A demolition contractor accused of recklessly damaging two businesses in Northern Liberties has ceased operations and city police have issued arrest warrants for the firm's president and two of his relatives.

The contractor, Philadelphia Building Group Inc, (PBG) has been sued in Common Pleas Court for allegedly damaging Ray King's art studio and Ortlieb's Jazzhaus while demolishing the former Ortlieb's brewery at Third and Poplar streets ["Demolition Dust-Up Heats Up," Ralph Cipriano, June 3, 2004]. The charges filed recently are not related to that Northern Liberties project.

In an affidavit of probable cause issued last month, police charged Moneer Farhat and two relatives with five third-degree felony charges each, including theft, theft by deception, theft by receiving stolen property and conspiracy. Each count is punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison. Moneer Farhat, 28, of Halifax, Dauphin County, is a native of Palestine. He's currently visiting family in the Middle East and has not yet turned himself in, according to his Center City lawyer Clark Pease. Also charged were Haref Farhat, 27, of the 1300 block of N. Second St. and Arafat Farhat, 29 also of Halifax. Pease identified Haref Farhat as Moneer's brother and Arafat Farhat as a cousin. Pease said both men have been arraigned on the charges and have been released on their own signature. Their Municipal Court cases were continued to Aug. 17.

The affidavit states that the three Farhats are charged with defaulting on a deal to sell a three-story apartment building in the 2100 block of E. Cumberland Street to two new owners for $45,000 as well as failing to renovate the property — it was in serious disrepair — within four weeks of the April 22, 2002 agreement. According to the affidavit, after defaulting on the agreement to renovate the apartment building, the three Farhats also defaulted on an agreement to repay the owners a total of $46,500.

Pease said he was surprised by the indictments because "the people involved have been paid in full. There was never any attempt to take their money." The attorney added that he did not know what role that Haref Farhat and Arafat Farhat played in PBG, which is no longer in business.

District Attorney's office spokeswoman Cathie Abookire declined comment because the case is now in court. An investigation of PBG is ongoing, Abookire said.

Facing a citywide budgetary crunch and the impending need to raise funds for a $110 million renovation project, the Philadelphia Free Library is raising fines on overdue books, magazines and CDs. In most cases, penalties will double.

Adult books, magazines and CDs — not that kind of adult material — will cost $2 each day. Books on tape and CD cost a buck, while DVDs and videotapes will run $2.50 daily. For the kids, books, magazines and books on tape and CDs will be fined 50 cents a day while videotapes and DVDs will cost $2.

Note to chronic procrastinators: Save some coin by returning everything by the July 15 deadline. They'll only ring you up for half of your tardiness tally. (Kids in the summer reading program get off scot-free if they take care of it by then.)

Library spokeswoman Linda Carroll-Pitts says that if patrons do not return overdue materials after fines have reached $40, they'll have to deal with Unique Management Services, a nationwide collection agency that manages overdue library books. Before that, patrons get letters explaining that their case will land on a credit report should they be 120 days late.

"It's the hope that knowing it's going on their credit report would energize people," Carroll-Pitts says. The Free Library currently has more than 80,000 items that are at least 90 days overdue.

In a recent interview, Free Library Director Elliot Shelkrot said that one challenge throughout the system was keeping collections up and allowing the 55 branches to maintain their current hours of operation.

Fundraising for the Central Branch expansion is now in the "quiet phase." It's expected to cost $110 million, Shelkrot says, noting that Mayor John Street has committed $30 million. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the new book house will have a gift shop and places to drink coffee. Shelkrot envisions "spaces for people to hang out and congregate," an area meant for active adults close to retiring and a hangout for teenagers. "A space that has music that they'll select. And they'll have food," he says. That idea intrigues some local teens.

"It won't be good for you to study," says Loren Straughter, 18, "[but] it would be good to see a library like that because that's how the bookstore is."