As the summer heats up and school winds down, let take a look at some of the highlights from this week:

-Playing in Carnegie Hall is something many musicians dream of checking off their life-long “bucket” list. This summer Morgantown Arts Academy violinist Darren Smith will get to check off that honor at the age of 14. The son of George Smith and Delphine Brent, Darren submitted an audition tape and was selected out of more than 1,000 applications as one the country’s highest rated middle school performers. Congratulations to Darren for being selected for such a prestigious honor.

-The boat ramp at Natchez Under-the-Hill and across the river on the Vidalia riverfront will be a bit busier this summer thanks to the addition of two new riverboats on the river. The addition of American Cruise Line’s America and French America Line’s Louisiane is a welcome boost to Natchez’s tourism industry.

-Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Natchez Police Department officers carried the Special Olympics torch through the streets of downtown Natchez as part of the annual torch run across the state. Local law enforcement not only raised awareness about Special Olympics, but also carried the flame of hope for many of the area’s athletes who went to compete in the state games in Biloxi Saturday.

-“Modern” may not be the first word that comes to mind when one thinks about Natchez. That may change, thanks to the Mississippi Museum of Art’s Mapping a Modern Mississippi initiative. Representatives from the museum spent two days filming and interviewing residents who ‘dare to be different.’ Thanks to the museum for showing that Natchez is much more than Civil War history and antebellum house tours.

A week away from the traditional start of the summer season, let’s always be on the lookout for what makes our corner of southwest Mississippi special.