News Briefs: Am Yisrael’s new cantor; Highland Park’s new finance director; Northfield caucus’s candidate process

Am Yisrael Congregation in Northfield continued a history of welcoming women to its leadership team.

Cantor Dara Rosenblatt has taken over for Stuart Simon, who retired in June after a 41-year career. She joins longtime Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin as leaders in the conservative congregation.

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

Rabbi William Frankel founded Am Yisrael Congregation in 1968 and hired Kamin as his associate rabbi in 1990. When Frankel retired in 1994, Newman Kamin succeeded him and became one of the first women to lead a conservative congregation in the country.

According to the 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 a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of marital status, family structure, sexual orientation, gender and its expression, age, mental and physical health and ability,” the release says.

For additional information, visit the congregation’s website.

Highland Park selects new finance director

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

McCaulou has served in her role for seven years, overseeing the annual audit process that earned the city regular recognition for its yearly financial report. She also recently managed the implementation of a new resource-planning system, a multi-year software project that touches a number of city departments.

“I am thrilled and honored to be taking this next step to join the City’s outstanding leadership team, continue working with amazing staff across the City, and support a City Council who are making sound policy decisions to achieve the City’s priorities of fiscal stability, public safety, infrastructure investment, economic development, and environmental stability,” McCaulou said in the release.

Prior to her work in Highland Park, McCaulou held a number of financial roles at Medline Industries for 11 years and also served as associate director of fiscal services for Round Lake Area Schools District 116.

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

“Her professionalism, integrity, and commitment to the City’s financial goals will make her an outstanding addition to Highland Park’s Senior Staff team.”

Prior to her retirement, Logan will be recognized at the Sept. 23 City Council meeting, where Mayor Nancy Rotering, the City Council and Neukirch will thank her.

During the transition, Logan and McCaulou will share responsibilities relative to the 2025 proposed budget, which will culminate in late 2024.

Northfield Village Caucus starts slating process

The Northfield Village Caucus has begun its process to select candidates for the April 2025 elections, with candidates eligible to run for trustee and president of the village of Northfield.

Beverly Smith, chair of the Northfield Village Caucus, has announced the formation of a slating committee to begin the process of selecting candidates and said in a release that the caucus is seeking “public-minded and knowledgeable residents with experience and skills needed to serve the residents of Northfield in preserving its unique character and shaping its future for the next generations.”

The caucus will hold interviews in October and vote on a slate of candidates to be put forward to residents in the elections. The deadline for candidates to submit an application is Oct. 7.

Smith said the caucus will work with the village to gather public input on issues and policy priorities for the next four years, which will be used to shape the caucus platform.

The caucus reportedly uses a nonpartisan process to assemble input, perspectives and issues from Northfield residents and use them to create a caucus platform, according to the release.

“The platform serves as a guide for the selection of president and trustee candidates who are compatible with and are in agreement with the tenets of the platform,” it says.

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

Residents interested in applying or nominating a candidate can visit the caucus website.

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