After publishing her first book before the age of 11, local author Sydney Stewart was honored at Tuesday’s St. John the Baptist Parish Council Meeting. After receiving a proclamation recognizing her for ‘Beautiful, Wonderful, Marvelous Me!’ the 10-year-old told Council members she hopes her book encourages others to see their inner and outer beauty. Sydney is pictured in front. She is joined by, from left, her mother, Letitia Stewart; Parish President Natalie Robottom and District 4 Councilman Marvin Perrilloux. (Raquel Derganz Baker/L’OBSERVATEUR)