Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children
Jeffrey Fetzko, ACSW, LSW, CFRE
Vol. 6, No. 5, March 6, 2008
The Executive Director's News is published every two weeks, and is specifically written for the employees, board of trustees and friends of the Somerset Home. This issue and past issues are available on our web site at http://www.somersethome.org/main/pages/employee_newsletter.htm.
Governor Corzine Budget Address
On Tuesday, February 26th Governor Jon Corzine delivered his Budget Address for the State of New Jersey 2009 fiscal year which begins on July 1, 2008. While the budget contains massive cuts to many popular programs, our programs were largely spared. We probably won't be seeing any increases this year but at least we were not cut. Almost all of the Department of Children and Families budget was uncut. Somerset Home has State of New Jersey contracts that constitute more than 50% of our $3.5 million operating budget, so we were very concerned about just what was cut and how it may effect our programs.
In Memoriam - Franklin Yates
Frank Yates was a former Somerset Home board member and husband to longtime board member Marge Yates, for whom the Pathways Independent Living Skills Library at Passages is named. Marge and Frank were close members of the Somerset Home family and they will both be missed.
Marge and Frank Yates served as board members from 1984-1994. Marge was our Treasurer and Frank was so involved in helping Marge that the board created a special position for him, that of Assistant Treasurer. Frank and Marge both made a huge contribution toward the financial stability of the agency, setting the foundation for what Somerset Home is today.
Franklin A. Yates, electrical engineer
BRIDGEWATER — Franklin A. Yates, 95, died Wednesday (Feb. 20, 2008) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. He was born in the Panama Canal Zone on December 21, 1912, the eldest son of the late Franklin A. and Eudoxia Arias Yates. He immigrated to the United States in 1929 settling in Massachusetts. He had lived in New York City and Elizabeth before moving to Bridgewater in 1941. He was a graduate of M.I.T. in Boston, receiving his master's degree in electrical engineering. Mr. Yates was an electrical engineer employed by Diehl Manufacturing in Manville for 45 years retiring as chief engineer 32 years ago. He was involved in computerized design of electrical motors and designed systems to calculate motor timing. He was a member of the National Industrial Engineers, the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, and was involved in organizational activities at the Sunset Lake Community. Mr. Yates served as a former fireman with the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Co. and was an elected district fire commissioner. An avid swimmer, he was a member of a synchronized swimming club in Bridgewater. He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie H. Yates, who died in 2000; by a son, Richard A. Yates, who died in 1961; and by two brothers, James and George Yates. Mr. Yates is survived by two sons, John W. Yates of Hackettstown and Tony Yates of Los Gatos, Calif.; a daughter, Linda Mamelok of Bridgewater; two grandchildren, Richard A. Yates of Milford and Wendy Lee Yates of Hampton; and three great grandchildren, Teaghan Higginbotham and Alexandra and Delaney Yates.
As always, thank you all for your continued hard work on behalf of our youth.
