✈️ Airport backs off noise mitigation plan

✈️ Airport Grounds Noise Mitigation Plan

• The new executive director of Dane County Regional Airport says the airport is withdrawing its plan to mitigate aircraft noise from F-35 fighters stationed at the airport.
• The voluntary plan called for changing flight paths and modifying runways to reduce noise that impacts an estimated 2,200 residents by 2027. But expecting little funding support from the Federal Aviation Administration, Director Mark Papko said the airport is withdrawing and revaluating the plan.
• In the spring, the U.S. Department of Defense rejected a proposal from the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs to provide sound insulation for 160 homes near the airport. [ 🔒 WSJ, WPR]

🍎 Food Pantry for College Students Expects Demand To Surge

• Open Seat, the UW-Madison campus food pantry run by students for students, has grown exponentially since it opened a decade ago, and volunteers expect the need to rise this semester.
• The pantry, which gets food and products from Second Harvest Food Pantry and the State Street Target, has seen demand rise sharply each fall as more and more students experience food insecurity. Over the summer, the pantry moved to a larger location on the third floor of the Student Activity Center to accommodate the need to store more items. [WMTV]

🌹 Olbrich To Bolster Security for GLEAM Exhibit

• This year’s GLEAM outdoor art exhibit at Olbrich Botanical Gardens will have a new feature – temporary security cameras. Following a stream of vandalism and theft incidents, the Board of Parks Commissioners voted to install the cameras for the duration of GLEAM, which begins Aug. 30 and runs through Oct. 25.
• GLEAM features 10 large-scale light sculptures created by artists from all over the world, it’s also Olbrich’s biggest fundraiser. Officials said the cameras would be removed once GLEAM is over. [Olbrich Gardens, Cap Times]

True confession: When I first moved to Madison, I thought that Old Sauk Road was actually named “Old Sock Road.” While you are probably smarter than I am, there’s a lot of things to learn when you move to a new city that the locals already seem to know.

Listen to the City Cast Madison podcast today as host Bianca Martin, producer Jade Iseri-Ramos, and I discuss our favorite “life hacks” that will make living in Madison much more successful for you.

Here’s a few hacks that both newcomers and longtime residents could benefit from.

🚙 Highway M

Speaking of roads, if you’re driving in Madison, you often have to drive from the east side of town to the west side, or vice versa. It feels like there are only two options – drive through downtown or go around on the Beltline.

But there’s a third option to consider: County Highway M. Looping north around Lake Mendota and past Governor Nelson State Park, it can be a lifesaver to avoid traffic in the more heavily-traveled parts of Madison. And it’s also a lovely rural drive.

🚲 Bike Elevator at Monona Terrace

Here’s another traffic life hack, this time for cyclists. You’re biking up the Capital City Bike Trail up John Nolen Drive, and want to head to the Capitol Square, maybe for Concerts on the Square or the farmers’ market. But there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to get there without having to cross John Nolen and taking a bunch of narrow one-way streets uphill.

But there is! Monona Terrace has a dedicated exterior bike elevator. Walk your bike in, hit the Level 5 button and it’ll take you up to Olin Terrace, where you can then bike down MLK Blvd. Easy peasy!

🚻 Downtown Public Bathrooms

If you’re downtown (especially with young kids), you may find yourself with the need to find a public bathroom to use. Monona Terrace, Overture Center, the Madison Public Library’s Central Branch, and of course the Capitol all have accessible (and quite beautiful) restrooms for public use.

These wheels are located on the wall of Oishi Sushi at Emerald and Park streets!

🎉 Congratulations to Drew L., Amy H., and Jamie N. for being the first three people to get it right!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Do you know where this epic monster battle is happening? A few clues:

• It’s not at a fixed location, but travels to various locations around town. (I took a picture of it last weekend at OutReach Magic Pride Festival!)
• It’s owned by a business who has been featured on the City Cast Madison podcast before.
• If you guess right, it’ll be a “smash” hit!