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 Young Marines, who recently inducted a second class of recruits into the program during a graduation at Riverside Academy in Reserve. Eighteen young boys and girls from all parts of the parish make up the Young Marines’ Bravo Platoon.

• San Francisco Plantation and Marathon Refinery in Garyville, which organized a special teaching program to show area students what it was like to live on a plantation before today’s technology. Students got a glimpse into cooking and craft techniques and also leaned lessons about slave life in the South.

• Members of the LaPlace Rotary Club for visiting with Head Start students in St. John Parish as part of the Head Start Read Smart program. Rotary members read to students at West St. John Elementary, LaPlace Elementary and the Child Development Center.

• Students at St. Peter Chanel School in Convent for their efforts to raise money by holding a “bike-a-thon.” Students sacrificed a recent Saturday to ride more than 214 laps around St. Joseph’s Church and Cemetery, a distance equal to more than 100 miles. The group collected more than $1,000 in pledges for the St. Vincent de Paul organization in Lutcher.