You would never know it trying to cross Hillsborough Street at lunchtime, but Raleigh has notched an award as one of the most walkable U.S. cities.

The Oak City's nod comes from the American Podiatric Medical Association -- a fancy name for a bunch of foot doctors -- who gave Raleigh the No. 10 spot.

The top nine that edged out Raleigh, in order of most walkable: Portland, Ore.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Madison, Wis.; Boise, Idaho; Austin, Texas; Las Vegas; Virginia Beach, Va.; Anchorage, Alaska; and Fremont, Calif.

TILTING TOWARD WINDMILLS: Wake Commissioner candidate Michael Luther thinks we should all consider how "home windmills" could meet all of our electricity needs.

"Windmill technology is advancing rapidly," he wrote in an e-mail message Thursday to Cary town officials. "I envision a 10 foot structure that attaches to the back of the house, that will not go over the roof line, and will not be visible from the front."

A TALE OF TWO TREES: No four city blocks in the history of the world ever got more scrutiny than Raleigh's downtown Fayetteville Street, soon to be fully revamped with spiffy sidewalk cafes and multicolored chandeliers.

The city planted a row of them to enhance Fayetteville Street's $10 million makeover, but two got stuck in front of WTVD's flashy news ticker. The television station asked for them to be replanted elsewhere so downtown walkers could catch the latest buzz from Afghanistan or the U.S. Supreme Court as they sipped a hot latte.

Raleigh's council was receptive -- at least, most of its members were. Councilman Thomas Crowder took a personal tour of the ticker, snapped some photographs and became the trees' defender.

Councilman Russ Stephenson seconded his objection and added that the station might consider sucking it up a little bit for the sake of much-needed shade.

* WAKE COUNTY YOUNG REPUBLICANS: Monthly meeting Monday at Moonlight Pizza, 615 W. Morgan St. in Raleigh. Dinner costs $6 and begins at 6:30 p.m.

* WAKE DEMOCRATIC MEN'S CLUB: Dinner meeting Monday at the Clarion Hotel's Four Sisters Meeting Room at 320 W. Hillsborough St. Registration begins at 6 p.m. Dinner costs $16 and will be served at 6:30 p.m.

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