Union Aid Theft Case Heads to Trial

A Leet Township woman waived to court charges that she took more than $6,000 while serving as treasurer of a Sewickley non-profit organization.

A Leet Township woman waived to court charges that she took more than $6,000 while serving as treasurer of a Sewickley non-profit organization. Tracey Gist, 45, of Pilgrim Drive, appeared in Leetsdale District Court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing on charges of forgery, theft and access device fraud. According to a criminal complaint filed by Sewickley police, Gist forged seven checks belonging to Union Aid Society to pay personal bills between the start of her term as treasurer on June 1, 2010 through May 2012. Union Aid officials noticed discrepancies while reviewing financial records, police said. Gist, who has since resigned, is making restitution to the Union Aid, which works to provide emergency financial assistance and other …

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Letters to the Editor

Union Aid Society Thanks Community for Supporting Holiday Programs

The Sewickley non-profit thanks those who participated in the holiday and gift programs.

The Union Aid Society is grateful to the Quaker Valley community for generously supporting the Thanksgiving and the Christmas Food and Gift programs. Due to the continuing downturn in the economy, families new to need participated this year. The very successful gift card distribution made it possible for your neighbors to purchase items needed for holiday meals and presents for their children. We also want to thank those local merchants and organizations (Starbucks, Crazy Mocha, The Ultimate Pastry Shop, Safran’s, Sewickley Public Library and the Sewickley YMCA), who displayed the trees and participating churches (St. James Church and the Presbyterian Church of Sewickley) as well as the Sewickley Herald and the Sewickley Patch for …

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Union Aid Society Kicks Off Holiday Program

The community is invited to donate a gift card for shopping by Dec. 10 to help a local family in need.

Want to spread some cheer this holiday season? The community is invited to join Union Aid Society's holiday program now underway to help a Quaker Valley family have a happy holiday. To participate, simply donate a gift card for holiday shopping.  Take an ornament from one of the trees located around Sewickley--Sewickley Library, Crazy Mocha, Starbucks, Safran’s, Ultimate Pastry Shop and the Sewickley Valley YMCA--and return the ornament with your donation to the Union Aid Society’s office in the Sewickley Borough Building at 601 Thorn St. Ornaments must be returned by Dec. 10.  According to Union Aid Society, the need is greater than ever due to the economic downturn and your support will help local families have a brighter holiday. If you…

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Sewickley Non-Profits Partner to Make Senior Apartments Safer

Contractors spend the day installing safety features at the Union Aid Society's apartment buildings in Sewickley.

After undergoing two knee replacements, Jean Harvey, 84, was happy to know that modifications being made in her apartment’s bathroom would help make life easier—and safer. Harvey, who has lived in the Union Aid Society apartments in Sewickley for 15 years, wasn't the only resident excited for the new updates. Helen Rondinelli, 81, the longest resident after 19 years, agreed the safety modifications were much appreciated. “We needed it,” Rondinelli said, “and it will be wonderful.”  Three Sewickley-based non-profits—Valley Care Association, the Union Aid Society and the Secoro Foundation—joined forces Thursday for a one-day home improvement blitz at the 22 apartments within the Union Aid buildings, 511 Centennial Ave. Union Aid provides …

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Hearing Postponed for Former Union Aid Society Treasurer

Tracey Gist of Leet Township was given 90 days to make $5,000 in restitution to the Sewickley-based non-profit agency.

A preliminary hearing was postponed Tuesday for a Leet Township woman accused of stealing $6,194 from the Union Aid Society. Tracey Gist, 45, of Pilgrim Drive, appeared in Leetsdale District Court to answer charges of forgery, theft by unlawful taking, and access device fraud. "We're just looking forward to putting this behind us so she can move forward," her attorney, Frank Walker II of Pittsburgh told Patch. Gist agreed to repay $5,000 in restitution within 90 days before her next court date. Gist previously repaid Union Aid $1,200 for money she used to pay her personal utility bills, police said.  According to a criminal complaint filed by Sewickley police, Gist forged seven checks to pay personal bills between the start of her term as …

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Former Treasurer Charged With Stealing from Sewickley Nonprofit Agency

Tracey Gist of Leet Township is accused of taking more than $6,000 from the Union Aid Society to pay her bills.

Sewickley police have charged a Leet Township woman with stealing $6,194 from the Union Aid Society. Tracey Gist, 45, of Pilgrim Drive, is facing seven counts each of forgery and theft by unlawful taking, and one count of access device fraud. According to a criminal complaint, Gist served as treasurer of the Union Aid Society when she forged seven checks between the start of her term as treasurer on June 1, 2010 and May to pay personal bills. Union Aid is a 110-year-old nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance, among other programs, to qualifying residents from the 11 communities within the Quaker Valley School District.   Sherri Leifman, executive director, said the incident has had no impact on Union Aid's services to the …

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Union Aid Society Begins Annual Community Thanksgiving Program

Pluck a “turkey” from a gift tree and purchase a grocery store gift card to benefit a family or individual in need.

The Union Aid Society is organizing its annual Thanksgiving food program for 2012.  Participating is easy. Simply pluck a “turkey” from a gift tree and purchase a grocery store gift card to benefit a family or individual in need. Union Aid Society is counting on the continued generosity of the community to help neighbors this holiday season. “Turkey Trees” will be located this season at the Sewickley Valley YMCA, the Sewickley Public Library, the Ultimate Pastry Shop and Safran’s Supermarket. The trees will be in place through Nov. 10. Send donations by Nov. 10 to the Union Aid Society office, 601 Thorn St., Sewickley, PA 15143. Donations can also be made online by clicking here. The Union Aid Society is a local non-profit that has been …

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Union Aid Society Offers Back to School Help to Local Families

Quaker Valley families in need should contact the Sewickley non-profit.

Union Aid Society is offering a back-to-school program to help local families in need for the new school year.  The Sewickley-based non-profit is again distributing gift cards for back to school  shopping to eligible Quaker Valley School District families. If you live in the Quaker Valley School District and would like more information contact Union Aid Society at 412-741-9240 or info@unionaidsociety.org.   Keeping up with news in the Sewickley Patch is easy—simply sign up for our daily email newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Last Chance: Union Aid Scholarship, Coppelia Contest

A $4,000 need-based college scholarship will go to a local high school senior.

Today is the last day for local high school seniors to apply for $4,000 in scholarship money. The Union Aid Society will award a $4,000 need-based college scholarship to a high school senior who resides within the Quaker Valley School District area. The scholarship is for the first year of college, $2,000 per semester. Consideration will be given to students with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Application materials include financial information, references, high school transcript and an essay. Interviews will be scheduled with finalists. The application deadline is today, April 10. For more information contact the Union Aid Society at 412-741-9240 or info@unionaidsociety.org. -- Win Tickets to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's "Coppelia" The …

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Union Aid Scholarship Applications Available

The application deadline is April 10.

The Union Aid Society will award a $4,000 need-based college scholarship to a high school senior who resides within the Quaker Valley School District area. The scholarship is for the first year of college, $2,000 per semester. Consideration will be given to students with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Application materials include financial information, references, high school transcript and an essay. Interviews will be scheduled with finalists. The application deadline is April 10. For more information contact the Union Aid Society at 412-741-9240 or info@unionaidsociety.org. -- Sewickley Patch encourages readers to submit information about happenings in the community. The information above was submitted by Sherri Leifman executive director, on …

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