LOCAL 10: School Bus Forms, July Deadlines and Hastings Plans
Local blacksmith Louis Groth turns coal into coke while heating the forge at Little Log House Village in historic Hastings, Minnesota. Photo by HastingsNow.com
School transportation forms, a donation match, water-treatment funding, upcoming performances and useful dates lead HastingsNow’s Wednesday brief.
Weather companion
Wednesday, July 29, will be mostly sunny and hot in Hastings, with a high near 90°F, patchy smoke from late morning into midday and a small chance of showers or thunderstorms after 3:00 PM. Wednesday night turns mostly clear with a low near 68°F; read the complete forecast and local history in today’s Hastings Weather + On This Date.
Wednesday’s LOCAL 10 begins with three updates carrying meaningful deadlines or long-term public impact.
School families have transportation decisions to review, Hastings Family Service is approaching the end of its July donation challenge and the City has published new figures on its effort to fund water-treatment infrastructure.
Top 3 Today
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
1. Hastings school-bus forms are due August 7
Photo by HastingsNow.com
ISD 200 families should review the district’s transportation instructions for the 2026–27 school year before Friday, August 7.
The required form depends on the student and family’s transportation plans. The district is collecting K–8 transportation opt-outs, grades 9–12 transportation opt-ins and requests for courtesy stops.
Not every family needs to complete every form. Parents and guardians should use the Hastings Public Schools transportation update to determine which instructions apply to their students.
2. Hastings Family Service’s July donation match ends Friday
Photo by HastingsNow.com
Monetary donations received or postmarked by Friday, July 31, will qualify for a proportionate match through the Open Your Heart Summer Challenge.
The campaign helps Hastings Family Service support food assistance and its other community services during a time of year when donations can slow while families’ needs continue.
Residents interested in participating can read the Hastings Family Service July match information. The available matching fund will be distributed proportionately among participating food shelves rather than as a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar match on each donation.
3. Hastings continues pursuing funding for three water-treatment plants
The City of Hastings continues seeking state and federal assistance for three planned treatment plants intended to remove PFAS and nitrates from the municipal water system.
The City currently reports that $23.3 million has been secured toward an estimated construction cost of $70.3 million. That leaves a substantial funding gap as planning and advocacy continue.
Residents can follow the figures, project background and future updates through the City’s official PFAS and drinking-water information page.
Quick Hits
4. Hastings Concert Association season-pass price rises August 1
The Hastings Concert Association says its season pass will remain available for $80 through Friday, July 31. The price increases to $130 on Saturday, August 1.
Prospective passholders can review the current announcement and purchasing information through the association’s first-party season-pass post.
5. Black Dirt Theater has three final performances of “Matilda”
Photo by HastingsNow.com
Black Dirt Theater’s production of “Matilda the Musical” returns to Hastings High School at 7:00 PM Thursday, July 30, and Friday, July 31. The final performance begins at 2:00 PM Saturday, August 1.
The production is a ticketed, family-oriented public event. Online ticket sales close at 5:00 PM on each performance day, and ticketing fees may apply.
Performance and ticket information is available from Black Dirt Theater.
6. ECFE will offer a baby-massage class this September
Hastings Community Education ECFE is preparing a September infant-massage class at the Tilden Community Center for parents or caregivers attending with their babies.
The class will be led by a licensed parent and family educator who is also a certified infant-massage instructor.
Complete session dates, times, age guidance and pricing were not included in the feed announcement. Families should consult the official Hastings ECFE page before registering.
7. January Spiral Yoga class packs expire at the end of July
Spiral Yoga is reminding customers that its class packs expire six months after purchase. That makes the end of July the final opportunity to use eligible packs purchased in January 2026.
The reminder does not apply to every customer or every type of pass. Customers can review the expiration rules through Spiral Yoga’s pricing and policies page.
8. Hastings athlete Emma Hood takes second at Adaptive CrossFit Games
Emma Hood of Hastings Strength & Conditioning–CrossFit HSC earned second place in her Adaptive CrossFit Games division.
Published final standings from the competition in San Jose, California, list Hood with 600 points. Readers can see the results in the Adaptive CrossFit Games standings.
9. Hastings National Night Out is August 4 at Lions Park
Photo of National Night Out 2025 by HastingsNow.com
Hastings National Night Out will run from 5:30 to 7:30 PM Tuesday, August 4, at Lions Park, 1043 Fifth Street W.
The public community celebration brings residents together with neighbors, community partners and local public-safety personnel. Additional information is available on the City’s National Night Out page.
10. Los Rebeldes headline Thursday’s free Music + Market
Los Rebeldes will perform during Music + Market from 6:00 to 8:30 PM Thursday, July 30, at Levee Park.
The free, all-ages gathering also includes a makers market, children’s activities and food vendors. Vendors may accept cash, cards or both, and outdoor programming remains subject to weather-related changes.
The complete date and program appear in the City of Hastings’ 2026 community-events schedule.
If you only click one
School transportation decisions can affect a family’s daily routine for the entire academic year, making the ISD 200 transportation update today’s most broadly useful link.
Families should review it before the August 7 deadline and complete only the forms that apply to their students.
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