A PRAYER IS ANSWERED FOR ONE OF OUR OWN CLIENTS & FRIENDS. ACTUALLY THREE PRAYERS WERE….

Joel and Stephanie,

We are thrilled to hear of your successful surgeries and recovery. Your story has inspired and humbled us in so many ways and promises to make a difference this Thanksgiving as our families gather to share what we have to be thankful for. Our hope in sharing your amazing story is that other families in need of a medical miracle will see this and it will inspire them too. Your family remains in our thoughts and prayers.

Yours Truly, All of us here at Connie Rice & Partners Connie Lisa Josephine Holly Don


Julie Mandi Eric Amy GREER, SC (FOX Carolina) -

Stephanie Lindstrom is thankful to be back home in the Upstate after spending five months at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Back in May, she had to be rushed to Emory after having heart complications.

It's a problem she has dealt with her entire life. But things took a scary turn when their family learned this mom and wife needed a new heart, kidney and liver. "We were at the point where nobody thought she was going to get her transplants," said Stephanie's husband Joel Lindstrom. But she did, the surgery was a success, and she began the long process of recovery. "I was really hoping I would be home by Christmas and I was released Oct. 23," she said.  Stephanie Lindstrom said she spent months hooked to tubes and wires.

She also said her faith is stronger and she is thankful to enjoy the small things in life. "I am just so thankful for everything that I can do like eat normal food, do homework with my daughter and play cars and trucks with my son," she said. It has been a five-month battle, but Stephanie Lindstrom said she's not giving up because the best is yet to come. "It happened so now I have to pick up the pieces and grow and get back to normal," she said.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/19981959/upstate-woman-has-triple-organ-transplant-thankful-to-be-alive

18th Annual Komen Race for the Cure On Saturday, September 29

The SC Mountains to Midlands Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host our 18th Annual Komen Race for the Cure. Our 5k Race will start and finish at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive.

We expect approximately 6,000 men and women to participate in the Race this year. This letter is to inform you of road closures that may affect your business or residence on Saturday, September 29 between the hours of 8 am and 10 am.

The following streets will either be closed entirely or partially restricted to vehicle traffic during that
time period:

• S. Main Street from Anderson Street to W. Broad Street 
• W. Broad Street from S. Main Street to River Street 
• River Street/Richardson Street from W. Broad Street to W. Washington Street 
• W. Washington Street from Richardson Street to N. MainStreet 
• N. Main Street from Court Street to W. North Street 
• W.North Street from N. Main Street to Richardson Street 
• Richardson Street from W. North Street to W. Broad Street 
• W. Broad Street from River Street to Westfield Street 
• Westfield Street from W.Broad Street to Academy Street 
• Gibbs Street from Westfield Street to Hudson Street 
• Hudson Street from Gibbs Street to The Swamp Rabbit Trail 
• Reedy View Drive from Cox Road to River Street 
• River Street from Reedy View Drive to S. Main Street Rhett Street
• from River Street to N. Markley Street N. Markley Street from

Rhett Street to Vardry Street Field Street is closed from Augusta Street to Markley Street on Friday, September 28th from 5:30am - Saturday, September 29th at 3:00pm.

If you have any questions about our event or how this may affect you, please contact the Komen for the Cure office at 864-234-5035 or by email at info@komenscmm.org.

Art in the Park 2012 ART IN THE PARK THIS WEEKEND!!

Art in the Park festival is returning to South Main Street September 22 & 23, 2012.

South Main St. will be closed from Broad St. to Camperdown Way beginning at 5:00am Saturday, September 22 until 7:00 pm Sunday, September 23.

The festival will also be located on the plaza and parking areas from the Falls St. side of the bridge to the Liberty Bridge. This area will be closed starting at 5:00pm Friday, September 21 until 7:00pm Sunday, September 23.

The City of Greenville police will be assisting with traffic control for the event.

Important Message: (from Robert Hall, Floodplain Administrator, Greenville County)

I wanted to let your membership know that FEMA has issued a new draft Flood Insurance Study to Greenville County. A statutory 90 day appeal period for the new study was initiated on April 20, 2012 and you can find additional details on the Greenville County website (www.greenvillecounty.org).

When the study becomes effective, the Flood Insurance Rate Maps will change to reflect new or revised flood modeling where applicable. Flood elevations may increase, decrease or remain unchanged. Many areas with approximated flood zone delineations will now have actual flood elevations shown on the maps.

URGENT: USDA Underwriting Expectations

Agents, please note that if your clients are doing a loan with USDA, that the expected time frame for closing should be extended by a minimum of 30 days to account for USDA to do their own underwriting. This is IN ADDITION to your standard 45 days for your local lenders underwriting for a total minimum of 75 days.

Keller Williams. If you or someone you know needs 100% financing, contact us today. USDA offers a great program to qualifying clients and what is considered "rural" locations will surprise you!

Have you been to Simpsonville? Well, welcome to our "rural". Patience and the right agent can save you thousands!! Call us today and schedule time to meet with one of our experienced & top producing agents for the Greenville MLS.

The Connie Rice Team

9 Easy Tips to Save Money on Gas by USAA

While you can't do much about the global price of oil, you can take steps to reduce pain at the pump. With current gas prices on the rise, you may be tempted to trade in your car for a scooter — or resort to pedaling your way to work.

Before you make any drastic financial or lifestyle sacrifices, consider these tips provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov and gasbuddy.com.

1. Slow down. Although each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually drops dramatically at speeds above 60 mph. As a general rule, every 5 mph you drive above 60 mph is like paying an extra 30 cents per gallon of gas.

2. Be gentle. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and sudden stops, which can lower your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and by 5% around town.

3. Lighten your load. Try not to keep unnecessary items in your car, especially heavy ones. Each 100 pounds of extra weight can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 2%.

4. Scout out cheap gas. Avoid gas stations in affluent areas and near major freeway exits. In major metropolitan areas, outlying suburbs tend to have the lowest gas prices, according to gasbuddy.com. If you're not in a hurry when traveling, drive a few blocks from the freeway exit to find lower gas prices. Also, avoid service stations with on-site auto repair shops, which often charge more for gas. Download the gasbuddy.com app on your mobile device to locate gas stations near you and see their current gas prices. If you don't see a download for your device, just go to m.gasbuddy.com, which can be used from any mobile device.

5. Skip traditional gas stations. Check out wholesale clubs, grocery stores or department stores with gas stations onsite. These businesses often sell gas at discounted prices and may offer credit for in-store purchases when you fill up with gas.

6. Keep your older car in shape. While traditional tune ups are becoming a thing of the past for newer vehicles, older cars with worn spark plugs, low transmission fluid and dragging brakes can suck your gas tank dry. Check your owners manual for recommended maintenance schedules and get regular engine checkups. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%.

7. Avoid idling. For every hour a car idles, between a quarter-gallon to a half-gallon of fuel is consumed. Restarting your vehicle only takes a few seconds’ worth of fuel. However, restarting your car excessively can cause starter wear.

8. Don't neglect your tires. Keep your tires properly inflated and make sure you have them aligned periodically. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Plus, properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

9. Choose the right oil. All oils aren’t created equal. That's especially true when it comes to engine oil. Using only the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil cited in your owners manual can improve your fuel efficiency by 1% to 2%.