Talk of the Town – March 2024

Talk of the Town March 2024 Edition

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From the Mayor’s Desk

Dear Friends of TR,

Happy Spring! Appreciate our winter months hibernating, but also, happy to spring forward to all things blooming and being outdoors with you. Our city staff has been preparing for a fun, safe, and very TR-like year of events. Check out the events below for our upcoming Bunny Hunt, one of our favorite downtown events. Also, welcome to our new City Administrator, Shannon Herman. Appreciate her coming to the city ready to serve our community.

Lastly, HUGE thank you to ‘Angie’, one of our most beloved employees. You might not have seen her face often at City Hall, but if you’ve called 911 needing help, she more than likely was on the other end of the line. She’s a beautiful person and will be missed by us all!

Make sure to read the full newsletter and mark your calendars to enjoy all things Spring in Travelers Rest!

Brandy Amidon

Mayor of Travelers Rest

Join us for a Meet & Greet!

Meet City Administrator

Shannon Herman

Thursday, March 21 – from 4 pm – 6 pm

Travelers Rest City Hall Lobby

125 Trailblazer Drive

Join us in the lobby of City Hall to meet Travelers Rest’s new City Administrator, Shannon Herman! Shannon joins us from Greenville County where she served since 2007. With 17 years of experience in local government administration, Shannon is well-positioned for her new post and looks forward to serving the City of Travers Rest and meeting residents.

Light refreshments will be served. Click here to learn more about Shannon.

Celebrating 10 Years of Music, Markets, and Community!

This year marks a milestone for Trailblazer Park! The city will celebrate the park’s 10th anniversary Saturday, May 4th with a Party in the Park followed by a free concert and food trucks at 6 pm. The Travelers Rest Farmers Market will kick off the festivities with a special market, music, and vendors from 8:00 am to noon. To learn more about Trailblazer Park and the events and happenings in the park, click here.

Employee Spotlight

Meet Matthew Gilstrap

Matt began his career as a firefighter with the City of Travelers Rest in 2016. One of his favorite things about the job is working with students from our local schools.

Favorite Spot in TR: Trailblazer Park, where he married his wife, Sara.

Favorite Quote: “Don’t listen to something negative. Just keep your head down and work!”

News from the Planning Department

Travelers Rest is excited to announce that four new fast-casual dining options will be opening soon. Chipotle will be located at 571 Roe Center Court in a new 10,000-square-foot retail building. Philly Grill, specializing in Philly cuisine, will be opening in March 2024, and is located at 6516 State Park Road. Firehouse Subs will be located at 2 Benton Court. And Jersey Mike’s will be located at 40 Krieger Drive in a new 6,000-square-foot retail building. Keep your eyes open and your stomachs ready for these new restaurants coming to our city soon!

Travelers Rest Police Department Says Goodbye to Angela Lawton

When a call for help comes into the City of Travelers Rest, Angela Lawton is the voice of calm amidst the chaos. For 3o years, Lawton has worked for the Travelers Rest Police Department. She began her career on October 7th, 1993 as a dispatcher. Her dedication to the mission and her loyal service are deeply appreciated. We wish her the best in her retirement. She will be greatly missed!

News from the Public Works Department

Hiring interns is a core value that our Public Work Department is proud to uphold. This fall, Director Tate brought on Jake Ware as an intern. Jake is a second-year building construction Student at the Donaldson Career Center and a student at Southside High School where he’s a junior. He is the first African-American to become an Eagle Scout in the Buncombe Street Methodist Church Troop number 9, the highest scouting rank in Boy Scouts. We are very proud of Jake’s accomplishments and are honored to have him on staff.

Hop into Spring with these Great Events!

Join us in Downtown Travelers Rest for a festive Springtime celebration! The Great Downtown Bunny Hunt begins in the Gazebo on Main Street where attendees will be given free bunny ears and a Bunny Hunt card. From there, they’ll take off on an adventure to find the bunnies and answer the clues. Learn more about the event and how to participate here.

Music in the Park Concert Series

Back for its 10th year, our free concert series in Trailblazer Park returns in May! To celebrate the anniversary of Music in the Park, we are bringing you a great lineup of local and touring bands and two special performances in September; Jamin’ in the Park and A Celtic Music Fest. Concerts begin at 7 pm. Food trucks, beer and wine vendors start serving at 6 pm. To see the 2024 concert schedule click here.

Get Ready for Spring Shopping!

Mark your calendars! The Spring Browse + Stroll Art on the Trail event is back this Saturday, March 16 from 11 am – 4 pm with over 60 fine artists and crafters located throughout town and along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. For more information click here.

Looking for a Great Weekend Jaunt?

Look no further than TR! Take a walk or bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail then come see what our Downtown has to offer. Our restaurants and retail businesses are some of the best in the area and they’re ready to welcome you in. Click the links to start planning your trip!

Shop TR | Dine TR | Stay TR.