Community uniter, hairdresser Karen Kaczor passes
Karen Kaczor, owner of the former Karron’s Hair Design, 407 E. Hennepin, passed away of cancer at age 80 on November 22. She worked as a hairdresser for 36 years. Kaczor was a community leader in the Old St. Anthony Association, with the 2nd Precinct Advisory Council and an Enterprise Facilitation program.
Karen is preceded in death by husband George; parents George and Barbara Lien; brothers Duane and Orland Lien; and sister Janet Niskanen. She is survived by sister Pam Eisenreich; three sons, Alric (Melanie) Anthony (Teresa) and John: grandson Brandon, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Memorials are directed to St. John the Baptist Church in New Brighton, where Karen was active in the widows and widowers group.
Edison to launch career program
Thomas Edison High School, 700 22nd Ave. NE, is nearing completion on a renovated center for their career and technical education (CTE) program. The new CTE center design was completed in October 2024 and has been under construction since March 2025.
According to the Minneapolis Public Schools website, CTE “provides context to core academics through integrated, applied and experiential learning with a broad exposure to career fields and a balanced high school experience.”
The new center sits on the south side of Edison High School. The project includes a new “agriculture area,” new classrooms and office areas.
Feist announces retirement
On November 17, 2025, Rep. Sandra Feist (Democratic-Farmer Labor, New Brighton announced her intent to retire from the Minnesota House at the conclusion of her current term. This is her third term in office. She has served House District 39B, which includes New Brighton, Columbia Heights and St. Anthony, since 2021.
Feist, an immigration attorney, plans to return to that work full-time.
Klemz announces House run
On November 24, 2025, Aaron Klemz, a longtime resident of Fridley and Columbia Heights, announced a run for the Minnesota House District 39A. He is seeking the Democratic-Farmer Labor (DFL) party endorsement. If elected, he will succeed Representative Erin Koegel, who is not running for reelection.
House District 39A includes Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley and Spring Lake Park.
Congratulations, students
In early November, members of Columbia Heights High School’s student newspaper “The Heights Herald” and student news channel “Heights News Network” (HHN) received nine awards at the 2025 Minnesota High School Journalism Convention and Annual Awards Ceremony.
Chris Polley, an English teacher at the school as well as a Heights Herald and HHN Advisor, said, “The Minnesota High School Press Association’s annual scholastic journalism convention at the University of Minnesota is an indispensable opportunity for journalism and broadcasting students. I am always amazed by how much it both builds community for student reporters across the state and offers thrills and validation during the awards ceremony, not to mention how uniquely Columbia Heights stands out as a group of truly diverse and passionate young voices.”
The Heights News Network won fifth place in the “Broadcast News Program” category as well as the All State Gold award. A variety of students at the Heights Herald brought in their own awards, too: Ritaj Younus got first place in the “Photojournalism Illustration” category, Jenny Sandvik earned second place in the “Newspaper Editorial Cartoon” category and Ted Salmen got fifth place in “News Photography.” The paper as a whole got sixth place in “Newspaper Best of Show,” ninth place in “News Website Best of Show,” an All State Gold award for their teenVoice podcast and an All State Bronze for their website.