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Happy Thanksgiving, Fellow Democrats!

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** NOTE FROM THE CHAIR
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CARES ACT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE! During this Thanksgiving season, I am asking you to contact the County Board of Commissioners to help your fellow Indian River residents! Please read below.

Indian River County was made available $28 million in federal CARES Act funding in March. The CARES Act is a program that provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The funding is set to expire on December 30^th. And, according to IRC officials in recent press reports, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners plans to spend less than half of its available $28 million, leaving nearly $14.5 million unspent, saying the funds are not needed.

Unbelievably, the availability of these funds has not been adequately publicized to our IRC residents. While many IRC residents are in dire straits—Democrats, Republicans and NPAs—the Democrats of Indian River are dumbfounded as small business owners, laid off employees, and individuals, indicate they are totally unaware of the availability of these funds.
The Democrats of Indian River call on the County Commission to immediately initiate a widespread information campaign to make our residents who have been affected by the Covid pandemic aware of the CARES Act funding so they can access funds that can help nonprofits, food drives, small businesses, individuals who can't make mortgage and rent payments, and provide PPE. I urge you write the IRC County Board of Commissioners:
[link removed]

In addition, you should be aware that if you need funding, go to: www.ircgov.com/coronavirus/
and you will find the grant applications for the CARES funding.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Adriana


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** IRC DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS HOURS
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The office has reopened for the following hours and days:

Wednesday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Due to Covid-19 and health reasons, the office is only open for essential services. When visiting the office, please follow these guidelines:

Knock on the door
Someone will meet you outside
Wear a mask
Social distance

Please note that the office will be closed for the week of Thanksgiving - Monday, November 23^rd to Friday, November 27^th. The office will reopen on Wednesday, December 2^nd.




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** OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THIS MONTH
TAKING THE SENATE BACK
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IRC Democrats, our number one priority this month is to help Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock be elected as U.S. Senators for the State of Georgia. We must open our wallets and give financially, we need to phone bank and text for them, and we must write postcards. Encourage your friends and families to be involved. Republican lawmakers are not challenging Trump on losing the Presidential Election because they need him in their fight for the Georgia Senate seats. It’s that simple. Our Congress hangs in the balance of this election and President-Elect’s Joe Biden’s potential to govern with Congressional support. Here are some opportunities to get involved.

Flippin’ Georgia has numerous opportunities and ways to help from phone banking, postcard writing and donating. Several non-profit organizations like Fair Fight and the New Georgia Project will be on the ground registering voters (deadline December 7^th) so donations to these groups would be helpful, too. Click here to access:
Mobilize to Flip Senate Blue — March For Our Future ([link removed])

Phone Banking: Calling All Virtual Volunteers to Help Flip Georgia –
[link removed]
Volunteer in Georgia for the Senate Runoff Elections! · Democratic Party of Georgia (mobilize.us) ([link removed])

Go to Georgia (like Andrew Yang and his family) to Help Flip the Senate - [link removed] ([link removed])

Textbanking
Textbank to Georgia - Democratic Volunteer Center (demvolctr.org) ([link removed])




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** UF PEANUT BUTTER CHALLENGE
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Last week, volunteer Cathe Fifer dropped off a dozen plus jars of peanut butter, donated by local Democrats, for the University of Florida/IFAS Peanut Butter Challenge. Our donation will be matched by the Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Peanut Federation. All donations go to local food pantries. The donation was made under the Democrats of Indian River. Thanks to all that donated!!! You are making a difference in our community.



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** DEMOCRATIC CLUB NEWS
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** The Democratic Club of Indian River is inviting all volunteers to an Outdoor Open House on Sunday, December 6^th at Riverside Park in Vero Beach. We wanted a way to more safely celebrate the Biden/Harris victory and the winter holidays. The Club has rented the Grand Pavilion from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. so attendees can stop by for as little, or as long, as they desire.
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** Special precautions will be taken to make this a safe event in the age of Covid. We ask that all attendees wear a mask and practice social distancing by bringing their own chairs and standing or sitting six feet apart. We will have individually wrapped single serve snacks as well as water, soft drinks and sparkling cider for toasting.
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** We will also be accepting unwrapped toys or gift card donations for the Toys for Tots 2020 campaign. Toys are reserved for children ages 0-15. Please no stuffed animals.
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** If you have any ideas or just have general questions or concerns, please contact Claudia Martino at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
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** DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CLUB NEWS
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The next DWC Book Group meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 27^th at 2 pm. The group will be discussing Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker. If you are not currently a book group member and would like to join in the discussion contact Maryann Ronan-Lamson at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .



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** CITY OF SEBASTIAN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
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The City of Sebastian will be holding a Public Engagement Open House on the city's Comprehensive Plan 2040. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2^nd, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The Open House will include socially distanced topic tables, map displays, continuous PowerPoint presentations, and staff available to answer questions, provide information, and solicit input on the Comprehensive Plan 2040.
For more information, visit the City of Sebastian's website, cityofsebastian.org ([link removed])


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** COVID-19 CASES ON THE RISE IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
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The daily number of cases of the coronavirus is steadily on the rise in our county. We must remain vigilant against the disease. Wear a mask to protect you and those you interact with every day. Social distance. Wash your hands. Do not congregate in indoor spaces for long. Be smart. Stay safe. Stay well.
To look at IRC data, go to: [link removed]


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** LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK TO READ?
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The New York Times just released their 100 Notable Books for 2020. With all this time at home, pick a book to escape into.

[link removed]


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** HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING
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Are you looking to give back a little this holiday season? Here is an opportunity to help a Senior Citizen in our community. Many of our senior citizens are extremely isolated this year due to Covid. Let’s bring a little joy to their life and send them a Christmas gift!

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** That’s all folks. Stay healthy!!!
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Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County
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