Howdy, Hutto. Hope everyone is recovering nicely from the Fourth: hot dogs, hamburgers, park time, fireworks, and that uniquely Texas feeling of wondering why we celebrate summer holidays outside. This week, we’re watching a new coffee spot as 7 Brew Coffee plans a Hutto location, catching up on City Council’s fire service discussion, checking in on growth at The Hippo Escape food truck park, and celebrating a big Hippo Nation moment as Hutto High School standout Jaiden Fields announces his college commitment. All that and this week’s weather below. Thanks for stopping by.

Quick local updates from around town.

Jaiden Fields Commitment | Hutto High School athlete Jaiden Fields will announce his college decision today at 1 p.m. at Hutto High School after narrowing his list to Oklahoma, SMU, Texas A&M, TCU, and Stanford.

Fire Service Discussion | Hutto City Council is weighing the future of local fire service, including a possible city-owned fire station and fire department, as city leaders, Hutto Fire Rescue, and residents look for more clarity on costs, oversight, and next steps.

7 Brew Planned | 7 Brew Coffee is planning a drive-thru location at 130 Chris Kelley Blvd., with public filings pointing to a targeted completion date of September 2026.

Downtown Food Truck | Shelly’s Heart and Soul Food has relocated to The Hippo Escape at 209 Farley St. in downtown Hutto after opening earlier this year.

New Wellness Clinic | The Longevity Gym Physical Therapy & Wellness opened June 20 at 21220 Jakes Hill Road, offering physical therapy, movement assessments, and wellness-focused services.

Developers Mixer | The Hutto Chamber will host a Developers Networking Mixer on July 27 at The Hutto Co-Op, with Williamson County Judge Steve Snell scheduled to speak about development, infrastructure, and regional growth.

Things to do around town from Wednesday through Sunday.

Summer Storytime & Craft
The Story Emporium and Bookshop, 202 US-79
Wednesday, July 8 • 10:45 AM
Garden-themed storytime and felt flower pot craft for ages 3–12, with children’s and middle grade books 10% off on Wednesdays.

Hutto Farmers Market
350 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
Wednesday, July 1 • 3:00–7:00 PM
Local farmers, ranchers, artisans, food vendors, coffee, handmade goods, and more.

Paint & Sip: Inclusive Art Experience
Hutto Wine Bar, 105 East St.
Wednesday, July 8 • 5:00 PM
Step-by-step canvas painting experience led by artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities; tickets are $45 and include materials plus one complimentary drink ticket.

Anime & Manga Club for Teens
The Story Emporium and Bookshop, 202 US-79
Wednesday, July 8 • 5:30 PM
Laid-back anime and manga hangout for ages 13–18, with fandom discussion, recommendations, and snacks and drinks available for purchase.

Power Breakfast
EWCHEC, 1600 Innovation Blvd., 3rd Floor
Thursday, July 9 • 8:00 AM
Morning networking event from the Hutto Chamber of Commerce with coffee, local business leaders, community partners, and updates on what’s happening around town.

Classic Movie Club: The Land Before Time
Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St.
Thursday, July 9 • 4:00 PM
Family-friendly screening of the animated dinosaur classic, with snacks and drinks provided.

Sip & Scribble: Adult Coloring Night
Cottonwood Creek Brewery, 610 US-79
Thursday, July 9 • 6:30 PM
Laid-back adult coloring night with drinks, good vibes, and coloring supplies provided.

Moving Stories
The Story Emporium and Bookshop, 202 US-79
Friday, July 10 • 11:30 AM
Free first-come, first-served storytelling class for ages 4–12, where kids use figures and a sand tray to build stories through hands-on guided play.

Teatime Adventures
The Story Emporium and Bookshop, 202 US-79
Friday, July 10 • 12:30 PM
Beginner-friendly teen tabletop roleplaying game for ages 13–18, with all materials provided and spots available first-come, first-served for up to 6 players.

Head & Heart Craft Night
Mini Mischief Ranch, 12000 FM 1660
Friday, July 10 • 7:00 PM
Outdoor succulent-arrangement craft night with beginner-friendly instruction, a golden-hour animal meet-and-greet, and light refreshments; tickets are $45.

July Star Party
Hutto Lake Park, 805 Estate Dr.
Friday, July 10 • 9:30 PM
Free stargazing event from Stars & Science Austin; bring your own telescope if you have one, with a rain/cloud makeup date planned for Saturday, July 11.

Pickleball Lessons
Riverwalk Park, 1 Riverwalk Dr.
Saturday, July 11 • 9:00 AM
Free youth and family pickleball lesson for ages 10+ with Hutto Parks & Recreation instructor Michael Dolan; some equipment will be available.

End of Summer Bookshop Bash
The Story Emporium and Bookshop, 202 US-79
Saturday, July 11 • 10:00 AM
All-day summer send-off with a fairy meet-and-greet, piñata, clearance deals, teacher and student perks, and a school supplies raffle.

Pints & Planters
Cottonwood Creek Brewery, 610 US-79
Saturday, July 11 • 1:00 PM
Sip, paint, and plant your own custom succulent planter; $23.11 ticket includes a planter, succulent, painting supplies, and a house beer.

The Craft Squad: Drawstring Bag Craft
Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St.
Saturday, July 11 • 3:00 PM
Free craft hour for ages 9+, featuring a drawstring bag project; no registration required, with supplies available while they last.

Learn to Draw with Bill
Cumberland Road Art Studio, 3333 CR 119, Unit 133
Saturday, July 11 • 3:00 PM
Beginner-friendly drawing class for ages 14+ with instructor Bill Hanson; tickets are $50 and basic supplies are provided.

Hot Rod Nights at Top Notch
Top Notch Hamburgers, 121 Co-Op Blvd.
Saturday, July 11 • 5:30 PM
Free monthly classic car and hot rod show with vintage rides, live music, and food; parking opens at 5:30 p.m., with additional parking available in the parking garage.

Live Music: Curt and Hannah
Cottonwood Creek Brewery, 610 US-79
Saturday, July 11 • 6:00 PM
Live music at Cottonwood Creek Brewery featuring Curt and Hannah.

Cars & Boba
Oh My Tea, 722 US-79 W., Suite 120
Sunday, July 12 • 8:00 AM
Morning car meet with community cars, live music from Fieldcraft Music, and a buy-one-get-one-half-off drink or food special during the event.

A quick recap of what Hutto City Council covered last week.

Hutto City Council’s July 2 meeting brought the city’s fire service conversation back to the front burner, with council members discussing what it would take to study a possible city-owned fire department.

Councilmember Corina Zepeda requested a clearer look at the long-term financial impact, including what a city-run department could cost beyond the initial startup phase. The discussion centered on transparency, taxpayer impact, and whether the city needs outside expertise to fully understand the financial and operational picture.

By the end of the discussion, council directed the Hutto Economic Development Corporation to select a consultant to study the long-term costs and requirements of a city-owned fire department. That does not mean Hutto has created a fire department — it means the city is moving toward a more detailed analysis.

The issue is also tied to Hutto’s relationship with Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 3, which currently provides fire service in the area. After executive session, council directed staff to bring back an interlocal agreement with ESD No. 3, using a Round Rock-area agreement as a possible model.

In other council business, Jerrel W. Reynolds was sworn in as the new Place 1 councilmember, Charles Warner was recognized for his service, and Peter Porterfield was elected Mayor Pro Tem. Council also heard possible charter change recommendations and approved an amendment to the Paradigm Manufacturing development agreement.

The takeaway: Hutto’s fire service discussion is still in the study-and-negotiation stage, but it is shaping up to be one of the city’s biggest long-term decisions, touching public safety, taxes, growth, and future city services.

Sports news and updates from Hippo Nation.

One of Hutto High School’s top athletes is ready to make his college choice.

Jaiden Fields is scheduled to announce his commitment today at 1 p.m. at Hutto High School, choosing from a final group that includes Oklahoma, SMU, Texas A&M, TCU, and Stanford. The commitment will mark a major milestone for one of the top athletes in Texas and a big moment for Hippo Nation heading into the 2026 football season. The decision comes after a huge junior year for Fields, who finished the 2025 season with 1,345 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

No matter where he lands, it is another proud moment for Hutto football — and a reminder that college programs across the country are paying attention to what is happening here.

A running list of businesses, restaurants and developments headed our way.

Jason’s Deli | Sprouts development at SH 130 and US 79 • Opening TBD

Buffalo Wild Wings | 2270 Muirfield Drive • Expected September 2026

7 Brew Coffee | 130 Chris Kelley Blvd. • Expected September 2026

Dollar Tree | 150 Alliance Blvd. • Expected Fall 2026

Petco | 150 Alliance Blvd. • Expected late 2026

Antioch Pizza | 199 Co-op Blvd. • Opening soon; timeline TBD

El Pollo Rico | 901 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Under construction; opening date TBD

HTeaO | Across from the KFC on Chris Kelley Blvd. • Announced; permitting and construction timeline TBD

Munch Munch Waffles & More | 170 Alliance Blvd., Suite 100 • Buildout expected July 2026–January 2027

Sprouts Farmers Market | SH 130 and US 79 development • Construction listed September 2026–February 2028

LongHorn Steakhouse | Sprouts development at SH 130 and US 79 • Announced; opening date TBD

Residence Inn by Marriott | 328 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • City Council approved the hotel PUD; timeline TBD

Cottonwood Marketplace | North of US 79 and west of CR 132 • 58-acre retail project planned; tenants and timeline TBD

Mostly accurate forecast until Texas decides otherwise.

The week starts very Hutto-in-July: hot, mostly sunny, and humid, with highs pushing the upper 90s by midweek. Rain chances return Friday and become more noticeable over the weekend, bringing slightly cooler temperatures but a better shot at scattered storms.

☀️ Tue–Thu: Hot and mostly clear, with highs around 95–98° and lows in the mid-70s. Heat index could climb near 106° Wednesday.

🌤️ Friday: Mostly sunny and a little cooler, with a high near 94° and a slight chance of an afternoon shower.

🌧️ Saturday: Scattered thunderstorms possible, especially later in the day, with a cooler high near 87°.

🌦️ Sunday: Storm chances stick around, with a high near 91° and another warm, muggy night near 76°.

👉 TL;DR: Hot, then stormy

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