It might seem redundant to write about major events in 2001, when the year was dominated by one single morning of terror back in September. As with other North Shore communities, the Roslyn area was deeply affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. At least four local residents died in the World Trade Center. They included Ronald Hassa, a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church; Arlene Fried, a member of Temple Beth Sholom; and Thomas and Peter Langone, both members of St. Aidan's in Williston Park.

Both Mr. Hassa and Ms. Fried worked in the World Trade Center. Thomas Langone was a member of the New York City Police Department's Emergency Service Unit, while Peter was a longtime member of the New York City Fire Department. Both men were also volunteer firemen for Roslyn Rescue.

Local residents held at least two candlelight vigils for the Langone brothers before the funeral took place on Oct. 26. The funeral mass at St. Aidan's was attended by numerous local dignitaries, including New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York City Police Department Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and Frank Keating, governor of Oklahoma. In 1994, when Oklahoma City struggled to recover from its own terrorist attack, Tom Langone traveled all the way to that city to assist in rescue operations. The governor's appearance was his state's way of paying respects to one of the many selfless acts committed during Mr. Langone's long and distinguished career.

The tragedy did bring out the best in local citizens and businessmen. The Roslyn Rescue Fire Company immediately established The Langone Brothers Educational Fund, one designed to provide long term educational assistance to the children of Tommy and Peter Langone. An Arlene Fried Memorial Fund was established at Lawyers for Children, Inc., a nonprofit organization that Ms. Fried herself once worked for. Fundraising events were held at Diane's Restaurant, Bradford Jewelers and other businesses.

Of course, other things happened in the Roslyn area in 2001. Some of it was bad news too, like the burning of Dreams East, a longtime business on Main Street across from the Clock Tower. That same street had seen several businesses destroyed by a similar fire, one that took place in the summer of 2000. Although renovation work has been done on those buildings, none of them have yet opened for business.

On the charity front, the Roslyn Chamber of Commerce announced they would use proceeds from their spring and fall street fairs to assist with permanent lighting for the Roslyn Clock Tower. The plan has been endorsed by the board of trustees and both parties hope for a completion of the project as soon as possible.

The village also saw a transfer of administrative power in 2001. In the winter of 2000, Janet Galante elected not to run for re-election in the spring of 2001. Her successor was former board of trustee member, John Durkin, who was elected mayor in April on both the Clock Tower and Community Party lines. Also elected to the BOT for the first time was Marta Genovese. Deputy Mayor Nolan Myerson won re-election to the board.

During his campaign, Mr. Durkin said that the biggest issues in Roslyn's immediate future included fixing the village's infrastructure, namely funding sewer, water, and roadway repairs. Promising to keep taxes "as low as possible," he said that a future BOT might use bonds and other funding sources to pay for such services. Mr. Durkin also admitted that the age-old Stop & Shop problem might rear its head in the coming years. Because a section of the village's new zoning law was ruled invalid by a New York State court, it is even possible that Stop & Shop may come back to the village with a new supermarket proposal. Clock Party candidates also touted the new senior housing facility planned for downtown Roslyn, claiming it would bring needed revenue to the village, while not being a burden on the school district.

Other issues of immediate concern to the village include the perennial parking situation, waterfront development, and the coming Roslyn Viaduct renovation.

This past fall, the BOT approved the creation of a Parking Trust Fund. The purpose of the law is to raise money for the village, which in turn would be used solely to secure municipal and private off-street parking in Roslyn. If future developers want variances from village off-street parking requirements, then they must make a contribution to the trust fund. All such monies would be placed in a fund used exclusively for off-street parking. BOT members hope the law will result in the expansion and upgrading of existing parking spaces in the village.

Major renovation of the Roslyn Viaduct is set to begin in either 2003 or 2004. This past summer, the Roslyn Preservation Corporation announced several concerns they have about the project, including the visual impact it will have on the village's historic district, plus the possibility that viaduct renovation will result in the elimination of the "narrow buffer of trees and shubbery" that separate Mott Avenue from Northern Boulevard. The New York State Department of Transportation hopes to have a final draft of the project completed by the fall of this year.

Another key issue facing Roslyn in the near future is waterfront renovation. In November, Peter Walsh, an official with the state's Department of Parks and Recreation, addressed the BOT on the subject. He told them that such renovation could hold tremendous promise for the village, if done correctly. Essentially, there are three ways a waterfront can be developed. Such a property can be used as a public amenities park, as a source of "pedestrian vehicular circulation," and for the development of vacant lands. What waterfront development did for Glen Cove, a city north of Roslyn, was held up as one of the several examples of a successful renovation plan.

In public school news, the Roslyn School District's board of education saw three members elected. The incumbent, Ronna Niederman, was re-elected, but the real story was the race for the two other seats. Karen Bodner won one seat. The third seat was decided by two votes, as Maryanne Combs defeated Jill Studley by a 645 to 643 margin.

In addition, Roslyn High School's longtime assistant principal, Joan Greenfield, retired after 28 years of service to the school district. Also retiring from the Roslyn Schools was Lynn Jacobson, longtime girls varsity tennis coach. Ms. Jacobson's final year, like most during her 20-year tenure, was an unqualified success. The Lady Bulldogs won their second consecutive Nassau County championship. The title was the ninth during Ms. Jacobson's reign. The Lady Bulldogs also won 10 conference championships in that time period.

As 2001 dragged to a close and the new year began, Roslynites, as with other New Yorkers, could only hope for a most uneventful 2002.