Sleepy Hollow native goes to Hollywood

The Sundance Film Festival just wrapped up over the weekend in Park City, Utah, and apparently there is a Fox Valley connection to Robert Redford's brainchild.

Avery Auer, daughter of Sleepy Hollow's resident environmentalist and actress, Mona Auer, won third place in the second annual YouTube Project: Direct International Film Competition.

The contest pits film makers from the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and France against each other for a chance at 15 minutes of fame - or five minutes, at least. The competition is sponsored by Moviefone, Sundance and YouTube.

Contestants must direct of short film that incorporates Moviefone's red phone and two other props that represent the most memorable films from Sundance's first 25 years.

Auer, a graduate of Elgin Academy, was named second runner-up for her short film, "Good Deeds and Damages Done." An American film, "Perfecto," won first place and was followed by a Canadian film, White Collar Criminals.

For her efforts, Auer received a trip to Sundance, $1,000, and her DVD was distributed to industry executives at the festival.

Auer, who now lives in Santa Monica, Calif., made her directorial debut with the film and has since been offered a TV writing contract and numerous other writer/producer jobs in Hollywood.

She has worked as a freelance copy editor for magazines and advertising agencies in California, but that gig was never Auer's dream - she wanted to write and produce movies just as her grandfather, John Auer Sr., had done many years before.

Run for office: A couple of positions that were open on Carpentersville committees and commissions have been filled, but there are still a number of spots left for those aspiring to enter the world of local politics.

Last week, Carpentersville Village President Bill Sarto named new members to the village's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and the village's Park Committee.

Sarto appointed James McFeggan, a public works employer for Rolling Meadows, to the Carpentersville's park committee. McFeggan is an arborist and Sarto said that would be a benefit to the village since McFeggan helped Rolling Meadows attain the title of Tree City USA, something Sarto has aspired to in recent years.

The committee has also had a history of difficulties in finding and retaining members. Sarto said his aim for the park committee is to appoint people with professional backgrounds who can reach out to the local businesses to help fund several events the committee hosts each year.

In addition, James DeLong Jr. was named to the village's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. As a schoolteacher at Golfview Elementary School and coach at Dundee Crown High School, Sarto said DeLong has contact with the local youth in the community.

On the calendar: Today is Australia Day and the first day of the Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Ox.