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 Association of Pastors and Ministers and the St. Charles Community Heath Center for hosting a back to school/community health fair at True Light Baptist Church in Garyville. More than 150 schoolbags full of supplies were given out to area children.

• Changing Faces Outreach Society for holding a voter registration drive at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co. in LaPlace. The local non-profit organization offers programs that allow members of the community to elevate themselves to the next level.

• Riverside High School basketball standouts Ricardo Gathers and Louis Dabney, who both recently announced where they are committing themselves to play basketball on the next level. Gathers said he plans to enroll at St. John’s University in New York, while Dabney is staying home to play at Tulane University.

• The St. John the Baptist Parish Recreation Department for its continued efforts to bring recreational options to the west bank communities. The department, along with other parish administrators, broke ground on an airnasium facility for the West Bank Park Complex.