ELKHART — 3-year-old TaraNova Glick died on July 13, 2004, after being abused by her mother’s new boyfriend. TaraNova’s life was celebrated and remembered Saturday night as her family and “Tara’s Tears” hosted the “I Care” Candlelight Vigil for Child Abuse Awareness at the Civic Plaza.

Israel Glick (center, at right) talked about child abuse prior to the start of the program, which featured a dance performance by the YGB Praise Team from Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church. “As far as a community, period, if you even think that a kid is being abused it should be reported. It might be something little, it could be something big. It’s just something that should be reported and then you go from there,” Glick said.

A proclamation signed by Mayor Dick Moore was read to those gathered that honored TaraNova and the other children affected by child abuse and neglect. “Child abuse prevention is a community problem and finding solutions depends on the involvement of people throughout the community.” He ended the proclamation “therefore, I Dick Moore, mayor of the city of Elkhart do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 28, 2012, as TaraNova Glick day.”