November 2022

iSolar Hidden Greens Golf
Business

Business, Featured

  iSolar, leading experts in commercial, residential and agricultural solar installations, completed a project at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings, Minn. (Minneapolis, MN) –November 28, 2022  — iSolar, leading experts in commercial, residential and agricultural solar installations, recently completed a substantial project at Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings, Minn. Motivated by environmental stewardship and cost-savings, Hidden Greens was intrigued by solar power. They wanted to understand how solar

Topline Tom Smith Retirement
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Featured, People

  MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Nov. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based member-owned financial services cooperative, announces the retirement of Tom Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective May 2023. TopLine’s Board of Directors partnered with a leadership succession firm to help guide them through the CEO selection process. Based on this process, the Board has named current Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice

EvoCharge 40 Amp Charging Stations
Business

Business, Featured

    This gives our customers across North America additional choices for charging their vehicles and future-proofs their charging stations as EV battery capacities increase.”   — Manish Virmani, vice president of sales and marketing for EvoCharge     (Minneapolis, MN) –November 15, 2022 — EvoCharge®, an industry leader in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and cable management solutions, today announced it has launched its line of 40A charging stations. Available

Alexandria Lights on Broadway
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

(Alexandria, MN) — November 26th,2022 — Alexandria kicked off the holiday season with something old, and something new.     Friday, the public was invited to Christmas at the fort.  This event has happened the Friday after Thanksgiving for decades.   It was started by the Runestone Museum, and the Maritime Museum next door has joined the celebration.   Hundreds of families came out to vote for their favorite Christmas Tree, visit with

Winter anglers Mille Lacs Lake
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(Mille Lacs, MN) — November 25th, 2022 — Winter anglers on Mille Lacs Lake can enjoy a walleye harvest opportunity for the seventh season in a row. Starting on Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers will be allowed to keep one walleye between 21-23 inches or one walleye longer than 28 inches on Mille Lacs. “Our assessment netting shows that the walleye population is abundant enough to sustain some harvest again this

MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce
Business

Business, Featured

(Blaine, MN) — November, 25th, 2022 —  The MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the grand opening of their Free Little Leadership Library. Modeled after the neighborhood Little Free Library, the chamber’s focus is to have a variety of leadership and business-related books, which will be available for anyone to stop by and take. The idea for a leadership library came out of a discussion at the launch of

PFAS Monitoring Results For Drinking Water
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

(Minnesota) — November, 2022 — Minnesota residents who get their drinking water from a community public water system will now be able to find out if their system’s water has any level of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), through an interactive online dashboard unveiled today by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). According to the results of statewide testing reflected in the new dashboard, the vast majority of community water

Angi Super Service Award
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

Award reflects company’s consistent level of customer service (St Michael, MN) — Nov. 25, 2022  — Craftsman’s Choice is proud to announce that it has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angi Super Service Award (SSA). This award, first released in 1999, recognizes the best home professionals and businesses in the Angi network for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to providing Angi customers a great experience. “Through changing microeconomic factors

Jayson Randall re(center)ed
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re(center)ed Community Healing Project Lake Harriet / Bde Unma, Minneapolis, Minnesota January 21 thru February 12, 2023     (Minneapolis, MN) —  November 24, 2022 — re(center)ed is a large-scale, interactive, community-healing project by experimental artist Jayson Randall, which will be presented as a part of the Art Shanty Projects Festival on Lake Harriet / Bde Unma in Minneapolis, Minnesota from January 21 thru February 12, 2023. Over the past

Free Entrance to Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas on Friday, Nov. 25
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(Minnesota) — November 25th, 2022 — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will waive entrance fees to all 75 state parks and recreation areas Friday, Nov. 25 — the day after Thanksgiving. This “Free Park Day” is one of four days each year on which the DNR waives the vehicle permit requirement to enter state parks and recreation areas. The goal of Free Park Days is to encourage Minnesotans to

Mankato Banker Appointed to National Council for Community Bank Leaders
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Featured, People

(Mankato, MN)—November 22, 2022 — American Bankers Association has selected David Krause, CEO, Pioneer Bank, to serve on ABA’s Community Bankers Council. Krause attended the ABA Community Bankers Council meeting in Washington, November 14-16. Bankers had discussions on the impacts of mid-term elections results, legislative priorities for the new Congress, debit and credit card interchange, data aggregation, P2P payments liability, cannabis banking, ECORA, NSF fees, central bank digital currency and

Minnesota Author T.K. O’Neill Releases New 1970's Crime Novel Sequel
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

  Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert protagonist Frank Ford flees Minnesota for Arizona with a dog-eared copy of Kerouac’s On the Road as his roadmap (Duluth, MN) — November 18, 2022 — T.K. O’Neill’s latest crime novel, Dive Bartender: Flowers in the Desert, was recently released by Bluestone Press. It picks up where O’Neill’s 2017 Dive Bartender: Sibling Rivalry left off. Set in 1977, protagonist Frank Ford is running

Rochester Sidewalk Improvement District
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

  (Rochester, MN) — November 15, 2022 –  – The City of Rochester adopted the Sidewalk Improvement District (SID) program at the City Council meeting on Monday, November 14, 2022. Adoption of this program reassigns the cost of sidewalk repairs and replacement from the adjacent property owner to a distribution among a greater portion of the community, as sidewalks are a benefit to, and are available for use, by all.

Minnesota’s Community Health Centers Leading the Effort to Deliver Health Care to Remote, Rural Residents
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MN Rural-Based Community Health Center, Scenic Rivers Health Services     National Rural Health Day Underscores the Need for Medical and Mental Health Services in Rural Communities that Community Health Centers Provide (Minnesota)  — November 17, 2022  — The Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers (MNACHC), an organization that supports the state’s 17 community health centers (CHCs) and its patients in improving and maintaining the health and wellness of local

Osman Shrine Circus
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(Saint Paul, MN) —  Nov. 22, 2022  –The Osman Shrine Circus has entertained Minnesota audiences young and old since 1923 and is still going strong. It’s that time of year again when Osman Shrine Circus comes to town to celebrate its 100th anniversary with family and children’s events. The circus is coming to town. Each year, kids and adults in St. Paul, Minnesota, get to witness some of the most

Thomasina Petrus Set To Release Another Beautiful Global Holiday Rendition
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Featured, Music | Podcast

  To be able to sing in the studio, along with the way I feel when I am on stage, is a comfort and freedom found among musicians when they become family.”    — Thomasina Petrus     (Minneapolis, MN) — November 21, 2022 — With a voice that has moved scores of people around the world, Thomasina Petrus continues to amaze us with her beautiful music. The 30 year equity

Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award
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Featured, People

I personally feel that Sheila exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication to the profession that Gayle exhibited throughout her career, especially her courage and boldness.”   — Tom O’Connor, Director Gulf Coast Legal Technology Center     (Minneapolis, MN) — November 18, 2022 — Setting the global standards for e-discovery, the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) is pleased to host the 3rd annual Gayle O’Connor GO Spirit Award where Sheila Grela will

rSchoolToday and Meta Work Together on Social Media Safety
Business

Business

  (Minneapolis, MN) — November 18, 2022  — rSchoolToday, makers of the most-adopted software platform and mobile app for high school activities, are now collaborating with Meta to share social media safety tools with teens and their families. The campaign connects Meta’s resource library to local communities nationwide through the Company’s network of partner high schools who use rSchoolToday software to manage, coordinate, and market their extracurricular activities. Resources include

Newbridge Health & Wellness Releases New Guide on How Functional Medicine Can Help With Long-Haul COVID
Good Things

Good Things

  (Edina, MN) — November 17, 2022  — Newbridge Health & Wellness just released a new guide detailing how the functional medicine approach can help to alleviate symptoms of long-haul COVID. As the phenomena of persistent symptoms associated with COVID-19 is thought to affect at least 1 in 8 people who have contracted the virus, functional medicine may offer a practical solution to dealing with symptoms. Persistent COVID symptoms are

Cantissimo Senior Living Launches Senior Lifestyles Podcast
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Featured, Music | Podcast

    This podcast will make it easier for people across the country to access our content and discover valuable answers to their pressing questions.”   — Paul Ablack     (Plymouth, MN) — November 18, 2022– Cantissimo Senior Living, a free education resource for the 55+ community, announces the launch of the Senior Lifestyles Podcast. The podcast is designed to make content accessible for anyone interested in learning about topics

Ellie Mental Health Releases New Guide About Quiet Quitting and How to Create Balance in the Workplace
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  (Mendota Heights, MN) — November 14, 2022 — Ellie Mental Health just released a new guide about the nature of quiet quitting and how this phenomenon is awakening employers. Quiet quitting has become a growing trend since the pandemic began forcing people to reevaluate their worth and make tough decisions. Employees have begun leaving behind long-held positions regardless of salary or pension. And this has largely to do with

Vicki Roscoe Erickson
People

People

  (Maplie Grove, MN) —  Nov. 16, 2022  — Twin Cities member-owned cooperative TopLine Financial Credit Union’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications has been named one of Twin Cities Business 2022 Notable Leaders in Marketing. A complete list of those selected is available online at Twin Cities Business. As TopLine Financial Credit Union’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Vicki Roscoe Erickson is responsible for overseeing all

High Bar Brands Minimizer Floor Mats,
Business

Business

  (Owatonna, MN) — Nov. 17, 2022  — Due to consumer feedback, High Bar Brands is expanding its Minimizer line of custom molded floor mats by offering a mat for the sleeper area of the cab. “The original request for this product came from our customers and gathered steam on social media,” HBB Product Development Director Chandler Nault said. “It’s a great example of what a critical role our customers

Hill Hiker Ellie Awards
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

  (Orono, MN) — Nov. 17, 2022  — For its third consecutive year, Hill Hiker, Inc. won an Ellie Awards recognition, maintaining its reign as Best Supplier in Special Application Lifts. The Ellie Awards, or “Ellies,” collect more than 20,000 votes annually to recognize North American elevator and escalator businesses that make large strides in the industry. Hill Hiker, Inc. received a nomination earlier this year for Best Supplier in Special

Joshin Launches Enterprise Solution, Enabling Employers to Offer Disability Support as a Benefit
Business

Business

  (Minneapolis, MN) —  Nov. 17, 2022 — Joshin, a digital support platform for disability and neurodivergence in the workplace, has rolled out a comprehensive employee benefits program to support companies, employees, and their families with virtual coaching, on-demand training and personalized navigation support. The offering meets a critical need among companies developing initiatives to hire neurodivergent talent and looking to incorporate disability and neurodivergent support systems for the entire

TSA announces Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) Passenger Screening Canine Eebbers Voted the “2022 Cutest Canine”
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(Washington DC/Minneapolis, MN) – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that Eebbers, an 11-year-old explosive detection canine who works at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) in St. Paul, Minnesota, was voted the winner of TSA’s 2022 Cutest Canine Contest. Last week, TSA held a nationwide social media contest on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and encouraged members of the public to vote for the agency’s “cutest canine.” Once all the votes were tallied, Eebbers emerged

Local Backus Community Café
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

(International Falls, MN) — Nov. 17, 2022 — Coop Service, Inc. and Cenex®, the energy brand of CHS, have awarded a $25,000 Hometown Pride grant to the Backus Community Café. Backus Community Café was nominated by Coop Service for its dedication to providing an accessible solution to local food insecurity while bringing neighbors together and strengthening community connections. “Being rewarded this grant means so much to our small community,” says Lois

Give to the Max Day
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Thousands of donors, nonprofits and schools prepare to give back on Minnesota’s giving holiday Thursday, Nov. 17 (Minneapolis, MN) —  Nov. 14, 2022 — GiveMN’s 14th annual Give to the Max Day is set for Thursday, Nov. 17. Give to the Max — Minnesota’s largest grassroots giving campaign and one of the largest in the country— is a digital statewide fundraiser benefiting thousands of nonprofits and schools across the state.

St Paul Ice Fishing Show
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Featured, Good Things

  St. Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show runs Dec. 2-4, 2022. Nation’s Largest Ice Fishing Show Marks 29th Year; Showcases Best of Winter Enthusiast Products and Services From 165+ Vendors Attendees will shop more than 165 exhibits, taking their pick of fish houses, augers, underwater cameras, digital fish finders, rods and reels, tackle, accessories, apparel and more.” — GS Media & Events (St Paul, MN) —  November 14,

LYNX Innovation Neon Carrot
Business

Business

  (Bloomington, MN) —   Nov. 14, 2022  — LYNX Innovation Inc. has acquired Neon Carrot. As established creative experts, Neon Carrot creates immersive and engaging retail experiences backed by robust shopper insights and strategy. With over 25 years of design experience, their unique team of strategists and designers are enthusiastic about solving human centered challenges and making a positive impact on brands around the world.  “We are extremely excited to

Jason Haugen Canterbury Park
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Featured, People

  (Shakopee, MN) — Nov. 14, 2022  — Canterbury Park Holding Corporation announced that current Director of Real Estate Development, Jason Haugen, has been named Vice President of Real Estate for Canterbury Park Development, LLC. In this newly created role, Haugen will continue his work overseeing the development of Canterbury Commons while also managing the growing portfolio of the Company’s real estate equity investments. “Jason’s promotion is a recognition of

Sun Country Airlines
Business

Business, Featured

  (Minneapolis, MN) —  Nov. 15, 2022  — Sun Country Airlines today announced 15 new nonstop routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) beginning in summer 2023. Twelve new destinations are featured as the airline continues to expand its network. Sun Country has also extended its booking schedule so customers can now book travel through Labor Day 2023. Sun Country’s summer schedule will connect travelers to Colorado Springs’ mountains, the

2022 Hormel Heroes Scholarship
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Featured, People

Scholarships support students with military backgrounds pursuing careers in culinary arts or a foodservice management program (Austin, MN) —  Nov. 11, 2022  — Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced the recipients of this year’s two $10,000 Hormel Heroes Scholarships. The Hormel Heroes Scholarship Program was created by Hormel Foods to support students with military backgrounds pursuing degrees in culinary arts or a foodservice management program.

Minnesota History Center Rotunda
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

Photo: Left to right, Dr. S.K. Dash and Kent Whitworth, director and CEO of MNHS, at the Dr. Dash Foundation Rotunda inside the Minnesota History Center. Photo Credit: Minnesota Historical Society Led by Philanthropist Dr. Sita Kantha Dash, the Dr. Dash Foundation donates $1 million to the Minnesota Historical Society; First space at the Minnesota History Center named in recognition of an organization chaired and founded by a person of color.

Bemidji State University Music
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Featured, Music | Podcast

(Bemidji, MN) — November 13th, 2022 — Three Bemidji State University Department of Music faculty members have released recorded works over the past months. Drs. Hilary Lowery and Miriam Webber, assistant professors of music, are scheduled to release albums spring 2023. Dr. Stephen Carlson, professor of music, released “Live in Recital,” a solo performance of various piano works from Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn, Béla Bartók, Claude Debussy and

Lifetime Memory Missions
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Educators and Employees from Across North America will Participate in the Trip from January 18 – 25 (Eden Prairie, MN) — Nov. 10, 2022  — Lifetouch, a leader in professional photography for schools and families, is celebrating more than 20 years of Memory Missions by bringing a team of volunteers to Guatemala where they will help build a more environmentally responsible school out of plastic bottles. The trip takes place from January 18 to 25, 2023.

Pioneer Bank
Business

Business

(Mankato, MN) — November 9, 2022 —Marvin Kimm, President at Pioneer Bank Mapleton, and Dean Olsen, President at Pioneer Bank St. James, were recognized with special designations to honor their careers with Pioneer Bank. With their promotions, they will both continue with the bank in the role of Senior Ag Banker, President Emeritus. Kimm began working with the bank in 1986 and has been instrumental in developing the residential mortgage

Pipestone Pumpkin Palooza Fall Decorating Contest
Doing Good

Doing Good

(Pipestone, MN) — November 7th, 2022 —   The community of Pipestone held a contest to beautify the town for the  Fall and Halloween season!     Volunteer judges said it was a very hard decision as all 41 contestants were definitely “Fall-tastic!”   They helped make Pipestone a fun and welcoming destination to visit. Congratulations to the following Business & Nonprofit Winners:1st Place Winner – SWWC Service Cooperative ELC – PipestonePrize: $100 Pipestone Area

Eric Ingvaldson
Business

Business

  Acquisition Expected to Triple Annual Revenue Strong Fit with Pineapple’s Customer-centric Model (Minnetonka, MN) — Nov. 10, 2022  — Pineapple Energy Inc., a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and back-up power to households and small businesses, today announced the acquisition of SUNation Energy, a New York-based installer of solar and battery energy storage systems for residential and small commercial customers. The transaction closed on November 9, 2022. SUNation

Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener
Good Things

Good Things

Steven Hogg and Governor Tim Walz   [ST. PAUL, MN] –- November 5th, 2022 —  Governor Tim Walz celebrated the 20th annual Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener and opened the 2022 firearm deer season at the Three Rivers Park District. Governor Walz hunted alongside Three Rivers Park District wildlife supervisor Steven Hogg. “This event has a well-earned place among our state’s traditions because of its focus on community, conservation, and the multi-million

Rochester Author Releases Biography of Hall-of-Famer Frank Grant
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Just Published!  Biography of Best Black Baseball Player of the 1800s, Hall-of-Famer Frank Grant  (Rochester, MN) — November 9th, 2022 — A newly published baseball book is the first full-length biography of Frank Grant, a Black player voted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, who is widely considered the best Black player of the 1800s.  Grant challenged baseball’s color barrier in the 1880s to play for several top professional teams that

International XP Medical Conference
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(Minneapolis, MN) — November 9th, 2022 — This week, the Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) Family Support Group will be hosting families from all over the world at their XP Medical Conference in Minnesota. Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a rare inherited disease affecting both males and females. It causes a person to be extremely sensitive to the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Undiagnosed and untreated, Xeroderma Pigmentosum can lead to the early onset

Research Immersive Scholastic Experience in Biology
Doing Good

Doing Good, Featured

(Mankato, MN) — November 8th, 2022 —  Five Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty members were recently awarded a six-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to fund student scholarships and maintain the University’s Research Immersive Scholastic Experience in Biology (RISEbio) program. Over its six-year duration, the grant will fund scholarships to 24 unique full or part-time students who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in biology and biochemistry. A project abstract says

Fraser Expands Autism Services
Business

Business, Featured

  We understand how important early intervention is for children with autism. That’s why we’re expanding outside the Twin Cities Metro, so more children get the help they need, when they need it.”    — Rachel Gardner, Director of Fraser Autism Center of Excellence     (St Cloud, MN) — November 8, 2022 — One in thirty-six 8-year-old children in Minnesota is now diagnosed with autism, according to the CDC.

Arctic Wolf
Doing Good

Doing Good

  (Eden Prairie, MN) — Nov. 07, 2022 — Arctic Wolf®, a leader in security operations, has been named to CNBC’s 2022 Top Startups for the Enterprise list. This list identifies twenty-five innovative private companies with developing the latest technology and ideas that are uniquely suited to meet the needs of large enterprise organizations. With cybersecurity remaining a top challenge for organizations of all sizes, Arctic Wolf has pioneered a

Valéria Piccoli
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Featured, People

(Minneapolis, MN) — November 7th, 2022 — The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) announced that Valéria Piccoli, Ph.D., will join the museum in the new role of Ken and Linda Cutler Chair of the Arts of the Americas and Curator of Latin American Art, following an extensive, global search. Piccoli comes to Mia from Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Brazil, where she has been chief curator since 2012, curating exhibitions such

Courage is Asking for Help
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(New Ulm/Sleepy Eye, MN) — November 7th, 2022 — Boots. A coat. Gloves and a hat. Clothing items most Minnesotans take for granted as the temps start to drop. Not the case for disabled Minnesota Veteran Rudy Ruiz, a member of Disabled American Veteran Department of Minnesota (DAV MN) Chapter 15 in New Ulm. Ruiz, who served in the Minnesota Army National Guard from 2001 through 2014, is battling cancer.

Cooperative Ventures Sabanto
Business

Business, Featured

(St Paul, MN and Bloomington, Ill.)  — Nov. 4, 2022  — Cooperative Ventures, a venture capital fund formed by North America’s leading agricultural cooperatives, today announced its first investment in Sabanto, a hardware and software company on the forefront of developing autonomous capabilities in tractors. Sabanto, founded in 2018, is deploying fully-autonomous machinery performing row crop field operations throughout the U.S. “We’re very enthusiastic about the strategic benefits presented by the

Music in the Clouds
Music | Podcast

Music | Podcast

  We are excited to announce the release of this one hour American musical, “Music in The Clouds.”     — James Gutzman, CEO, Melody Bay Productions, LLC     (Twin Cities, MN)  — November 4, 2022  — MELODY BAY PRODUCTIONS, L.L.C., announces the release of the new one hour original American musical: “Music in the Clouds.”This is a fun-loving story of students returning for fall semester. Romance is in the

Parkinson's Product Aid, Toothbrush Pillow Demonstrated At Minnesota Assistive Technology Program
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      (St Paul, MN) —  November 4, 2022  — Minnesota ‘s System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) lending library of tools, devices, and assistive technology services for persons with physical or neurological impairments, is expanding in a small way. The latest addition to the device demonstration is the Toothbrush Pillow, a small countertop HSA & FSA medical device that balances a toothbrush in the horizontal position with