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. James Boat Club in Gramercy, which sponsored its annual Jr. Chopique fishing rodeo recently. More than 100 children paid the 25-cent registration fee to compete in the event, which is regularly held on the last summer weekend before school resumes in the River Parishes.

• St. John Theatre, which, with the help of Missoula Children’s Theatre of Montana, organized a workshop for children in the River Region interested in refining their acting skills. The weeklong workshop culminated with a musical version of “Robin Hood.”

• The St. Charles Parish school system, which recently sponsored a healthy living workshop for

school administrators, nurses,

cafeteria workers and P.E. teachers. The workshop included seminars

on nutrition and tobacco-free

living, Zumba lessons and tennis demonstrations. The goal of the program was for teachers and administrators to further relay the healthy living information to students.

• St. Charles Parish residents Brandie Clement and Kristen Latour, the big winners in the recent St. Charles Festival Pageant. Clement, 19, a sophomore at Southeastern took Miss St. Charles, while Latour, 14, a freshman at Destrehan High School, earned the teen queen honors.