Up to 230 people showed up at Diane's Restaurant last Monday night to attend a fundrasier sponsored by John Durkin, mayor of Roslyn and proprietor of Diane's.

All proceeds from the fundraiser went to the families of Tom and Peter Langone, the Roslyn area residents who perished in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Both men were members of the Roslyn Rescue Fire Department and members also, respectively, of the New York City police and fire departments. Funds also went to the family of Michael Haub, a former member of Roslyn Rescue, who also died making rescue attempts at the attack site.

According to Mayor Durkin, $18,000 was raised not just from the dinner, but from local residents mailing in checks to Diane's. Mayor Durkin called the evening a "wonderful event" that exceeded all expectations. "There was a good feeling all around," he added. "The dinner gave people an opportunity to help people in the community. It was a great night for the village." He is scheduled to meet shortly with officials from both Roslyn Rescue and Roslyn Highlands in order to begin distributing the money to the local families.

Attendees included Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger, Roslyn Estates Mayor Susan Ben-Moshe and Roslyn School District Superintendent Dr. Frank A. Tassone.

The evening went as Mayor Durkin planned it. Specifically, there were no speeches or statements given by the attendees. Instead, they simply gathered at the restaurant to meet with neighbors, enjoy a dinner prepared for them by the mayor himself, and most of all, to help the families of longtime Roslyn residents.

The cost of the dinner was $60.00. In a letter to Roslyn residents sent out last month, the mayor said that since the Sept. 11 attacks, he had been searching for a way to express his "sympathy and support for victims of that tragic event." And so, he came up with the fundraiser.

The event at Diane's was not the only fundraiser set up in the wake of the disaster. Roslyn Rescue officials have announced the establishment of The Langone Brothers Education Fund to provide long-term educational assistance to the children of Tom and Peter Langone. Those interested in contributing to that fund may call Roslyn Rescue at 621-3899 for more information.