Roof Collapse of Historic Building, What’s Being Built at Birdie Road and U.S. 19/41, and Great Community Events This Weekend.
Good morning, Spalding County!
I can already tell this is going to be an incredible summer around here.
As I was looking through events happening this weekend, I kept finding something that made me smile: a fun local event would catch my eye, and then I’d realize it was already sold out.
Now, sold-out events obviously won’t make it into the What’s Happenin’ section, but I still think they’re worth celebrating. To me, it’s a sign that people in Griffin and across Spalding County are showing up, getting involved, and making the most of what our community has to offer.
- Chad
Women over 50 are calling Auvoria's Korean-formulated serum their secret to looking years younger without needles or expensive treatments. Experts say it targets the #1 cause of wrinkles many skincare brands ignore: collagen-signal breakdown deep beneath the skin's surface. Users report smoother lines, firmer-looking skin, and a tighter, more lifted appearance in as little as 4 weeks. It's become one of Costco's most talked-about beauty finds — and now you can try the same formula online without a membership.
Plans to preserve part of the historic building at 117 E. Solomon St. are now uncertain after heavy rain caused the front portion of the roof to collapse May 29. Spalding County had been working to demolish the interior of the 1946 building while saving the front facade and connecting the site to the neighboring county annex. County officials said about 4.5 inches of rain collected on the roof before it gave way, collapsing part of the second floor and sending debris onto the first floor. No injuries were reported. Engineers and architects are reviewing the damage, but early recommendations suggest the front facade may also need to come down. The collapse also caused water damage inside the annex. Officials are now weighing safety concerns ahead of Griffin’s June Jam event on East Solomon Street.
Rosalyn Payne-Hill was honored June 2 as the 23rd recipient of Spalding County’s Bain Proctor Lifetime Volunteer Service Award for her years of community work and support for local students. Payne-Hill founded the Griffin-Spalding Black Heritage Festival after learning that high school choral students needed help paying for performance attire and competitions. What began as a small volunteer effort has grown into an annual Black History Month celebration at the Griffin Auditorium, featuring choirs, student performers, dancers, and speakers. Now in its 10th year, the festival has invested more than $62,200 back into the community, including $54,200 for Griffin and Spalding high school choral programs and more than $8,000 in senior scholarships. At 81, Payne-Hill continues to lead the festival while mentoring volunteers, supporting young artists, and preserving a meaningful local tradition.
A reader this week asked what is going up near the corner of Birdie Road and U.S. 19/41. According to Spalding County records, the project is a proposed convenience store with gas pumps at 205 Birdie Road. The 2.5-acre parcel went through the county’s North Expressway Improvement District review. County commissioners approved the site-development review in a 4–0 vote on July 24, 2025, though staff noted that a few items still needed to be addressed. The public documents I found did not list a specific store brand, so for now it is safest to describe it simply as a planned convenience store and gas station rather than naming a chain.
Beezly - Male - 1 year old
Spalding County Animal Care & Control
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.
When: Friday, June 5, 8:00 PM
What: The Griffin Opera House welcomes DEPARTURE, a Journey tribute band known for performing the classic hits fans know and love. The show features live, no pre-recorded tracks, with a high-energy performance built around the music of one of rock’s most recognizable bands. Tickets are available through FreshTix.
Where: Griffin Opera House, 102 N. Hill Street #200, Griffin, GA 30223
Griffin Farmer’s Market 2026
When: Friday, June 5, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
What: UGA Extension Spalding County is hosting its weekly farmers market with local goods such as produce, honey, and boiled peanuts. A good stop for fresh food and locally made items before the weekend starts.
Where: Kiwanis Fairgrounds, 1025 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30224.
Maker’s Market Annual Fine Arts Fair
When: Friday, June 5, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
What: Fifty Forward-Your Center for Senior Services is hosting its annual fine arts fair featuring local senior artisans. Shoppers can browse baked goods, artwork, ceramics, crochet and knit items, jewelry, quilts, photography, woodwork, organic products, and other handmade goods. Most vendors are listed as cash-only, so attendees should plan ahead.
Where: Spalding County Senior Center, 885 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223.
When: Friday, June 5, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
What: Wellstar Spalding Medical Center is hosting a free community event honoring cancer survivors and their support networks. The event is designed as a time to recognize resilience, connect with others, and show support for those affected by cancer. Free and open to the community.
Where: Griffin Cancer Center, 608 South 8th Street, Griffin, GA 30224.
When: Friday, June 5, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding Chamber is hosting a ribbon cutting to welcome Nic McKay’s Irish Pub to the Chamber and celebrate its recent grand opening. The listing describes the pub as offering Irish pub atmosphere, live music, food, drinks, sports, and a welcoming gathering space.
Where: Nic McKay’s Irish Pub, 133 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223
When: Saturday, June 6, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
What: Southside Genealogical Society is holding its monthly meeting for people interested in researching family history. The group offers a welcoming space for genealogical research, guest speakers, research techniques, and hands-on learning. First meetings are listed as free.
Where: The Bailey-Tebault House, 633 Meriwether Street, Griffin, GA 30224.
Spalding County Veterans Center Grand Opening
When: Saturday, June 6, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What: A Saturday morning grand opening event for the Spalding County Veterans Center. The public listing provides the time and location but does not include a detailed program agenda, so attendees may want to confirm any ceremony details with the organizer.
Where: Spalding County Veterans Center, 732 West Broad Street, Griffin, GA 30223.
Dinosaur BINGO – Summer Reading Program
When: Saturday, June 6, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
What: Griffin-Spalding County Library is hosting a Dinosaur BINGO activity as part of its Summer Reading Program.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, 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.
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Thanks for reading the Griffin Grapevine.
This newsletter matters most when it helps the people who live here. That’s the goal: to make it easier to keep up with what’s happening around Griffin and Spalding County without having to search all over for it.
If today’s issue helped you feel a little more in the loop, please send it to one person who likes knowing what’s going on close to home. A neighbor, friend, coworker, parent, or anyone who has ever said, “I wish I had heard about that sooner.”
And as always, when you notice something around town that others should know about, just reply to this email. New businesses, school updates, community events, road work, small changes, local surprises, and anything else that makes Griffin feel like Griffin are all welcome.
Have a great week, and thanks for being part of the Grapevine.
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