Recovery?

Oakland economic
outlook is for a slow,
steady comeback.

0

akland County residents can
expect an increased number
of jobs, fewer foreclosures but
a continuing drop in home values over
the next few years, according to the
2012-2013 budget laid out by Oakland
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson
on July 6.
"There are initial signs that an eco-
nomic recovery has begun here in
Michigan," Patterson said. "Similar to the
national recovery, Michigan's economic
recovery is also forecast to be a slow one,
which will take many years to restore lost
jobs and property values."
There are some promising signs.
Unemployment rates in the county have
been on the decline for the past few years
from a high of 12.8 percent in 2009 to
12.1 percent last year and 10.2 percent as
of May 2011.
Patterson also noted that University
of Michigan economists George
Fulton and Donald Grimes forecast
job growth in Oakland County this
year through 2013 and beyond. The
life sciences and health care sectors
will experience the most job growth,
led by Oakland University's William
Beaumont School of Medicine, launch-
ing in September, which will create
11,000 new jobs, including 600 jobs for
clinical specialists.
The number of foreclosures also
appears to be dropping, Patterson said,
adding that foreclosures will be "in
excess of normal levels" for a few more
years and continue to negatively impact
property values.
From 2007 through today, total
assessed value in the county has fallen
by 32.1 percent, according to Patterson.
Property values are expected to con-
tinue falling for the next few years,
although not as steeply, and stabilize
by 2014. By that time, he said, assessed
values will have fallen to nearly half of
2007 values. That's not great news for
homeowners but it is for people look-
ing to buy affordable homes within the
county.
Declining property values mean less
revenue to the county, which has man-
aged to balance the budget without
increasing taxes and fees to residents
or businesses, according to Patterson.
Instead, the county has accelerated
cost-reduction efforts, including a pay
freeze for county employees through
2013 to meet the challenge of making
do with less.

MSU Gains
Wealth Of Israeli
Literature

feet Thursday, July 14th to Monday, July 25th

T

he Michigan State University
Libraries, together with the
Jewish Studies Program in
MSU's College of Arts and Letters,
received a major gift of the Irwin T. and
Shirley Holtzman Collection of Israeli
Literature.
Notable for both its breadth and
depth, the collection covers Israeli litera-
ture from the earliest days of statehood
in 1948 up to the present. Many of the
volumes of fiction, poetry and drama are
inscribed by the author. Literary journals
and literary criticism also were collected.
The published works are accompanied
by a wealth of primary resources, includ-
ing manuscripts of poetry and drama;
posters advertising literary events;
political cartoons and other original
artwork; and Irwin Holtzman's extensive
correspondence with important Israeli
literary figures, including Amos Oz, A.B.
Yehoshua, Amalia Kahana-Carmon and
Yoram Kaniuk.
The Holtzman Collection represents
years of passionate work by Irwin
Holtzman, a Detroit-area builder and
business owner, who began collecting
seriously in 1950. At one point, he col-
lected as many as 350 authors.
His collection of Israeli literature
was inspired by a 1973 visit to Israel.
Holtzman became a dedicated supporter
of Israeli authors, providing financial
assistance for translations and liter-
ary efforts. When he died in 2010, he
was mourned by fellow book collectors
worldwide.
Holtzman's other collections are
housed at the British Library and the
University of Illinois, among others.
When Shirley Holtzman was look-
ing for a home for the Israeli collection,
family friend Ed Levy, president/CEO of
the Edward C. Levy Company in Detroit,
suggested MSU because of its focus on
Israeli literature and culture.
"The Holtzman Collection will
be a tremendous asset to teaching
and research',' said Marc Bernstein,
Hebrew professor. "The correspondence
and manuscript materials are abso-
lutely unique and will be an important
resource for scholars."
Kenneth Waltzer, director of MSU's
Jewish Studies Program, agrees.
"The Holtzman Collection is a major
contribution to the advanced study
of Israeli culture at MSU. With the
continuing support of the Holtzman
family, we hope to organize scholarly
conferences on Israeli literature, at the
same time highlighting the Holtzman
Collection." [ 1

Washington
Jumbo

Sweet
Cherries

0 Angel
Soft

Bath Tissue
12 big roll

21$900

Glatt
Kosher

Kobe
stir fry

Fresh Prepared Foods for Dine In or Carry-Out • Full Service
Catering Parve Bakery • Glatt Kosher Under the Supervision of The
Council of Orthodox Rabbis • Find us on facebook

iN

July 14 • 2011

9