A young Apopka girl hopes 2017 will be the year her hometown honors her years-long request to add Hanukkah decorations during the holidays.
- Naomi Grabish wrote Apopka mayor about Hanukkah decorations 2 years ago
- Mayor said city would look at it, but no decorations still
- Mayor says city staff looking into adding Hanukkah decorations this year
"I noticed we had no decorations for the Jews and I thought we had to do something about it," said Naomi Grabish, an eight-year-old from Apopka.
Every year Grabish celebrates Hanukkah with her family. Two years ago she wrote a letter to the city's mayor asking for some Hanukkah decorations to be added to the city's display.
Mayor Joe Kilsheimer responded to Grabish. "We did not have Hanukkah decorations in our city parks. and that was wrong of us."
In the note the mayor also said the city would work on building new Hanukkah decorations.
But Grabish says Hanukkah decorations were added since she got the letter from the mayor.
During the City's final meeting of 2016, which fell just days before Christmas and Hanukkah, Grabish asked for decorations again.
"It just felt a little unfair -- zero Hanukkah decorations, all Christmas," Grabish said.
Again Kilsheimer said they would look into it.
On Tuesday, Kilsheimer's office told us city staff has been asked to look into integrating Hanukkah decorations in 2017.
Grabish's mother said the family supports her decision to ask for representation during Hanukkah, and believes Naomi will try to bring this to the city's attention again closer to next year's holiday season.
When we asked her what Grabish wants to be when she grows up, she said a politician.
Hanukkah begins on December 12 this year.