California State University, Stanislaus, has started its summer hours schedule, which continues through Aug.24. Office hours are 7:30a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The university will resume its regular 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule Aug. 27. Fall semester classes start Sept. 5. The university's Vasche Library has a separate summer schedule that includes evening hours to accommodate summer session students and faculty. The summer library schedule can be checked on the Web at http://library.csustan.edu/hours/index.html.

Spare the Air days return to the valley

Spare the Air season begins today. While officials of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District might not be able to do much about pollen, they once again plan an aggressive battle against summertime air pollution. Spare the Air season runs through September. During that time, the air district typically forecasts 20 to 45 Spare the Air days, when air quality is expected to be unhealthy.

Officials get update on naval base plan

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors will hear this morning from Gerry Kamilos, the Sacramento-based developer who has until early next year to flesh out plans to reshape the former Naval Air Station at Crows Landing into a business park, industrial center and short-haul rail hub.

Manteca touts new camping megastore

Manteca tourist officials are hoping Bass Pro Shops' new Outdoor World megastore lands a limit's worth of fishing and camping enthusiasts. The store is set to open in November 2008 in the future outdoor "lifestyle" mall south of the Highway 120 Bypass. The Manteca Convention and Visitors Bureau is floating proposals for a presence at the center, maybe even with a log-cabin motif.

Yesteryears

50 YEARS AGO: Ralph E. Johnson, exalted ruler of Modesto Lodge of Elks No. 1282, urged the public to display the Stars and Stripes on Flag Day, June14. The lodge had joined with the 1,800 Elks lodges across the nation in a Show Your Colors campaign in honor of the 180th anniversary of the adoption of the flag.

25 YEARS AGO: Merced Irrigation District officials dedicated a minihydro plant that could produce enough electricity for 1,000 homes. The plant could produce 2.7megawatts of power, said Joe Plagenza, board president. The plant on the district's main canal 10 miles north of Merced was one of a series of minihydro plants being developed by the Turlock, Merced and South San Joaquin irrigation districts. The $5 million plant was to be paid for by power revenue, Plagenza said.

— Donna Falco