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.

This week we salute:

• Catherine Monica and the rest of the winners at the St. John Sugar Queen Pageant. Monica was crowned Sugar Queen LXII and will represent the parish at the state competition in New Iberia in September.

• Marathon refinery in Garyville, which continued its works with area schools with a backpack giveaway. Nearly 180 backpacks filled with school supplies were given away to students at Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School and East St. John Elementary School. Employee donations to the program, in its third year, were matched by the company.

• Trenese and Trenell Smith, former Reserve Christian basketball players who recently took over coaching duties at Riverside Academy. As players, the twin sisters helped elevate the basketball programs at both Reserve Christian and Loyola University, and they hope to do the same for the girls basketball program at RA.

• Courtney Boe, the local actress who is making a mark for herself as one of the Victory Belles at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Boe has appeared in countless productions from St. John Theatre in Reserve to a stint as Tinkerbell at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.