2026-27 Concert Season, Potential Rollback Tax Rate, and A Busy Civil News Calendar.
Griffin Grapevine
May 25, 2026
Good morning, Spalding County!
President Theodore Roosevelt was never one to speak softly about duty, country, or sacrifice. On Memorial Day in 1902, standing at Arlington, he made a point that still holds up more than a century later: days like this should not be too common.
His concern was not that Americans would forget the date on the calendar. It was that we might grow too casual with it. A nation can have plenty of holidays, parades, sales, and long weekends. But only a few days should stop us in our tracks.
Memorial Day is one of them.
It is a day set aside for the men and women who gave their lives in service to the country, not in the abstract, but in the most final way possible. So before the week gets moving again, it is worth giving this day what Roosevelt believed it deserved: a little reverence, a little gratitude, and a little silence.
- Chad Robert
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Spalding High School celebrated 273 graduates during a sunny May 21 ceremony, despite rain being in the forecast. The ceremony opened with cadets from the school’s Junior ROTC presenting the colors and leading the national anthem. Student speakers Rhoda Osemwenkhae, Anna Foster, Bahji Daniel, and Autumn Long reflected on the past four years, thanking families, teachers, and classmates while encouraging graduates to carry confidence, gratitude, and purpose into what comes next. The Class of 2026 was recognized for its accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, on stage, and throughout the school community. Principal Dexter Sands formally certified the class before diplomas were presented to the graduates. The ceremony closed with music teacher Megan Lokey and members of the chorus leading the school alma mater.
The Griffin Area Concert Association has announced its 2026-27 concert season, marking its 69th consecutive year of bringing performers to the Griffin area. All five concerts will be held at the Griffin Auditorium at 7:30 PM. The season opens Sept. 17 with Piano Men: Generations, a tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel. CelloVoci follows on Oct. 15 with a mix of classical, contemporary, and crossover music. The new year begins Jan. 29 with Sounds of Georgia, an eight-piece band celebrating Georgia-born artists such as Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, and The Allman Brothers. Holy Rocka Rollaz returns March 5 with 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, followed by The Dreamboats on April 15. Tickets are expected to go on sale near the end of July. More information is available at .
Spalding County staff are recommending commissioners approve a full rollback tax millage rate in August, which would mark the second consecutive full rollback in county history. County Manager Steve Ledbetter presented the recommendation during a May 18 public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget. The proposed budget totals $78.77 million, up about $1.73 million, or 2.25%, from the current year. The increase includes a 3% cost-of-living raise for county employees, higher pay for part-time library workers, and new positions in public works, code enforcement, and transportation services. County priorities for the year include jail needs, tax reduction, code enforcement, transportation improvements, animal control, trash management, and homelessness efforts. Public hearings and budget readings are scheduled for June 1 and June 15.
Mars - Male - 2 months old
Spalding County Animal Care & Control
Monday is quiet on the government calendar, with it being Memorial Day.
Tuesday is the heavy day, with six government meetings and a crowded evening schedule. The day opens at 9:00 AM with the at One Griffin Center, where commissioners work through city business ahead of formal action. At 10:00 AM, the , followed at 10:30 AM by Election Certification, a pair of meetings worth watching for anyone following local election results. That evening, three meetings hit at 6:00 PM: the meets for its regular last-Tuesday session, a key stop for zoning and development issues in unincorporated Spalding County; the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education holds its scheduled board meeting at 216 South 6th Street; and the convenes for its regular evening meeting back at One Griffin Center.
Wednesday starts early with the Griffin Main Street Program Board meeting at 8:15 AM in the City of Griffin Municipal Courtroom at 100 South Hill Street. This one is worth a look if downtown business, design, promotion, and redevelopment are on your radar, since the board’s work centers on organizing, promoting, designing, and supporting economic restructuring in Downtown Griffin.
Thursday closes the stretch with the at 6:00 PM. This is the county land-use meeting of the week: the Board of Commissioners is the body that handles county policy and citizen requests such as zoning issues, so anyone tracking development cases should have this one circled
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.
Memorial Day Ceremony
When: Monday, May 25, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
What: The annual Memorial Day ceremony will honor and remember fallen service members at Veterans Memorial Park. VFW Post 5448 is coordinating the event with support from Spalding County Parks and Public Grounds, GHS JROTC, Boy Scout Troop 8, the Marine Corps League, and local funeral homes. Major (Ret.) John Alderman is listed as the keynote speaker, Griffin Mayor Doug Hollberg is scheduled to give remarks, and helicopter pilots from the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office are expected to perform a Missing Man formation. Bleachers will be available, but attendees may bring their own chair. If weather is bad, the ceremony will move to the Senior Center.
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 797 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
Drum Along With Dino Dan
When: Wednesday, May 27, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
What: The Griffin-Spalding County Library is hosting Drum Along With Dino Dan as part of its Summer Reading Program. Registration is not required, making it an easy midweek activity for children and families.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223.
Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer Celebrating Survivors Breakfast
When: Wednesday, May 27, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What: Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer is hosting a Celebrating Survivors Breakfast at Sun City Peachtree Golf Club. Tickets include complimentary breakfast for the attendee and a guest, an expert panel discussion and Q&A session, a chance to connect with local services, and a survivor goodie bag.
Where: Sun City Peachtree Golf Club, 250 Del Webb Boulevard, Griffin, GA 30223.
Family Storytime at the Library
When: Thursday, May 28, 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
What: Griffin-Spalding County Library lists another Family Storytime on Thursday morning. The event is open without registration and gives families a weekday opportunity for books, early literacy, and a low-key children’s activity.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
Ribbon Cutting for Mia Luxe Salon Suites
When: Thursday, May 28, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What: The Griffin+Spalding Chamber is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Mia Luxe Salon Suites. The new business offers modern private salon spaces for beauty professionals, and the event will give attendees a chance to tour the suites, meet the business community there, and help welcome the salon suites to Griffin.
Where: Mia Luxe Salon Suites, 1742 Zebulon Road Suite J, Griffin, GA 30224.
Spalding Collaborative Executive Committee Meeting
When: Thursday, May 28, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
What: The Spalding Collaborative Executive Committee will hold an in-person meeting that is open to the public. The Collaborative works with local partners around family and community support efforts, so this may be useful for residents or organizations connected to local service work.
Where: Spalding County Senior Center, 885 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA.
D&D Club
When: Thursday, May 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
What: Griffin-Spalding County Library lists a D&D Club meeting for Thursday evening. Registration is not required, and the event is a good option for residents interested in tabletop role-playing games and a social indoor activity.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223.
Financial Fundamentals for Non-Financial Leaders
When: Thursday, May 28, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
What: Clayton State University SBDC is hosting a one-hour financial fundamentals session for non-financial leaders. The Chamber listing points attendees to registration through the SBDC. A useful stop for business owners, nonprofit leaders, and managers who want to better understand financial basics without a finance background.
Where: Registration listed through Clayton State University SBDC.
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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83° 🌡️ 68° | ⛈️ | 55% | 💨 WNW 5 mph
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P.S. A few sponsorship spots are opening for local businesses that want to reach Griffin Grapevine readers. Interested? Reply to this email or reach me at griffin@welldiem.com.
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