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:

• The St. John The Baptist Parish Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters who participated in the second annual “Guns and Hoses” flag football game at Riverside Academy. The football game, which was won by the firefighters, benefits the St. John Ministry of care and helps raise money for the Sheriff’s Office holiday toy drive.

• The teams of cooks who squared off in the first annual St. John’s Top Chef: Cookin’ For a Cause at San Francisco Plantation. The cook-off serves as a benefit for the St. John United Way. Mickey Lemoine, Randy Lea and Isra Thames took first place in the gumbo category, while Bill Russell, Danny Martin, Don Borne and Timmy Cancienne took top honors in the jambalaya category.

• Employees at Marathon Petroleum who participated in the refinery’s annual Halloween event at Ezekiel Jackson Park in Garyville. Employees served up free food to residents in attendance and conducted various activities for children who came out. More than 1,000 residents came out for the event.

• Various St. Charles Parish youth groups who volunteered to clean up the Wetland Watchers Park along the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The volunteers collected 22 bags of trash, including two full bags of recyclables.