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 and play.

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:

• St. John the Baptist Parish officials, who broke ground Friday on the Red Barn Farmers Market in Wallace. The long-awaited market, which is slated to open in about four months, will have selling space for at least 10 local growers and crafters and will give farmers a safer location to peddle their crops.

• The residents, firefighters, sheriffs deputies and other first responders in St. John the Baptist Parish, who attended remembrance events to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A concert was held at St. John Theatre Sept. 10, and a poignant ceremony took place Sept. 11.

• St. John School Board member Gerald Keller, who, along with E. Darroch Watson, published a pictorial history book about the community of Reserve. The 128-page book is a good read for any regular history buff, but it also has some great local appeal.

• The German Coast Farmers Market in St. Charles Parish, which was recently named Louisiana’s Favorite Farmers Market, as well as the eighth best small farmers market in the nation by the American Farmland Trust. More than 80,000 people from across the country voted.