A man is fighting for his life after investigators say he tried to attack police officers while naked and was shot in the process.

Officials say a 39th District Police Officer was patrolling the area of 22nd and Allegheny Avenue around 5:10 a.m. when he spotted a naked man acting in a very "unstable and violent manner."

Police say the man threw a large metal newspaper box as well as large rocks at cars that were passing by. The man was also lying on the ground in the middle of the street in front of a SEPTA bus, according to investigators.

The officer requested backup and then began to follow the suspect as he walked down 22nd Street and onto Westmoreland street. The suspect was then met by two other responding officers, according to investigators.

The suspect then allegedly slammed his hands on the driver's side door of one of the police vehicles. He then allegedly turned toward another police vehicle and punched the windshield, causing it to shatter and explode. Officials say the officer inside drew his weapon while in the driver's seat and fired through the windshield. The suspect was struck once in the right chest and once in the right elbow.

Police say the suspect walked down to Westmoreland and Woodstock streets before collapsing to the ground. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is in critical, but stable condition. No officers were hurt during the incident.

The officer who shot the suspect will be placed on administrative duty as internal affairs investigates the incident. The District Attorney's Office will also review the case.

Another shooting took place in North Philadelphia shortly after 3 a.m. Police say a 16-year-old boy was walking home on the 1500 block of Judson Way after buying food at a Chinese restaurant. Suddenly, investigators say, someone opened fire and the teen was struck in the upper left thigh.

The teen was taken to the hospital where he is in stable condition. Investigators are unsure at this point whether the teen was the intended target or an innocent bystander. No arrests have been made.
 

Drivers who normally use the Broad Street ramp will have to find another route this weekend. The Broad Street (Route 611) ramp to northbound Interstate 95 in Philadelphia is currently closed and detoured.

The ramp was closed Friday at 9 p.m. and will remain so until Monday at 5 a.m. Construction crews are currently working on the ramp.

The construction is part of PennDOT’s $21.6 million project to improve 28 bridges on I-95 in Philadelphia and Delaware County. A PennDOT spokesman says a contractor is working at several locations along I-95 to replace rocker bearings, sliding plates and other materials.

Drivers on Broad Street who want to get on I-95 northbound are advised to follow Broad Street to Packer Avenue, take Packer to Front Street, turn right onto Front Street and then follow it to the ramp on I-95 North.

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A funeral was held today for one of the victims of the deadly Center City building collapse.

Borbor Davis, 68, was one of the six people who died when a four-story building came down on top of a two-story building which housed a Salvation Army Thrift Store back on June 5. Davis was an employee at the thrift store on 2136 Market Street.

Davis had just hung up the phone with his wife 15 minutes before the collapse.

"10:30 he put the phone down, I put the phone in my pocket, I ran upstairs, I said bye, he said bye and he went. 10:45, my daughter called me and said, 'Mom, turn the TV on," turned the tv on and it was bad," said Maggie Davis, his wife.

"I took out my phone right away and called him, he didn't answer me, and we had just put the phone down 15 minutes, so I call him again and I been calling him, he never answered," said Davis.

Davis was a Liberian immigrant, and his family says he loved working at the Salvation Army.

"He was kind and polite, he was very loving, he's a Christian, he loved everybody, he never missed his job, never missed a day, he had 160 sick days and he didn't take any, he was very healthy, he goes to church every Sunday, he was nice," said Davis.

"They looked so good together," said his stepdaughter Maryann M. Mason, who says Davis loved her mom "so much."

A viewing for Davis took place at 9 a.m. at the Faith Immanuel Lutheran Church on 65 Penn Boulevard in East Lansdowne. Funeral services followed at 10 a.m.
 

Tonight an exhibition at the Philadelphia Art Alliance in Rittenhouse Square will host an experimental dinner theater featuring electric ice cream.

The desserts will literally be wired for sound, a kind of surrveillance food.

"We're saying the NSA did it very effectively," said Jon Shapiro, the producer of the evening. "But we're doing it very artistically."

The technology is similar to that of a lie detector test, but instead of your secrets and evasions pushing a needle across graph paper, it's your sweet tooth pushing signals through a MIDI converter.

Here's how it works: A sugar cone is slipped into a sleeve outftted with aluminum leads where your fingertips touch -- leads that are tethered with electric wire. The cone is adorned with a brimming dollop of ice cream (in this case, Salty Chocolate Malted flavor from Little Baby's in Fishtown) and an electric probe is slipped into the cold cream.

When your tongue hits the ice cream, your body completes an electric signal.

Credit: YouTube.com/newsworksdotorg

"By graphing the conductance across a person's skin, and graphing the changes of that conductance, I produce musical notes," said Sam Cusumano, a sound artist in Fishtown who last year, wired up plants in a similar way with the electronic music label Data Garden at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The system, called Music for Ice Cream, is one part of an evening of multi-media dinner theater called "Shooting for the Stars," including an art installation by Candy Coated (a.k.a Candy Dupree), live ambient sound art by New Paradise Laboratories, and a play performed in the Twitter-verse.

"The old paradigm of sit down, shut up, and watch the show doesn't apply to this music," said artist Jon Shapiro, who produced the event. "It's about a larger experience. The more I can curate an environment where something else is going on, the music works subliminaly."

Music for Ice Cream is designed to work best with two users. Cusumano can program each cone to create a different set of tones. When two people eat ice cream simultaneously, their tongues produce random but complementary notes.

"Ice cream is best experienced with friends," Cusumano said.

This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and Newsworks.org.
 

Openly gay legislator Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, has asked the Pennsylvania Legislature to censure Rep. Daryl Metcalfe  for comments made to WHYY on Thursday.

Rep. Metcalfe, R-Butler, told WHYY he prevented his colleague from talking about the Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage on the floor of the Pennsylvania House on Thursday because:

"I did not believe that as a member of that body that I should allow someone to make comments such as he was preparing to make that ultimately were just open rebellion against what the word of God has said, what God has said, and just open rebellion against God's law."

Sims rose again on the House floor Thursday evening to ask the Legislature to reprimand Metcalfe for his comments. He told colleagues he felt that his character had been questioned.

"It is my understanding of the rules of this body that I could never call another member a bigot, a homophobe or a racist, nor would I, but I do ask that this body recognize that the language used against me as a member does not live up to the standards set by this body," he said.

The House determined that it could not censure Metcalfe for comments made elsewhere.

Metcalfe was one of at least two Republican legislators who raised procedural objections that halted Sims from making his comments to the Legislature, including, according to Sims, Rep. Will Tallman, R-Abbottstown, who did not return a request for comment yesterday.

Anti-discrimination fight ahead

In a related matter, Sims plans to reintroduce a bill protecting employees from being discriminated against in the workplace for "sexual orientation and gender identity or expression." The legislation, HB 300, has historically gone through the State Government Committee, which Rep. Metcalfe chairs.

Metcalfe has stated that he will either refuse to bring the bill up for a vote or will bring it up to be defeated quickly.

That has the bill's proponents lobbying House Speaker Sam Smith to send it elsewhere. The bill currently has 88 co-sponsors.

Sims also announced yesterday he plans to introduce a same-sex marriage bill in the legislature.

On Thursday, Smith, R-Jefferson, told Sims the proper procedure under the circumstances would be either going through the Ethics Committee or seeking a House resolution.

Sims told Newsworks/WHYY that he did not plan to pursue the matter.

Some Republicans infuriated

Rep. Mike Fleck, Pennsylvania's first openly gay lawmaker, said of Rep. Metcalfe's move to silence Rep. Sims: "I, like many of my Republican colleagues, was infuriated. I think we should be able to speak on any issue. If you don't like it, you can get up and leave."

When asked if he thought it was appropriate for Rep. Metcalfe to be censured, Fleck said, "I think Representative Metcalfe would love to be censured. I mean, he would love the national press. I mean, quite frankly, that's how he raises money — by exploiting an issue and saying, 'Oh look they're coming after me. Send me 5 bucks.' So you know, I seriously don't blame Representative Sims for wanting due recourse and all this, but I just don't know what is gained throughout the whole thing."

Fleck, R-Huntingdon, said Metcalfe has "certainly lost a lot of respect by many members," because of the flap over Sims' attempt to speak.

He said he's not sure the 'God's law' statement is grounds for censure, because it didn't happen within the confines of being in session and on the House floor.

Fleck said, "when I came out, the majority of my colleagues — anyone under 45 — it was more or less a non-issue for them."

Credit: Pa. House

This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org.

Editor's Note: 10 Questions is a new weekly feature on NBC10.com. If you know someone who we should profile, please email us.

Lee Tusman is a curator from and living in Philadelphia. He's the creative director of Hidden City Philadelphia.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I've been creative director of Hidden City for almost two years. Prior to that, I was a curator at universities and museums in Philadelphia and California. Most recently, I was a curator at the Riverside Art Museum in California. I grew up in Philly and it's nice to be in my own city and discover new places and open them up to the public. There's a certain joy in that.

What is Hidden City?

It's a project that connects people and places. It connects people to the overlooked places around the city via tours and events, online and during the Hidden City Festival.

What is the Hidden City Festival?

It's a six week festival that celebrates these hidden places around Philadelphia. This year is our second festival, the first one was held in 2009. The festival boasts projects that are working in temporary spaces with new ideas. You can get a day pass for $20 or a weekend pass for $40 and see as many spaces as you want.

Describe some of the spaces.

There are spaces all over the city, such as Fort Mifflin near the airport. It's 300 years old with Ruins at High Battery, a treehouse looking structure. There's also the ADMK Knit Lab at Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel in South Philly. It feels like you are stepping into an earlier era. The first floor is a synagogue and the second floor is a knitting lab. 

Where did this idea come from?

Thaddeus Squire started it in 2009. He wanted to use contemporary art to connect people to spaces. It was a great hybrid for people interested in historic preservation and people interested in art who want to learn about history.

How many sites are there this year?

There are 9 sites. A call for proposals went out and we received 150 proposals. Nine projects were chosen. The Edgar Allen Poe house in Philadelphia is being used for example.  

What does a creative director do?

A curator figures out what work makes a good visitor experience. With Hidden City, you get to identify projects that are overlooked spaces around the city and work with the public to put tours and events together. 

Who makes up the Hidden City initiative?

There are 600 members who receive discounts on tours. We are a small non-profit with a small staff. The response has been quite high because we are very unique. There are no examples of what we do in Philly and around the country. The intention of our initiative is to bring this idea to other cities. 

Describe an interesting Hidden City experience that brings a new twist to public space.

We received a proposal from Jacob Wick of Oakland. His idea was to open up Germantown Town Hall and bring life to it. The space had been closed for 15 years. It's now a citizens town hall. The residents of Germantown have formed their own use of the space, they've created maps and archives. It's now emerged as an independent city and we can see it thrive. They have meetings all the time and talk through the issues. You can see the social and political impact of this art project.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

The trick is to find out what motivates you and figure out how to make that a transformational experience. Find your passion and what brings joy to your day in and out. It's figuring out the excitement of the day and let that show through your work.

A man is dead and two people are injured after a house fire in Delaware.

The two-alarm blaze broke out Saturday around 11 p.m. on the 700 block of Money Road in Townsend, New Castle County. Firefighters were able to control the blaze shortly before 12:30 a.m.

Police say a woman escaped from the home and was taken to Christiana Hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation. She is currently in good condition. Firefighters later found a man dead inside the home after the flames were extinguished.

A firefighter was also hurt after a wall fell on top of him, injuring his leg. He was also taken to Christiana Hospital where he was treated and released.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire. They also say an autopsy will be performed on the male victim. There were no working smoke alarms inside the home, according to investigators.

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Darren Daulton, a beloved member of the Philadelphia Phillies for 14 seasons, will undergo surgery Monday after he was diagnosed with two brain tumors.

He thanked his fans today for the outpouring of support he’s received since 97.5, the radio station where he hosts "Talking Baseball with Dutch," broke the news Friday.

“I want to thank everyone for your uplifting support. Special thanks to the Phillies and 97.5 The Fanatic. Right on, fight on! Love ya, Dutch,” Daulton said in statement released by 97.5.

In a statement posted on their website , the station announced that Daulton had not been feeling well for the past two weeks and went to the doctor, who discovered the tumors.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this difficult time," said the station.

The late Harry Kalas, pictured on the right with Daulton, once referred to him as the "all time clubhouse leader of the Philadelphia Phillies."

Daulton, 51, now chairs the Darren Daulton Foundation, which helps in the development of youth sports programs and homelessness organizations.

According to Daulton's website, he's not sure where his nickname of "Dutch" originated, but says some of his teammates also called him "Bubba" because of his leadership skills.

Daulton played his last season of baseball with the Florida Marlins in 1997, ending his career with a World Series title. He was inducted into the Phillies Hall of Fame in 2010.

Phillies President David Montgomery issued a statement this afternoon, “We’re saddened by the news about Darren. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time. We, along with our fans, are praying for a full recovery.”

97.5 offered up Daulton's email address of  dutch@975thefanatic.com to anyone who would like to send their well wishes.

At least four people are hurt after a car slammed into a bagel shop in Burlington County.

Officials say the car crashed into “Bordentown Bagels” on 5 Mission Road in Bordentown Township, NJ. The owner of the shop tells NBC10 that four employees were inside when a customer's car came barreling through the front window.

At least four people were injured during the accident and at least one woman was transported to the hospital. Officials have not yet revealed how severe those injuries are or how the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

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Two women are fighting for their lives after a shooting on the Camden waterfront.

Police say the women were on the waterfront early Sunday around 3:30 a.m. when an unknown suspect opened fire. Both women were struck and taken to the hospital where they are in critical but stable condition.

Police believe a brawl sparked the shooting. It’s unconfirmed if the women were the intended targets or innocent bystanders. No arrests have been made.

The shooting happened a few hours after a Dave Matthews Band concert and a Cirque du Soleil show took place near the waterfront. It’s unconfirmed if the women, who have not yet been identified, attended either event.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

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Police are on the hunt for two men who they say targeted a home owner in the Grays Ferry section of the city.

The masked men broke into a home on the 1300 block of South 30th Street around 6 a.m. on Sunday, according to investigators. Once inside, the men allegedly tied up the homeowner, stole a flat screen TV, the victim’s Toyota Camry with handicapped tags and an undetermined amount of cash.  They then fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Investigators say the victim managed to free himself and call police about an hour later. He was not seriously injured.

No arrests have been made. Police have not yet released a description of the suspects.

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Delaware State Police have canceled the Amber Alert for a 1-year-old Delaware boy.

Police say 1-year-old Zyron Johnson-Graham was abducted from his home on the 100 block of West Loockerman Street in Dover, Delaware, Sunday morning by his own father, 21-year-old Kayron X Graham. Kayron allegedly committed a home invasion before he took his son.

State Police issued an Amber Alert, stating that the child was in "imminent danger."

Around 1:15 p.m., police announced that the Amber Alert had been canceled and that the boy was found safe and in good health at a home in Dover. Investigators say his father is still on the loose however.

Kayron Graham is described as a black male standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Investigators also say Graham may be traveling in a beige 2006 Ford Taurus with a Delaware registration #172074. Investigators also say the vehicle has damage on the driver’s side and a driver’s side mirror that is either missing or hanging from the vehicle.

If you have any information on the man's whereabouts, please call 911 immediately or the Dover Police Department at 302-736-7139.

 

Kiss a pig. Sleep on the roof. Get duct-taped to the wall. Take a pie to the face. Shave your head

For years, teachers have been challenging their students to reach their goals but, more often than not, these challenges have been met with bizarre rewards.

Years ago, a principal at Quarter Mile Lane School in Bridgeton ate three live goldfish to aid the students achievements in the "Read Across America,'' program. Also in Cumberland County, the Downe Township Elementary school principal and superintendent went ``camping'' on the school's stage to support the kids during their "Camp Read-a-Book,'' program. The camping also included a "crawling creatures pie'' with chocolate-covered crickets and ants.

At Lake Tract Elementary School in Deptford, the principal and a physical education teacher kissed piglets, in honor of the students' achievements in a school fundraiser for juvenile diabetes. A principal in Williamstown, as part of a campaign for Alex's Lemonade Stand, was duct taped to a wall outside his cafeteria after students bought a strip of tape for $1 each.

In the dead of winter, three teachers at Bunker Hill Middle School in Washington Township spent the night on the roof, after the students exceeded their fundraising goal for Toys for Tots. This was the same school where one of the teachers braided his long hair into cornrows, dressed up like a woman and danced to an Aerosmith song.

Speaking of changing appearances in the name of fundraising, a physics teacher from Clearview Regional High School shaved his beard in the school hallway, after milestone fundraising for a student who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in the prior year.

These events, although eye-catching, raise questions about the effectiveness of the acts.

"I would definitely do it. During my student teaching (at Clearview Middle School) we had all the teachers get dressed up for the Hunger Games. It was to try and get kids excited about the Hunger Games books and a way to have the teachers be involved as well,'' said Larae D'Angelo, 23, a recent college graduate and education major. ``It was fun. Teachers will do all they can to make their students engaged and excited'' she told the South Jersey Times.

As engaging and exciting as these events may be, the question is still being raised, as to if children are really learning anything from pies in the face, or pig kissing. According to Steve Baker, associate director of public relations at the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), yes, students are learning.

"We applaud our members who use creative techniques to help our students learn. Our members are going above and beyond to try and engage these students who, for example, might not have picked up a book before this contest,'' said Baker.

It really shows the kind of commitment we see, year in and year out.

According to NJEA, students can use these bizarre incentives to achieve personal goals. They might not have even read a book before the contest, but the reward is so exciting, that students will now think about reading beyond this contest, Baker suggested.

Dr. Jason Vivadelli, principal at Evergreen Elementary School in Woodbury, believes that the events set the instructional vision for the school.

"Anytime I can find a way to blend the two by making learning fun, everyone benefits. It's my job to set a positive climate and tone for everyone,'' Vivadelli said.

Recently, Vivadelli had challenged his students to read 50 books. He said that not a day went by that a student didn't update him on their progress.

"Students knew our entire staff cared deeply about reading, so they responded by reading significantly more than they have in the past. Our emphasis on reading and willingness to be laughed at a little, both explicitly and implicitly communicated how much we care about each one of them. When students know they are cared for and loved, they are more willing to put in the hard work and go the extra mile to meet your expectations,'' said Vivadelli.

Michael Yaple, public affairs officer for the New Jersey School Boards Association, said kissing a pig or sleeping on the roof in winter isn't in a teacher's job description.

"But it really shows the kind of commitment we see, year in and year out, in public schools throughout New Jersey,'' said Yaple.

The odd rewards have sparked something in South Jersey that seems to be spreading like wildfire. The ``crazy ideas,'' as Vivadelli puts it, seem to help motivate students to excel. He hopes that in the future, their school can gain more involvement and let everyone in on the fun.

CLICK HERE to read the original article.

 

Thousands of people have gathered at Gettysburg National Military Park for a service commemorating the 150th anniversary of the fierce battle that proved to be the turning point of the American Civil War.

National Park Service director Jonathan Jarvis told attendees Sunday night the weeklong events are intended to honor the dead, and recognize the courage and heroism of the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg from July 1-3, 1863.

He says visitors have also gathered to reaffirm the principles that demanded the terrible sacrifices Union and Confederate soldiers made 150 years ago.

Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin delivered the keynote address. Her best-selling novel “Team of Rivals” in part inspired last year's Oscar-winning film “Lincoln.”

The ceremony was scheduled to conclude with a procession to Soldiers National Cemetery.
 

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Drivers headed to the shore for the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations might for the first time see major construction at a South Jersey trouble spot.

It's part of a long-term project to fix the maze of highways where Route 42 and I-295 meet.

New Jersey Department of Transportation spokesman Joe Dee says for this summer season, there won't be disruptions for drivers headed down Route 42 past I-295. But they will see construction vehicles preparing to bring two sections of 295 together.

"It's a spot on the road where people going south on 295 are weaving to the left to stay on 42 and head up to 76 towards Philadelphia," Dee said. "While at the same time, people on 42 North headed to Trenton have to weave to the right, so it's just not a good situation."

Dee says the weaving makes the area one of the highest accident areas in New Jersey, and that's why construction will last until 2021.

"There's an awful lot of work to do here but at the end of the day there will be a direct connection for 295 motorists and there won't be all this weaving back and forth."

The first changes should be seen by the end of this year.

This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org

A driver found himself in handcuffs after he slammed his car into a Philadelphia Police van causing a fiery crash early this morning.

The suspected DUI driver crashed into the back of parked police van -- a large camper-like vehicle -- around 5 a.m. near the intersection of 52nd and Market Streets -- right by the Market-Frankford El -- in West Philadelphia, according to police.

The man’s sedan burst into flames after the wreck, police said.

No officers were in the van at the time and no officers were hurt.

Investigators said that the driver suffered some bumps and bruises. He was going to be treated then arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

The driver wasn’t immediately identified.

Click here for more breaking news from around the world.

As same-sex couples across the state prepare to head to the Clerk of the Peace, local officials are preparing to keep the peace as members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church plan a protest.

The city of Wilmington will close French Street from 7:50 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Monday for the protest that is expected to take place between the Carvel State Office Building and the Louis L. Redding City/County Building.

The extremist church based out of Topeka, Kansas is known for their virulent protests against the gay community at military funerals and other high profile events. They also have protests scheduled at the Dover Air Force Base and at the Clerk of the Peace office in Dover.

On July first, Delaware’s new marriage law officially goes into effect, allowing same-sex couples to apply for a marriage license at Clerk of Peace offices across the state. Same-sex couples who already have a civil union in the state will be allowed to convert to a marriage license.

The legislation was passed by the 147th General Assembly and signed by Governor Jack Markell earlier this year.

State Senator Karen Peterson and her spouse Vikki Bandy will be the first same-sex couple in Delaware to convert their civil union to marriage. The ceremony will take place at the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace’s office at 8:30 a.m.

Sen. Peterson gained attention during the same-sex marriage debate when she came out to the public as a lesbian during senate floor testimony.

This story was reported through a news coverage partnership betweeen NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org

Right as the city goes forward with its annual plan of clearing city sidewalks of abandoned bikes, a contest is underway to give cyclists more places (and better looking places) to park their rides.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy have teamed up to hold a bicycle rack design competition that brings street art and utility together.

"We're very excited about the art rack program," said Bicycle Coalition spokesman Nicholas Mirra. "It combines two of Philly's growing strengths -- art and bicycling -- while addressing the desperate need for more bike parking."

“Our goal is to use the same pavement twice: bring some desperately-needed bike parking to our streets, while enlivening our streetscapes with new public art,” posted the Bicycle Coalition.

No idea is too outlandish for consideration as long as it matches size and material requirements. “You are amazed with what people with creative minds come up with, ” Philadelphia OCCE Public Art Director Margot Berg told NBC10.

It’s a great way to combine the utility of a bike rack with the aesthetic of art while encouraging additional ridership, sad Berg.

Mirra also mentioned the "transformative power" that a private-public partnerships like this one can have on the community.

The contest is geared towards delivering some of 1,500 new bike racks planned for the next five years in the city, according to organizers.

The need for these racks is because, according to the Bicycle Coalition, the city has more bike commuters per capita than any other Top 10 largest cities in the United States. Basically, Philly has more bikers than places to put bikes – hence why you see bikes tied up to gates, fences, traffic signs, street meters, etc.

Some of the planned downtown locations for the artistic bike racks include (appropriately) outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Perelman Building, near Boat House Row, at City Hall and at Penn Center Plaza.

The racks cost anywhere from $5,000 for a small rack (parks two bikes) up to $15,000 for a large rack (about 6 bikes).

Back in May, the Coalition announced that a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of its Knight Arts Challenge that is being used to fund the artistic bike racks. Private donors will take care of matching contributions with zero of the program’s cost coming from the city, said Berg.

Similar programs have brought artistic bike parking to the streets of Boston, Los Angeles, Raleigh, New York City and even north of the border in Toronto Canada.

Designs must be received by Sept. 4. There are a bunch of requirements for designs so be sure to read the fine print of the “call for entries.”

• READ: Call for design proposals

Don’t live in the city? Don’t fret, the contest is open “to all artist and design professionals.” Just be sure you have the means not only to design, but to fabricate and install the rack, said Berg.

Berg said they are hoping for at least a few hundreds design proposals.

The artistic bike racks should start popping up next spring. And if you’re design is chosen it’s possible your bike rack will be placed in more than one location, according to organizers.

Healthy is probably not the first word that comes to mind when you mosey up to a food truck for a meal.

But Robert Hsu wants to change that.

"People don’t seem to realize that food trucks do offer healthy food,” he said.

The Penn biology and business student, along with fellow students Mitch Gissinger and Jessica Chen, have launched the Healthy Food Truck Initiative.

The program is designed to promote good-for-you eats at the sidewalk lunch spots and help reverse the obesity epidemic in the city. Currently, about 900,000 of Philadelphia’s 1.5 million residents are either overweight or obese, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

Hsu came up with the idea after conducting a survey about food truck eating habits at the University of Pennsylvania. He says a number of people responded, saying that they avoided eating from food trucks because they perceived them as “unhealthy.”

“I thought that was so interesting because there are food trucks out there that do, sort of, healthy food and people just don’t know about them,” Hsu said.

Working with vendors in University City, Hsu says the initiative will help food trucks purchase healthier drinks like water and juice. They’ll also advertise healthy menu items at the participating trucks and push for the posting of nutritional information on menus.

“A lot of people have said to make food trucks healthier, they want calorie counts or ingredient lists and stuff like that,” he said.

Three trucks have already expressed interest in partnering with Hsu and are eager to alter any negative notions about their street-side fare.

“It’s a wonderful thing to promote healthy food trucks, number one. Number two, if we could notch up all the trucks a bit, that would be nice,” says Debbie Carson of Magic Carpet food truck.

For the past 29 years, the mobile vegetarian hot spot has been providing an alternative of sorts to the heavier food options among the University City food truck community. Carson says any initiative that can provide people with healthier options is welcomed.

“A lot of the kids still eat junk food because, you know, they’re kids. But if you can get a better quality food, all across the board, it would be a good thing,” she says.

Jihed Chehimi also jumped at the chance to have his fusion truck, Chez Yasmine, become part of the healthy food truck project. Chehimi does not sell soda and already offers a bottle of water and piece of fruit with each meal a customer purchases. He says promoting good eating habits will not only help his business, but, “I think the freshness (of the food) brings customers,” Chehimi says.

Food truck regular Jamie Lazin says if a truck offered better options, quickly, then he’d probably buy the lighter meal.

“I go to food trucks just for convenience so it doesn’t matter if it’s greasy food or healthy food, if the healthy food option is available, I’ll go,” he said.

Penn student Alan Shi describes most trucks offerings as “unhealthy, greasy sandwiches” that are “pretty cheap.” He thinks calorie counts could be key to the program’s success.

“I’m sure if they put ‘This many grams of fat’ next to a greasy sandwich, people will think twice,” Shi said.

Hsu is crowd funding – or raising money through online donations – to help cover the expenses for signage, advertisements and to purchase healthier packaged foods for the trucks. The initiative has already raised more than half of its $1,000 goal.

The initiative will work with the trucks in September to determine plans of action and launch its campaign in October. Depending on the reception, Hsu says he’s hoping to expand the project in the spring, and maybe even get other food trucks to add healthy food options to their menus and take part in the project.

“Hopefully, at the end of the day, I will be sending more people to eat a food trucks overall,” Hsu said.

No matter what Hsu and the food trucks do to promote the lighter fare, food truck patron Ashley Barley says only one thing matters: taste.

"Some of the bad food is the best food,” she said. “Some nutrition stuff is good, and some of them ain’t.”

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.