diff --git a/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.html b/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.html
index 9fa8709..2a31b13 100644
--- a/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.html
+++ b/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <template name="systemAdmin">
     <h2>System Administration</h2>
     <div class="row">
-        <div class="col s12 m12 l6">
+        <div class="col s12">
             <div class="card">
                 <div class="card-content">
                     <h4>Registration Settings</h4>
@@ -18,11 +18,31 @@
                         <div class="col s12 m6 l6">
                             <div class="switch">
                                 <label>
-                                  <input type="checkbox" class="currConfigs" id="allowGenReg">
-                                  <span class="lever"></span>
-                                  Allow Registration
+                                    <input type="checkbox" class="currConfigs" id="allowGenReg">
+                                    <span class="lever"></span>
+                                    Allow Registration
                                 </label>
-                              </div>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <div class="col s12">
+            <div class="card">
+                <div class="card-content">
+                    <h4>Update Notifications</h4>
+                    <p>This option requires the seerver to have an internet connection.</p>
+                    <br>
+                    <div class="row">
+                        <div class="col s12 m12 l6">
+                           <div class="switch">
+                                <label>
+                                    <input type="checkbox" class="currConfigs" id="recvUpdateMsgs">
+                                    <span class="lever"></span>
+                                    System Admin will receive information on updates and new featres
+                                </label>
+                            </div>
                         </div>
                     </div>
                 </div>
@@ -30,4 +50,4 @@
         </div>
     </div>
     {{> snackbar}}
-</template>
\ No newline at end of file
+</template>
diff --git a/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.js b/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.js
index 95f6e1d..80b7ffd 100644
--- a/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.js
+++ b/client/AdminMgmt/SystemAdmin/systemAdmin.js
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import { SysConfig } from '../../../imports/api/systemConfig.js';
+import { M } from '../../lib/assets/materialize.js';
 
 Template.systemAdmin.onCreated(function() {
     this.subscribe("SystemConfig");
+    this.subscribe("rolesAvailable");
 });
 
 Template.systemAdmin.onRendered(function() {
@@ -10,16 +12,24 @@ Template.systemAdmin.onRendered(function() {
         if (typeof curr != 'undefined') {
             $("#allowGenReg").prop('checked', curr.allowReg);
             $("#allAdmReg").prop('checked', curr.SysAdminReg);
+            $("#recvUpdateMsgs").prop('checked', curr.allowUpdates);
         } else {
             console.log("    ----    unable to find current system configuration.");
         }
     });
+
+    var elems = document.querySelectorAll('select');
+
+    setTimeout(function() {
+        var instances = M.FormSelect.init(elems, {});
+    }, 300);
+
 });
 
 Template.systemAdmin.helpers({
     currConfigs: function() {
         
-    }
+    },
 });
 
 Template.systemAdmin.events({
@@ -29,12 +39,22 @@ Template.systemAdmin.events({
         // console.log("General Reg set to: " + genReg);
         Meteor.call("add.noSysAdminReg", admReg, genReg, function(err, result) {
             if (err) {
-                console.log("    ERROR updating permission to allow general registration: " + err);
-                showSnackbar("Registration Permission Change Failed.", "red");
+                // console.log("    ERROR updating permission to allow general registration: " + err);
+                // showSnackbar("Registration Permission Change Failed.", "red");
             } else {
-                console.log("    Successfully updated permission to allow general registration.");
+                // console.log("    Successfully updated permission to allow general registration.");
                 showSnackbar("Registration Permission Successfully Changed.", "green")
             }
         });
-    }
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+    },
+    'change #recvUpdateMsgs' (event) {
+        let updSet = $("#recvUpdateMsgs").prop('checked');
+        Meteor.call('allow.updateInfo', updSet, function(err, result) {
+            if (err) {
+                console.log("    ERROR changing update setting: " + err);
+            } else {
+                showSnackbar("Update Setting Changed Successfully!", "green");
+            }
+        });
+    },
+});
diff --git a/client/Dashboard/dashboard.html b/client/Dashboard/dashboard.html
index 017ac4f..30085b4 100644
--- a/client/Dashboard/dashboard.html
+++ b/client/Dashboard/dashboard.html
@@ -1,6 +1,43 @@
 <template name="dashboard">
     <h4>My Dashboard</h4>
     <div class="row">
+        {{#if $eq currConfig.allowUpdates true}}
+        {{#if updatesExist}}
+            <div class="col s12">
+                <div class="card green darken-3" id="updateInfoCard">
+                    <div class="card-content white-text">
+                        <div class="card-title">Update Available</div>
+                        <div class="row">
+                            {{#each updates}}
+                            <div class="col s12">
+                                <div class="row">
+                                    <div class="col s12">
+                                        <h4>{{title}}</h4>
+                                    </div>
+                                    <div class="col s12">
+                                        Release Notes:
+                                        <p class="flow-text">{{descriptionSinHTML}}</p>
+                                    </div>
+                                    <div class="col s12">
+                                        Release Date:
+                                        <p class="flow-text">{{niceDate}}</p>
+                                    </div>
+                                    <div class="col s12">
+                                        <a href="{{releaseLink}}" target=”_blank”>Visit Release on Gitlab</a>
+                                    </div>
+                                </div>
+                            </div>
+                            <div class="col s12">
+                                <a class="btn waves-effect waves-light blue white-text readLink" id="{{_id}}">Mark Read</a>
+                            </div>
+                            <hr />
+                            {{/each}}
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        {{/if}}
+        {{/if}}
         <div class="col s12 m6 l4">
             <div class="card blue darken-3" id="taskInfoCard">
                 <div class="card-content white-text">
diff --git a/client/Dashboard/dashboard.js b/client/Dashboard/dashboard.js
index 2ea3cb1..efc49aa 100644
--- a/client/Dashboard/dashboard.js
+++ b/client/Dashboard/dashboard.js
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ import { Menus } from '../../imports/api/menu.js';
 import { MenuItems } from '../../imports/api/menuItems.js';
 import moment from 'moment';
 import { TaskItems } from "../../imports/api/tasks";
-
+import { UpdateInfo } from '../../imports/api/updateInfo.js';
+import { SysConfig } from '../../imports/api/systemConfig.js';
 
 Template.dashboard.onCreated(function() {
     this.subscribe("userList");
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ Template.dashboard.onCreated(function() {
     // this.subscribe("myMenus");
     this.subscribe("todayMenuItems");
     this.subscribe("myTasks");
+    this.subscribe("UpdateVersion");
+    this.subscribe("SystemConfig");
 });
 
 Template.dashboard.onRendered(function() {
@@ -56,11 +59,34 @@ Template.dashboard.helpers({
         let todayDate = moment(now).format("MMM DD, YYYY");
         return todayDate;
     },
+    updates: function() {
+        return UpdateInfo.find({});
+    },
+    updatesExist: function() {
+        let updateExists = UpdateInfo.find({ viewed: false }).fetch();
+        if (updateExists.length > 0) {
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    },
+    currConfig: function() {
+        return SysConfig.findOne({});
+    },
+    descriptionSinHTML: function() {
+        let desc = this.description;
+        let sinH = $(desc).text();
+        return sinH;
+    },
+    niceDate: function() {
+        let rDateNorm = this.date;
+        let rDate = moment(rDateNorm).format('LL');
+        return rDate;
+    }
 });
 
 Template.dashboard.events({
     "click .cardLink" (event) {
-        event.preventDefault();
         let link = event.currentTarget.id;
         switch(link) {
             case "userMgmtLink":
@@ -86,7 +112,6 @@ Template.dashboard.events({
         }
     },
     'click .card' (event) {
-        event.preventDefault();
         let cardId = event.currentTarget.id;
 
         switch(cardId) {
@@ -111,5 +136,16 @@ Template.dashboard.events({
             default:
                 break;
         }
+    },
+    'click .readLink' (event) {
+        let eventId = event.currentTarget.id;
+
+        Meteor.call('markUpdate.read', eventId, function(err, result) {
+            if (err) {
+               console.log("    ERROR marking update as 'read': " + err);
+            } else {
+                console.log("marked read successfully!");
+            }
+        });
     }
 });
diff --git a/client/General/headerBar.html b/client/General/headerBar.html
index 00e9d71..5a92d36 100644
--- a/client/General/headerBar.html
+++ b/client/General/headerBar.html
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
                 <li><a href="#" id="manage" class="navBtn {{#if $eq myTheme 'dark'}}white-text{{/if}}">Manage</a></li>
               {{/if}}
               <li class="signOut {{#if $eq myTheme 'dark'}}white-text{{/if}}"><a href="#" class="signOut">Log Out</a></li>
+              {{#if $eq updateExists true}}
+              <li><a href="#!"><i class="material-icons white-text navBtn" id='dashboard'>notifications</i></a></li>
+              {{/if}}
             {{else}}
               <li><a href="#!" id="login" class="navBtn {{#if $eq myTheme 'dark'}}white-text{{/if}}">Login</a></li>
             {{/if}}
@@ -30,6 +33,7 @@
         <li><a href="#!" class="navBtn" id="mySettings {{#if $eq myTheme 'dark'}}white-text{{/if}}">My Settings</a></li>
         {{#if isInRole 'systemadmin'}}
           <li><a href="#!" id="manage" class="navBtn {{#if $eq myTheme 'dark'}}white-text{{/if}}">Manage</a></li>
+          <li><a href="#!"><i class="material-icons">notifications</i></a></li>
         {{/if}}
         <li><a href="#!" class="signOut {{#if $eq myTheme 'dark'}}white-text{{/if}}">Sign Out</a></li>
         {{else}}
diff --git a/client/General/headerBar.js b/client/General/headerBar.js
index cd5963c..9de0b62 100644
--- a/client/General/headerBar.js
+++ b/client/General/headerBar.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { M } from '../lib/assets/materialize';
+import { UpdateInfo } from '../../imports/api/updateInfo.js';
 
 Template.headerBar.onCreated(function() {
-
+    this.subscribe("UpdateVersion");
 });
 
 Template.headerBar.onRendered(function() {
@@ -17,7 +18,15 @@ Template.headerBar.helpers({
     },
     myTheme: function() {
         return Session.get("myTheme");
-    }
+    },
+    updateExists: function() {
+        let update = UpdateInfo.find({ viewed: false }).fetch();
+        if (update.length > 0) {
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    },
 });
 
 Template.headerBar.events({
diff --git a/imports/api/listItems.js b/imports/api/listItems.js
index e83b9f3..9459395 100644
--- a/imports/api/listItems.js
+++ b/imports/api/listItems.js
@@ -22,16 +22,19 @@ Meteor.methods({
             throw new Meteor.Error('You are not allowed to add items. Make sure you are logged in with valid user credentials.');
         }
 
+        let iname = itemName.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + itemName.slice(1);
+
         // look up the item from the Products collection
-        let prodInfo = Products.findOne({ prodName: itemName });
-        if (typeof prodInfo == "undefined") {
-            Meteor.call("add.product", itemName, "", "", "", function(err, result) {
+        let prodInfo = Products.findOne({ prodName: iname });
+        if (!prodInfo) {
+            Meteor.call("add.product", itemName, [""], function(err, result) {
                 if (err) {
                     console.log("   ERROR adding item to products: " + err);
                 } else {
                     // console.log("    SUCCESS adding item to Products.");
+
                     return ListItems.insert({
-                        itemName: itemName,
+                        itemName: iname,
                         listId: listId,
                         prodId: result,
                         addedBy: this.userId,
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ Meteor.methods({
             });
         } else {
             return ListItems.insert({
-                itemName: itemName,
+                itemName: iname,
                 listId: listId,
                 prodId: prodInfo._id,
                 addedBy: this.userId,
@@ -176,4 +179,4 @@ Meteor.methods({
 
         return ListItems.remove({ _id: itemId });
     }
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+});
diff --git a/imports/api/products.js b/imports/api/products.js
index b2c08d7..87810c9 100644
--- a/imports/api/products.js
+++ b/imports/api/products.js
@@ -22,11 +22,19 @@ Meteor.methods({
 
         let pname = prodName.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + prodName.slice(1);
 
-        return Products.insert({
-            prodName: pname,
-            prodOwner: this.userId,
-            prodStore: prodStore,
-        });
+        // first does this product already exist?
+
+        let prodExists = Products.findOne({ prodName: pname });
+
+        if (!prodExists) {
+            return Products.insert({
+                prodName: pname,
+                prodOwner: this.userId,
+                prodStore: prodStore,
+            });
+        } else {
+            console.log("    ----    Product exsits in database already.");
+        }
     },
     'edit.product' (prodId, prodName, prodStore) {
         check(prodId, String);
diff --git a/imports/api/systemConfig.js b/imports/api/systemConfig.js
index 82108a8..3f848be 100644
--- a/imports/api/systemConfig.js
+++ b/imports/api/systemConfig.js
@@ -55,4 +55,21 @@ Meteor.methods({
             }
         });
     },
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+    'allow.updateInfo' (allowUpdate) {
+        check(allowUpdate, Boolean);
+
+        if (!this.userId) {
+            throw new Meteor.Error('Not able to change system update notification settings. Make sure you are logged in with valid system administrator credentials.');
+        }
+
+        let curr = SysConfig.findOne({});
+
+        let configId = curr._id;
+
+        return SysConfig.update({ _id: configId }, {
+            $set: {
+                allowUpdates: allowUpdate,
+            }
+        });
+    },
+});
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 597c896..119939f 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -11,11 +11,72 @@
         "regenerator-runtime": "^0.13.4"
       }
     },
+    "addressparser": {
+      "version": "1.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/addressparser/-/addressparser-1.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-aQX7AISOMM7HFE0iZ3+YnD07oIeJqWGVnJ+ZIKaBZAk03ftmVYVqsGas/rbXKR21n4D/hKCSHypvcyOkds/xzg=="
+    },
+    "array-indexofobject": {
+      "version": "0.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/array-indexofobject/-/array-indexofobject-0.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-tpdPBIBm4TMNxSp8O3pZgC7mF4+wn9SmJlhE+7bi5so6x39PvzUqChQMbv93R5ilYGZ1HV+Neki4IH/i+87AoQ=="
+    },
+    "core-util-is": {
+      "version": "1.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/core-util-is/-/core-util-is-1.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZQBvi1DcpJ4GDqanjucZ2Hj3wEO5pZDS89BWbkcrvdxksJorwUDDZamX9ldFkp9aw2lmBDLgkObEA4DWNJ9FYQ=="
+    },
+    "feedparser": {
+      "version": "2.2.10",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/feedparser/-/feedparser-2.2.10.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-WoAOooa61V8/xuKMi2pEtK86qQ3ZH/M72EEGdqlOTxxb3m6ve1NPvZcmPFs3wEDfcBbFLId2GqZ4YjsYi+h1xA==",
+      "requires": {
+        "addressparser": "^1.0.1",
+        "array-indexofobject": "~0.0.1",
+        "lodash.assign": "^4.2.0",
+        "lodash.get": "^4.4.2",
+        "lodash.has": "^4.5.2",
+        "lodash.uniq": "^4.5.0",
+        "mri": "^1.1.5",
+        "readable-stream": "^2.3.7",
+        "sax": "^1.2.4"
+      }
+    },
+    "inherits": {
+      "version": "2.0.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/inherits/-/inherits-2.0.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-k/vGaX4/Yla3WzyMCvTQOXYeIHvqOKtnqBduzTHpzpQZzAskKMhZ2K+EnBiSM9zGSoIFeMpXKxa4dYeZIQqewQ=="
+    },
+    "isarray": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/isarray/-/isarray-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VLghIWNM6ELQzo7zwmcg0NmTVyWKYjvIeM83yjp0wRDTmUnrM678fQbcKBo6n2CJEF0szoG//ytg+TKla89ALQ=="
+    },
     "jquery": {
       "version": "3.6.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jquery/-/jquery-3.6.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-JVzAR/AjBvVt2BmYhxRCSYysDsPcssdmTFnzyLEts9qNwmjmu4JTAMYubEfwVOSwpQ1I1sKKFcxhZCI2buerfw=="
     },
+    "lodash.assign": {
+      "version": "4.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.assign/-/lodash.assign-4.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-hFuH8TY+Yji7Eja3mGiuAxBqLagejScbG8GbG0j6o9vzn0YL14My+ktnqtZgFTosKymC9/44wP6s7xyuLfnClw=="
+    },
+    "lodash.get": {
+      "version": "4.4.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.get/-/lodash.get-4.4.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-z+Uw/vLuy6gQe8cfaFWD7p0wVv8fJl3mbzXh33RS+0oW2wvUqiRXiQ69gLWSLpgB5/6sU+r6BlQR0MBILadqTQ=="
+    },
+    "lodash.has": {
+      "version": "4.5.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.has/-/lodash.has-4.5.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-rnYUdIo6xRCJnQmbVFEwcxF144erlD+M3YcJUVesflU9paQaE8p+fJDcIQrlMYbxoANFL+AB9hZrzSBBk5PL+g=="
+    },
+    "lodash.uniq": {
+      "version": "4.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.uniq/-/lodash.uniq-4.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-xfBaXQd9ryd9dlSDvnvI0lvxfLJlYAZzXomUYzLKtUeOQvOP5piqAWuGtrhWeqaXK9hhoM/iyJc5AV+XfsX3HQ=="
+    },
     "meteor-node-stubs": {
       "version": "1.2.5",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/meteor-node-stubs/-/meteor-node-stubs-1.2.5.tgz",
@@ -798,15 +859,111 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/moment/-/moment-2.29.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-5LC9SOxjSc2HF6vO2CyuTDNivEdoz2IvyJJGj6X8DJ0eFyfszE0QiEd+iXmBvUP3WHxSjFH/vIsA0EN00cgr8w=="
     },
+    "mri": {
+      "version": "1.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mri/-/mri-1.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-tzzskb3bG8LvYGFF/mDTpq3jpI6Q9wc3LEmBaghu+DdCssd1FakN7Bc0hVNmEyGq1bq3RgfkCb3cmQLpNPOroA=="
+    },
+    "node-cron": {
+      "version": "3.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/node-cron/-/node-cron-3.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-dOal67//nohNgYWb+nWmg5dkFdIwDm8EpeGYMekPMrngV3637lqnX0lbUcCtgibHTz6SEz7DAIjKvKDFYCnO1A==",
+      "requires": {
+        "uuid": "8.3.2"
+      }
+    },
+    "node-fetch": {
+      "version": "2.7.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/node-fetch/-/node-fetch-2.7.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-c4FRfUm/dbcWZ7U+1Wq0AwCyFL+3nt2bEw05wfxSz+DWpWsitgmSgYmy2dQdWyKC1694ELPqMs/YzUSNozLt8A==",
+      "requires": {
+        "whatwg-url": "^5.0.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "process-nextick-args": {
+      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/process-nextick-args/-/process-nextick-args-2.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-3ouUOpQhtgrbOa17J7+uxOTpITYWaGP7/AhoR3+A+/1e9skrzelGi/dXzEYyvbxubEF6Wn2ypscTKiKJFFn1ag=="
+    },
+    "readable-stream": {
+      "version": "2.3.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/readable-stream/-/readable-stream-2.3.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-8p0AUk4XODgIewSi0l8Epjs+EVnWiK7NoDIEGU0HhE7+ZyY8D1IMY7odu5lRrFXGg71L15KG8QrPmum45RTtdA==",
+      "requires": {
+        "core-util-is": "~1.0.0",
+        "inherits": "~2.0.3",
+        "isarray": "~1.0.0",
+        "process-nextick-args": "~2.0.0",
+        "safe-buffer": "~5.1.1",
+        "string_decoder": "~1.1.1",
+        "util-deprecate": "~1.0.1"
+      }
+    },
     "regenerator-runtime": {
       "version": "0.13.9",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regenerator-runtime/-/regenerator-runtime-0.13.9.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-p3VT+cOEgxFsRRA9X4lkI1E+k2/CtnKtU4gcxyaCUreilL/vqI6CdZ3wxVUx3UOUg+gnUOQQcRI7BmSI656MYA=="
     },
+    "rss-url-parser": {
+      "version": "3.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/rss-url-parser/-/rss-url-parser-3.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-x39bDQDe1BwpiVwPrjg52ILbTMZc5h7oDPE7FRLa/sgYar7BrNRBTU/msxgokacPZN1rawXmK1rtBU5N7Gsn4A==",
+      "requires": {
+        "feedparser": "^2.2.10",
+        "node-fetch": "^2.6.7"
+      }
+    },
+    "safe-buffer": {
+      "version": "5.1.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/safe-buffer/-/safe-buffer-5.1.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Gd2UZBJDkXlY7GbJxfsE8/nvKkUEU1G38c1siN6QP6a9PT9MmHB8GnpscSmMJSoF8LOIrt8ud/wPtojys4G6+g=="
+    },
+    "sax": {
+      "version": "1.4.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sax/-/sax-1.4.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+aWOz7yVScEGoKNd4PA10LZ8sk0A/z5+nXQG5giUO5rprX9jgYsTdov9qCchZiPIZezbZH+jRut8nPodFAX4Jg=="
+    },
+    "string_decoder": {
+      "version": "1.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/string_decoder/-/string_decoder-1.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-n/ShnvDi6FHbbVfviro+WojiFzv+s8MPMHBczVePfUpDJLwoLT0ht1l4YwBCbi8pJAveEEdnkHyPyTP/mzRfwg==",
+      "requires": {
+        "safe-buffer": "~5.1.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "tr46": {
+      "version": "0.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tr46/-/tr46-0.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-N3WMsuqV66lT30CrXNbEjx4GEwlow3v6rr4mCcv6prnfwhS01rkgyFdjPNBYd9br7LpXV1+Emh01fHnq2Gdgrw=="
+    },
     "typeahead-standalone": {
       "version": "5.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/typeahead-standalone/-/typeahead-standalone-5.2.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-9GTbCO7XhwimgolmxzuPklftoIa2NEGXBI30n9f5kQZOptvTeJ9ublhNYy4W00RN1D5gSHM5n4dI5vOojr51hg=="
+    },
+    "util-deprecate": {
+      "version": "1.0.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/util-deprecate/-/util-deprecate-1.0.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-EPD5q1uXyFxJpCrLnCc1nHnq3gOa6DZBocAIiI2TaSCA7VCJ1UJDMagCzIkXNsUYfD1daK//LTEQ8xiIbrHtcw=="
+    },
+    "uuid": {
+      "version": "8.3.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/uuid/-/uuid-8.3.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+NYs2QeMWy+GWFOEm9xnn6HCDp0l7QBD7ml8zLUmJ+93Q5NF0NocErnwkTkXVFNiX3/fpC6afS8Dhb/gz7R7eg=="
+    },
+    "webidl-conversions": {
+      "version": "3.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/webidl-conversions/-/webidl-conversions-3.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-2JAn3z8AR6rjK8Sm8orRC0h/bcl/DqL7tRPdGZ4I1CjdF+EaMLmYxBHyXuKL849eucPFhvBoxMsflfOb8kxaeQ=="
+    },
+    "whatwg-url": {
+      "version": "5.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/whatwg-url/-/whatwg-url-5.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-saE57nupxk6v3HY35+jzBwYa0rKSy0XR8JSxZPwgLr7ys0IBzhGviA1/TUGJLmSVqs8pb9AnvICXEuOHLprYTw==",
+      "requires": {
+        "tr46": "~0.0.3",
+        "webidl-conversions": "^3.0.0"
+      }
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3e3c382..4801b6a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "jquery": "^3.6.0",
     "meteor-node-stubs": "^1.2.5",
     "moment": "^2.29.4",
+    "node-cron": "^3.0.3",
+    "rss-url-parser": "^3.0.0",
     "typeahead-standalone": "^5.2.0"
   }
 }
diff --git a/server/main.js b/server/main.js
index c82781f..4af2669 100644
--- a/server/main.js
+++ b/server/main.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { MenuItems } from '../imports/api/menuItems';
 import { Products } from '../imports/api/products.js';
 import { Menus } from '../imports/api/menu.js';
 import { MScripts } from '../imports/api/mScripts.js';
+import { UpdateInfo } from '../imports/api/updateInfo.js';
 
 Meteor.startup(() => {
   // code to run on server at startup
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ Meteor.startup(() => {
         SysAdminReg: false,
         dateAdded: new Date(),
         allowReg: true,
+        allowUpdates: true,
       });
     } else {
       // console.log("Registration policy already set.");
@@ -128,8 +130,28 @@ Meteor.startup(() => {
     }
   }
 
+  // get update available information if enabled in system confiuration
+  let currConfig = SysConfig.findOne({});
+  let feedurl = "https://gitlab.com/bmcgonag/get_my/-/releases.atom"
+  if (currConfig.allowUpdates == true) {
+    // console.log("Allow Updates is true");
+    startCronForUpdates(feedurl);
+  } else if (typeof currConfig.allowUpdates == 'undefined' || currConfig.allowUpdates == null) {
+    SysConfig.update({ _id: currConfig._id }, { $set: {
+      allowUpdates: true,
+    }});
+    startCronForUpdates(feedurl);
+  }
 });
 
+var startCronForUpdates = function(feedurl) {
+  var cron = require('node-cron');
+
+  cron.schedule('*/30 * * * *', () => {
+    getUpdateInfoNow(feedurl);
+  });
+}
+
 var markScriptRun = function(scriptName) {
   // check if this is already set
   let scriptRun = MScripts.findOne({ scriptName: scriptName });
@@ -144,3 +166,25 @@ var markScriptRun = function(scriptName) {
       });
   }
 }
+
+var getUpdateInfoNow = async function(feedurl) {
+    const parser = require('rss-url-parser')
+
+    const data = await parser(feedurl)
+    let dataLength = data.length;
+    // console.dir(data[0].title);
+
+    // check if this title already exists in db
+    let updatesExist = UpdateInfo.findOne({ title: data[0].title });
+    if (!updatesExist) {
+      UpdateInfo.insert({
+          title: data[0].title,
+          description: data[0].description,
+          dateRelease: data[0].date,
+          releaseLink: data[0].link,
+          viewed: false
+      });
+    } else {
+      console.log("No new updates available at this time.");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/server/methods.js b/server/methods.js
index ecb0347..1d6e9a5 100644
--- a/server/methods.js
+++ b/server/methods.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { Meteor } from 'meteor/meteor';
 import { Mongo } from 'meteor/mongo';
 import { check } from 'meteor/check';
 import { TaskItems } from '../imports/api/tasks';
+import { SysConfig } from '../imports/api/systemConfig';
 
 Meteor.methods({
     'addToRole' (role) {
diff --git a/server/publish.js b/server/publish.js
index 594c197..124eb64 100644
--- a/server/publish.js
+++ b/server/publish.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { TaskItems } from '../imports/api/tasks.js';
 import { UserConfig } from '../imports/api/userConfig.js';
 import { MenuProdLinks } from '../imports/api/menuProdLinks.js';
 import { UserLast } from '../imports/api/userLast.js';
+import { UpdateInfo } from '../imports/api/updateInfo.js';
 
 Meteor.publish("SystemConfig", function() {
     try {
@@ -28,6 +29,14 @@ Meteor.publish("UserConfigPrefs", function() {
     }
 });
 
+Meteor.publish("UpdateVersion", function() {
+    try {
+        return UpdateInfo.find({ viewed: false });
+    } catch(error) {
+        console.log("    ERROR pulling updated version info: " + error);
+    }
+})
+
 Meteor.publish('userList', function() { 
     return Meteor.users.find({});
 });
@@ -80,6 +89,20 @@ Meteor.publish("myListItems", function(listId) {
     }
 });
 
+Meteor.publish("myStoreListItems", function(listId) {
+    try {
+        let stores = Store.find({});
+        if (stores) {
+            for (i=0; i<stores.length; i++) {
+                let items = ListItems.find({ prodStore: store[i], listId: listId }).fetch();
+
+            }
+        }
+    } catch (error) {
+        console.log("    ERROR pulling items or stores: " + error);
+    }
+});
+
 Meteor.publish("myMenus", function() {
     try {
         return Menus.find({ menuComplete: false });