July started out with a bang in the Miss-Lou — literally.

The community Fourth of July fireworks celebration was one of the best in years, most who witnessed it have proclaimed, and the holiday festivities were an all around fun time.

But the week didn’t slow down after Monday. Let’s review some of the other good news the first week of July brought us.

• Music and fun took the stage again in Ferriday Saturday while shopping and arts drew onlookers in Natchez for the monthly Second Saturday event. Local artist Rolland Golden opened up a new art gallery on Main Street, adding to the downtown options for tourists and locals.

• Preparation work for the second phase of the Natchez Trails Project is under way. Locals gathered Thursday to share memories and photos of St. Catherine Street, which is included in the next phase. The information gathered will be used in plaques along the trail when it reaches the street.

• Fisher Iseminger may be a budding author/illustrator, but her dreams are headed for outer space. The Cathedral School fourth grader recently won the first-place award at the Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s 2011 PBS Kids Go Writing Contest. Her career goal, though, is to be aerospace engineer. Best of luck Fisher, you are well on your way.

• The Green Alliance hosted a Christmas in July workshop Saturday, teaching locals how to recycle household items to create holiday decorations. Thanks for the great ideas and fun afternoon.

The week to come may not be as loud as the last, but it will surely be just as bright.