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:

• Executives and employees of Marathon Refinery in Garyville, who unveiled the new $3.9 billion expansion project to the public last week. This is the first new refinery to be built in the United States in 33 years and could eventually become the third largest refinery in the nation.

• Riverside Academy sophomore Ricardo Gathers and senior Cedric Jenkins, who were named to the Class 2A all-state boys basketball first team. (Gathers was named the state’s Most Valuable Player.)

• West St. John senior Kyla Morris, who was an honorable mention selection to the Class 2A girls all-state basketball team.

• St. James High School’s Brandi Jeffrey, who was named to the Class 3A girls all-state basketball first team, and teammate Markeisha Keller, who was an honorable mention selection.

• River Parishes Hospital anestesiologist Dr. Sebastian Villarreal, who recently went to Haiti and donated his skills to help earthquake victims in need of medical assistance in that country.

• West St. John High sophomore Lester Rainey III, who has been selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.