Taryn Barlow, Cognitive Health Coach™, talks about her road to The Well Brain (audio)

FM #1526 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1526 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Taryn Barlow, Cognitive Health Coach™ working at The Well Brain. We had our conversation virtually via the Zoom platform on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. 

Discussion items: 

• 

  Taryn Barlow, Cognitive Health Coach™

  Taryn’s background and road to the “well brain”

• Development of the “Cognitive Health Coach™”

• Process of delivering via H.O.P.E.

The conversation runs about 40 minutes. Let’s listen in 

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1526-taryn-barlow-the-well-brain-09-24-25/

--------------

Taryn Barlow -> Cognitive Health Coach™ | The Wellbrain

Phone -> 774-498-9234

emailAddress -> thewellbrainslp@gmail.com 

Website ->  https://thewellbrainslp.com/

LinkedIn profile -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-barlow-994917208/ 

Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/taryn_thewellbrain/ 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Future topic, with expansion on use of the puzzle pieces, getting Ian Kabat together, he designed the logo with that puzzle in mind, introduced it in 2014 so it has been some years and has aged well

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 ??

Wednesday, October 1

10:00am Veterans Coffee Social (Franklin Senior Center)

3:00pm Annual Health Fair (Franklin Public Library)

4:00pm Pumpkin Patch (St John's Episcopal Church)

For additional details on Library events ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->        

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**   Town Meetings today   **

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10012025-1917 

------------

What's happening in Franklin, MA

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Senate President Spilka's 55+ Health & Wellness Fair spots are filling up!

Register today!

Senate President Spilka's 55+ Health & Wellness Fair spots are filling up!   Dear friends —   If you have yet to register for this year's 55+ Health and Wellness Fair, there's still time!  This year's event will be on October 18, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham.  Please RSVP to join us on October 18. If you've already registered, we look forward to seeing you there! Visit karenspilka.com/fair2025 to learn more about the exciting day we have planned, and I can't wait to see you there.  Sincerely,   Karen E. Spilka  Senate President    karenspilka.com

Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House Room 332 | Boston, MA 02133 US

Annual Health Fair scheduled for October, 1 2025 at the Franklin Public Library

Annual Health Fair scheduled for October, 1 2025
at the Franklin Public Library

Local Vendors, Prizes, Giveaways, Activities for Kids, Face Painting, Health Screenings, Refreshments, And Much More!!

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Franklin Public Library 118 Main Street, Franklin, MA

Download the flyer as a reminder or to share

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lyEnEWRzbIgFesvoY8rpm6krdKI3Ecp4/view?usp=drive_link

Senate President Karen Spilka: An invite to my 2025 Health and Wellness Fair - Oct 18

An exciting day at Keefe Tech on October 18

Dear friends —   My annual 55+ Health and Wellness Fair for active agers and those who love them is quickly approaching, and I'm inviting you, your loved ones, and your neighbors to join us for an exciting and informative day.   This year's event will be on October 18, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham.    It is one of my favorite days of the year, and I hope you'll join us. Like in years past, this fun and free event will include more than 80 exhibitors, who will be sharing information and resources on ways to stay active, be mentally healthy, and plan for the years to come, no matter your age. This year I'm also happy to offer free health screenings, flu and COVID vaccines, workshops on fitness, healthy cooking, navigating social security, and much more.  Attendees can look forward to free breakfast and lunch, live music, free prize drawings from local MetroWest exhibitors, and exciting, interactive workshops.  Our event is free and open to everyone, including residents 55 and older and their family members.  Please RSVP to join us on October 18. If you've already registered, we look forward to seeing you there! Interested in being an exhibitor? We welcome all exhibitors who are interested in setting up a table that will help educate and inform aging members of the MetroWest community and their loved ones. Contact karen.spilka@masenate.gov for more information or register here. Visit karenspilka.com/fair2025 to learn more about the exciting day we have planned, and I can't wait to see you there.  Sincerely,   Karen E. Spilka  Senate President    karenspilka.com

Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House Room 332 | Boston, MA 02133 US

FREE "Stop the Bleed" class - September 11 at the Franklin Fire Station #1

FREE "Stop the Bleed" class - September 11
at the Franklin Fire Station #1

The Franklin Health and Fire Department is having another FREE "Stop the Bleed" class for community members on September 11 from 3 PM - 4 PM at the Franklin Fire station.

Sign up link -> https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ACAF2EAAF9C25-58076617-911

Download the flyer as a reminder or to share ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dthFs44PgqF5xmsvQeeG-JOvAhbPQ3aB/view?usp=drive_link

Seniors Helping Seniors opens for business to serve Franklin

"We change people’s lives®

What We Do

Seniors Helping Seniors opens
for business to serve Franklin

At Seniors Helping Seniors® Franklin-Brockton in-home care services, we understand and appreciate the unique challenges that come with age. That’s why our companionship and daily assistance offerings exclusively focus on the specific needs of seniors. We’re devoted to supporting you or your loved one, while enhancing your total quality of life. Whether you’re looking for an extra set of hands around the house, personal care support or a friend to lean on, we’ll be by your side. Discover the difference a dedicated senior caregiver can make!

Love is in our Care®

Our mature, friendly caregivers lead with compassion, offering comprehensive home assistance and companionship. We take time to get to know our clients and senior caregivers – that way, we can find a perfect match. Through our exclusive pairing process, you’ll connect with a relatable friend who will always be there to support you. From light housekeeping and cooking meals to running errands around town, your caregiver will handle needed tasks, bringing ease into each day."

Find out more about this new service ->    https://locations.seniorshelpingseniors.com/ma/norfolk/care-services-235.html

Looking for health insurance? Make sure that’s what you’re getting

Looking for health insurance? Make sure that's what you're getting By BCP Staff Are you looking to get or switch your health insurance? Know that some dishonest marketers might lie about what your plan would cover, make it seem like they're selling health insurance when you're really just getting a discount plan, or try to sell you something else entirely. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/08/looking-health-insurance-make-sure-thats-what-youre-getting?utm_source=govdelivery

Annual Report of the Town of Franklin Board of Health - FY 2024

With the Biennial Election coming up November 4, 2025, the nomination papers are available beginning Aug 4, 2025 for candidates to take, obtain the appropriate number of signatures to get on the ballot. 

We are sharing the section of the Annual Report for the Town of Franklin 2024 to help explain what each role entails. The Board of Health doesn't actually have a 'report' so we include the Health Dept report as this is the activity the Board provides oversight for.

---------------

Mission Statement

The Franklin Health Department is charged with protecting the public health and well being of the community, in accordance with federal, state and local laws and regulations. The duties of the health department cover a wide range of public health control and prevention activities, including: disease surveillance; the promotion of sanitary conditions in housing, recreational facilities, and food establishments; elimination of nuisances; the protection of the environment; and numerous other responsibilities.

Board of Health

The three-member elected Board of Health is the policy making arm for the health department. The board members assist in the drafting of public health bylaws and regulations. The board also presides over administrative hearings concerning health department licensed and permitted activities. The board members are utilized for consultation on issues relative to public health as well.

• Chair, Bridget Sweet 
• Vice Chair, Jeff Harris 
• Member, Kim Mu-Chow

Staff

The current Health Department staff is as follows:

• Cathleen Liberty, Director of Public Health Ginny McNeil, Health Agent
• Alisha Deptula, Public Health Nurse
• Cassia Monterio, Regional Shared Coordinator

Community Resources Provided

The Health Department continues to hold fall and spring health fairs at the library to provide health resources to the community.

The public health nurse spent countless hours attending to the occupants at the EA Emergency Shelter providing nursing and other services. A coalition of key stakeholders was created to provide community resources to the occupants at the EA Emergency Shelter and a dashboard was created to provide information regarding the EA Emergency Shelter to the community.

 

An interactive website has been created to offer the community updated information on opioid misuse data that can be found on the health department website.

The public health nurse and the fire department continue to offer hands only CPR training for the community.

Communicable Disease

As mandated by the State Department of Public Health, local health departments must report, investigate and track all communicable disease occurrences in their jurisdictions. The public health nurse investigates communicable diseases that occur in the Town of Franklin.

The following depicts the reportable illness activity from July 1, 2023 through July 1, 2024 in number of confirmed cases:

Calicivirus/Norovirus     1

Campylobacteriosis         4

Giardiasis                         1

Group A streptococcus 2

Group B streptococcus 2

Haemophilus influenzae 1

Hepatitis B                 1

Hepatitis C                 4

Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis 1

Influenza                         309

Legionellosis                 1

Novel Coronavirus         568

Pertussis                         8

Salmonellosis                 3

Tuberculosis                 19

Vibrio sp.                     1

 

Hours of Operation

The Franklin Health Department office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 8:00AM to 4:00PM, Wednesday from 8:00AM to 6:00 PM and Friday from 8:00AM to 1:00PM.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Board of Health members and the Town Administrator for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Director of Public Health for the Town of Franklin and for their continued support.

Respectfully submitted,

Cathleen Liberty, 

Director of Public Health

You can download as reference the Health Department section in the Annual report -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-CKuwS8WkBMPGKlKJMDFvmMdJBZQfXtP/view?usp=drive_link

or dig into the full annual report here ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JGxfeanVhITZ9jSTGf6tgDMtVlI000Ju/view?usp=drive_link

Annual Report of the Town of Franklin Board of Health - FY 2024