chamber’s Business Networking Lunch is a casual midday gathering for local professionals and business owners. It is not a formal program so much as a straightforward chance to meet people, talk shop, and make a few new connections over lunch.
Where: The Garden Beer Garden, 314 East Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223

THURSDAY

K.I.T. Club July Meeting
When: Thursday, July 9, 11:30 AM
What: Southside Baptist Church’s K.I.T. Club, short for Keep In Touch, is meeting for senior adults 50 and over. This month’s theme is the Fourth of July and America’s 250th anniversary, with attendees invited to wear red, white, and blue and bring sandwiches, salads, or desserts to share. David Floyd will provide entertainment with illusions.
Where: Southside Baptist Church, 1332 Zebulon Road, Griffin, GA 30224

D&D Club
When: Thursday, July 9, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
What: The library’s D&D Club is on the Thursday evening calendar for players who enjoy tabletop role-playing games. It is a good fit for teens and adults looking for a social, creative evening built around storytelling, characters, and a little imagination.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223

Active FAITH
When: Thursday, July 9, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
What: New Salem Baptist Church’s Active FAITH group combines walking, exercise, fellowship, and Bible study. The church lists it as open to anyone and all fitness levels, with children welcome if parents supervise them.
Where: New Salem Event Center, 776 Vaughn School Road, Griffin, GA 30223

Flint River Astronomy Club Monthly Meeting
When: Thursday, July 9, 7:30 PM
What: The Flint River Astronomy Club will hold its monthly meeting at the UGA Research and Education Garden, with a Zoom option also listed. The club says meetings typically include astronomy talks, lectures, demonstrations, movies, telescope education, and related programs, making this a good pick for anyone interested in the night sky.
Where: UGA Research and Education Garden, 129 Ellis Road, Griffin, GA 30223

WEATHER

MONDAY

90° 🌡️ 72° | ⛈️ | 60% | SW 5 mph

TUESDAY

90° 🌡️ 72° | ⛈️ | 30% | W 5 mph

WEDNESDAY

91° 🌡️ 73° | ☀️ | 0% | Light/calm

THURSDAY

92° 🌡️ 73° | ☀️ | 0% | Light/calm

THANKS!

Thanks for reading today’s Griffin Grapevine.

I really appreciate everyone who has been replying, sharing kind words, and passing this newsletter along to friends and neighbors. The whole point of the Grapevine is to make it a little easier to know what is happening around Griffin and Spalding County without having to dig through five different websites and a dozen Facebook posts. Hearing that it is helping people stay connected means a lot.

If you know someone who would enjoy keeping up with local news, events, and community updates, forward this their way. The more neighbors we have reading, the better this works.

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Have a great week, Spalding County.