The Dos Palos Lions Cotton Festival begins Thursday and continues through Aug. 26 at O'Banion Park, corner of Center Avenue and Ione Street in Dos Palos. The Miss Dos Palos Pageant is Thursday at 6 p.m., and the parade is Friday at 6 p.m. Softball and horseshoe tournaments are planned Aug. 25 and 26, with live music, food, carnival rides and booths during the four-day run. For more or to sign up for a booth, call Dos Palos City Hall at (209) 392-2174. | Full Story

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS Updated: Aug. 16, 2012 7:34 PM | Full Story

Auditions for models ages 5 to 25 for the fourth annual Fashion In Winterland Runway Show will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at St. Alban's Anglican Church, 401 W. L St. Organizers ask models to bring headshots. For more information, call Susan Benson at (209) 509-9684 or Elvira Grimes at (209) 489-4969. | Full Story

The Los Banos Arts Council plans a concert Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Six Deadly Venoms, a bluegrass sextet, will play at the Ted Falasco Arts Center, 1105 Fifth St. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for Los Banos Unified School District employees. A limited number of $5 tickets are available for students. For tickets, call Cyndi Roelofs at (209) 826-6132. | Full Story

Martin Luther King Jr. Early Childhood Development Center is accepting applications. Limited space is available in the full-day and part-day program for children 3 to 5 years old, who are not yet eligible for kindergarten, and who are from low-income families. For qualification guidelines and enrollment information, call site supervisor Carrie St. Marie at (209) 826-1011. | Full Story

The first FFA and Ag Booster meeting of the school year will be at 7 p.m. Monday at DES Hall, 1155 I St. A barbecue will take place from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. The event is a chance to meet ag teachers and FFA officers, review upcoming events, and kick off the 2012-13 school year. | Full Story

Manna Ministries. The local library. The Freedom Fund Banquet. There are plenty of things to see and do in Los Banos, Dos Palos, Gustine and nearby Merced County towns. Check out our calendar of events happening near you from Friday, July 6 and beyond. Updated: Jul. 3, 2012 9:27 PM | Full Story

Pianist John Nilsen. College for Kids. There are plenty of things to see and do in Los Banos, Dos Palos, Gustine and nearby Merced County towns. Check out our calendar of events happening near you from Friday, July 29 and beyond. Updated: Jul. 3, 2012 9:26 PM | Full Story