Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 53

Area businesses and groups decorate trees to benefit the Tioga County Historical Society through a silent auction. PAGE 7 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2003 An Owego man finds an annual way to give back. PAGE 3 PUBLISHED BY THE Press Sun-Bulletin pressconnects.com In Brief Piecing a life back together Community rallies as accident victim readies for surgery NEWARK VALLEY Scouts to sell Christmas trees The Boy Scouts of Troop 30 in Newark Valley will sell Christmas trees at the Newark Valley village green from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday, and Dec.

13 and 14. Most trees will be $25. Extra tall trees will cost slightly more. Trees can be delivered in the Newark Valley area. Marcia Blackburn MM 1 REGION BOCES to offer GED classes Winter GED Classes are being offered at the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

Classes are free and available during the day and evening to people over age 16 who want to take the test for their high school equivalency diploma. For a schedule of classes and registration times, call 762-6030. Connie Nogas By DOROTHY DECKER Correspondent James Lavine needs to go to New Orleans as he fights to put his body and his life back together. Lavine, 19, must undergo surgery for injuries suffered in an automobile accident last July, an accident that claimed the life of the driver and his fiancee Christine Berry. He cannot move his right arm and hand.

The injuries he sustained during the collision pulled nerves from his spinal column, leaving him partially paralyzed. An area physician referred Lavine to a renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. David Kline at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans. After reviewing Lavine's medical reports, Kline agreed to perform surgery to reconnect nerve tissue to the spinal column. And now the community is rallying around Lavine, holding a spaghetti supper, raffle and bake sale for his benefit from 4 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 13, at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church Hall, 24 Rock Newark Valley. The event is being coordinated by Christine Berry's mother, Deborah Wolstoncroft. Lavine needs to go to New Orleans because Kline is one of only a few physicians in the nation able to perform nerve grafting.

"The doctors that I have talked to are optimistic about the success of the medical procedure," he said. "The surgery has been done successfully several times before, and I feel that there is a pretty good chance of success with the operation." Lavine's parents, William and Lori Lavine of Richford, will accompany him to New Orleans. "The expenses for the surgery are being covered by insurance, but the expenses for the trip are not," said Wolstoncroft, organizer of the benefit to raise funds. Still grieving over the loss of her daughter, Wolstoncroft took on the job of organizing the event. "I wanted to do something to help," she said.

"And I am hoping that this will also help me in the healing process. I just hope that the benefit NICHOLS Scouts to light rice tree hospi The eighth annual lighting of the hospice tree in Nichols will be held at 5:30 p.m. today at Cooley's Funeral Home at the corner of Main Street and Roki Boulevard in Nichols. Nichols-Tioga Scout Troop No. 36 and Cub Scout Pack No.

36 will assist. At 6 p.m., the Scouts will light the village tree at the Cady Library, 18 River Nichols. Scouts and friends will then go caroling in the village. The hospice lights are in memory of loved ones. The tree remains lit throughout the holiday season.

Chris Tevyaw CHUCK HAU1T Press Sun-Bulk tin Newark Valley resident Deborah Wolstoncroft Is organizing a benefit for James Lavine, who lost the use of his right arm in an automobile accident. The benefit, Dec. 1 3 at St. John's Catholic Church, will include raffles to help with travel expenses when Lavine has nerve-grafting surgery in New Orleans. "We recently went to a hockey game together," she said.

"And we get together for visits with friends. He SEE BENEFIT 3 raises enough money to take care of James and his family during their stay in New Orleans." Wolstoncroft has remained in close contact with Lavine since the accident..