Am Yisrael Congregation in Northfield has continued its tradition of welcoming women to its leadership team.

Cantor Dara Rosenblatt has succeeded Stuart Simon, who retired in June after 41 years. She joins longtime Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin as leader of the Conservative congregation.

“Now that Cantor Rosenblatt is the sole cantor, she and Rabbi Newman Kamin are working together on creative worship services and have many plans for the coming years,” the congregation said in a statement. “Cantor Rosenblatt is working closely with Principal Charlie Sherman to strengthen and enhance the Jewish education of our students.”

Rabbi William Frankel founded Am Yisreal Congregation in 1968 and hired Kamin as his assistant rabbi in 1990. When Frankel died in 1994, Newman Kamin succeeded him, becoming one of the first women to lead a Conservative congregation in the country.

According to the press release, Am Yisrael is a global community with a mission to create a Jewish, inclusive and welcoming community where everyone feels welcome, respected and valued.

“We strive to be an inclusive community that accepts differences in marital status, family structure, sexual orientation, gender and gender expression, age, mental and physical health and abilities,” the press release states.

For further information please see the Website of the municipality.

Highland Park elects new finance director

According to a city press release, Deputy Finance Director Kristi McCaulou will succeed longtime Highland Park City Finance Director Julie Logan, who plans to retire in September.

McCaulou has served in her role for seven years and oversees the annual audit process that has earned the city consistent recognition for its annual financial report. She also recently led the implementation of a new resource planning system, a multi-year software project affecting several city departments.

“I am very excited and honored to take this next step and join the city’s outstanding leadership team, continue to work with great staff across the city, and support a City Council that makes sound policy decisions to achieve the city’s priorities of financial stability, public safety, infrastructure investment, economic development and environmental stability,” McCaulou said in the release.

Prior to working in Highland Park, McCaulou held various financial positions at Medline Industries for 11 years and also served as assistant director of financial services for Round Lake Area Schools District 116.

“As Deputy Finance Director, Kristi McCaulou has been an integral part of the (department’s) finance team and the city as a whole,” City Manager Ghida Neukirch said in a statement. “She has brought critical financial expertise and competent management to a number of complex citywide projects and also serves as a dedicated team leader, overseeing the professional development of numerous employees through promotions both within the Finance Department and other departments across the city.

“Her professionalism, integrity and commitment to the city’s financial goals make her an excellent addition to Highland Park’s senior human resources team.”

Before her retirement, Logan will be honored at the September 23 City Council meeting, where Mayor Nancy Rotering, the City Council and Neukirch will thank her.

During the transition period, Logan and McCaulou will share responsibility for the proposed budgetwhich will peak at the end of 2024.

The Northfield Village Caucus has begun selecting candidates for the April 2025 election. Candidates may run for the offices of Northfield Trustee and Village President.

Beverly Smith, chair of the Northfield Village Caucus, has announced the formation of a candidate selection committee to begin selecting candidates. In a press release, she said the caucus is seeking “community-minded and knowledgeable residents with the experience and skills needed to help the residents of Northfield preserve its unique character and shape its future for generations to come.”

The group will conduct interviews in October and vote on a list of candidates to propose to residents in the elections. The deadline for submitting applications is October 7.

Smith said the caucus will work with the community over the next four years to gather public input on issues and policy priorities, which will then be used to shape the caucus’s platform.

The caucus reportedly uses a bipartisan process to gather input, views and concerns from Northfield residents and use them to create a caucus platform, the press release said.

“The platform serves as a guide for the selection of presidential and trustee candidates who are compatible with and agree with the principles of the platform,” it says.

The terms of office of Parish President Greg Lungmus and Trustees Tracey Mendrek, Barnaby Dinges and Matt Galin are expiring.

Residents who wish to apply or nominate a candidate can Caucus website.

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