Each Wednesday, L’Observateur recognizes individuals and businesses in the River Parishes who have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work, play and raise a family.

We believe an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things … who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference … are recognized and saluted.

Because this is a salute to members of the community of the entire River Parishes, we solicit your recommendations for groups or individuals to be considered for inclusion.

This week we salute:

• The St. John the Baptist Parish Firefighters Association for recent efforts

to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event in St. John Parish. Firefighters hosted a car wash and also put together a calendar of firefighters with all proceeds going to cancer research.

• The staff at San Francisco Plantation in Garyville for hosting another successful Frisco Fest on the grounds of the antebellum plantation home. Even with other events happening around the region at the same time, the festival was able to attract more than 5,000 attendees to the two-day event.

• Members of the Belle Terre Civic Association for their continued efforts to drum up support for a neighborhood watch program in the LaPlace area. At a recent meeting, the group received tips from the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office.

• Students at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School for embracing their

agricultural side during a recent visit from the Red Barn Traveling Farm Tour. The tour showed students the value of farm life and how to properly handle animals.