For patients who experience chronic or severe pain and do not want to take opioids, cannabis has shown to be a good substitute. Inflammation contributing to arthritis pain, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, and pain associated with some types of cancer have been proven to be positively affected by the use of cannabis products. The State of Massachusetts has legalized the sale of medical cannabis; however, all forms of cannabis remain illegal on a federal level. The state carefully regulates and controls the process through which a patient must go in order to qualify and purchase the medicinal products.I decided to try cannabis to help control sciatic and arthritis pain. I b e g a n t h e p r o c e s s o n t h e recommendation of my primary physician. The first step was a visit to a licensed cannabis medicine specialist located at Cana Care Docs, a walk-in clinic at 505 East Street, Suite 101, in Pittsfield. I was met by an assistant who gave me a packet explaining cannabis and the qualities and uses associated with each species of plant. She asked me about my symptoms, my pain level and my personal needs and showed me the best products that suited my needs. She explained that there are many different species of cannabis plants. Each plant has specific qualities.For instance, the indicia plant is high in the chemical CBD which affects the body. Patients who look to cannabis for pain relief will be directed to products high in CBD. Products high in CBD do not carry the dizziness associated with marijuana use. Also, the CBD products one can buy over the counter in some local stores originate from different plants than the CBD products available at the dispensary and have not been as effective for some symptoms.

The species satvia plant is high in THC and is most effective for psychoactive issues such as anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, nerve damage and certain types of cancer pain. Satvia affects the head and is the cause of some dizziness and drowsiness. While indica and satvia are the two main types of cannabis, hybrid strains are very common and are crossbred for certain effects of both indica and satvia.Cannabis can be ingested, smoked or applied topically

in salve form. Cookies, brownies and gummy squares are common, as are tinctures in drop form taken directly or added to drinks. Concentrates are cannabis flower buds and are used in edibles or smoked in pipes.I explained my needs to the assistant and let her know that I did not want the dizziness that comes with the satvia strains. She recommended some products that she thought best suited my needs. She then ushered me in to see the physician. Again, my health record, medications and history of pain

were carefully discussed and I was deemed eligible to become a cannabis patient. The proper documents were filled out and signed and sent to the state. Within a few weeks, I received a paper giving me permission to purchase cannabis.My first visit to the Theory Wellness Marijuana dispensary in Great Barrington on Route 7 (next to Price Chopper) was a demonstration of the careful procedures put into place to keep the facility safe and private. Upon arrival I had to show both the state license and my driver’s license in order to be buzzed into the building. Inside, a person behind the desk again checked my credentials and placed (continued on next page)

A Guide to Cannabis Pain Relief

The Kimball Farms

ObserverVolume 27, Number 1 Happy New Year! January 2018

(Cannabis, continued from page 1)

my visit into a computer record. I was subsequently buzzed into another door which opened into a large, light room with four professionals behind a counter. I was shown a menu of the products available with the strength of the cannabis carefully documented so that I could choose the form of product that I wanted to try. They recommended that I begin with a low dose so that I could find out what works best for me.Cannabis is not for everyone. Many primary physicians can give you more information. Each person is different and trial and error has worked best for me. I have found the people in the dispensary to be knowledgeable, patient listeners, and helpful as I discover the medicinal products that alleviate my pain.A heads-up if you decide to try medicinal cannabis. The products can be expensive and credit cards cannot be used due to the federal failure to legalize the products.

Nelda McGraw

BirthdaysTwenty-one residents celebrate birthdays in January. There is a 20 year spread between the youngest and

oldest celebrant. January birthdays belong to:

Charles Fenton, Nancy Steele, Sylvia Marcus, Marilyn Simons, Eleanor Secunda, Phyllis Kiss,

Marjorie Reder, Leonard Allen, Gwen Sears,Leo Mahoney, Judith Rosenthal, Ann Morgan,

Glenn Jorn, James Scala, Julane Reed,Diana Feld, John Loga,

Ned Dana, George Raymond, Robert “Bob” Stein and Vivian Wise.

Happy Birthday to each of you!!

Thanks to Jim and Nelda McGraw and Bev Hallock, whose wreaths decorate the top of page 1.

President’s Report:Thanks and Adieu

Thank you again for your generosity to the Staff Appreciation Fund. The goal was exceeded, and the checks distributed to the staff at a festive party. Be sure to read the many thank you cards from the staff which are posted on the bulletin board near the bridge. We are very fortunate to have the help of such a wonderful group of people who make our lives comfortable and safe.As I write this, New Year’s Eve is several weeks away, but I know that Bernie and her New Year’s elves are working hard to make your New Year’s celebration festive. Thanks to all of you, in advance.

At the Annual Meeting of the Residents’ Association on Monday, January 8, we will elect new officers and councilors to serve in 2018. It’s a great group of residents who have agreed to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Association. I know you will be as supportive of them as you have been to the officers and councilors who have served in 2016 and 2017: an outstanding group with whom it has been a pleasure to work.

It has been a privilege and a pleasure for me to serve as President for the last two years. While the officers, councilors and I have probably not been able to solve all the problems or resolve all the issues identified by residents to everyone’s satisfaction, we have had open discussions among residents, the Residents’ Association and the Administration to air concerns and work toward solutions. Since each resident has opinions about all aspects of life at Kimball Farms, finding the middle ground or a workable solution isn’t always easy!

I have especially appreciated the civil tone of our discussions, as well as your kindness to new residents and concern for those facing difficulties. Thanks too to Sandy Shepard and her team for their cooperation and encouragement.

We are very lucky to live in such a special place.With all good wishes for a splendid New Year,

Susan Dana, President

2 The Kimball Farms Observer January 2018

In three generations, Charlie Haynes’ family has gone from ranching in Montana to becoming thoroughly urbanized. His grandfather (the first Charlie) and great-uncle Phil were circuit-riding preachers, who “branded cattle Monday through Thursday, and branded souls on weekends,” Charlie recalls.

His father moved from Montana to Minneapolis, where he taught history, and met a young art teacher who had moved to the big city from Sioux City, Iowa. She became his wife, and they had two sons, Charlie and his younger brother Steve.

Charlie went to Grinnell College in Iowa, where he majored in theater, but worked as the sports information director while he was an undergraduate, turning out weekly articles about Grinnell sports for local newspapers. He enjoyed sports reporting, but after graduation he headed straight to New York City to become an actor.As many thousands of young people have discovered, making one’s mark as an actor isn’t easy, and after what Charlie describes as “seven years of unsuccessful auditions,” he turned to linguistics, the study of languages. After earning a master’s degree in Old English and Middle English, he went on to gain a Ph.D. and taught at New York University for 46 years, his interest focused on language rather than literature. He also taught English as a Second Language and wrote a pedagogical grammar, used to teach grammar rather than describe it.

In New York, he met his future wife, Harriet, a native of Lee, Mass., who graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst as an English major and then became a librarian. In 1968 Charlie was awarded the first of a series of Fulbright grants which enabled him to study in Southeast Asia and Europe for six years. His first stop was Japan.

Harriet was still back in New York. In those days, Pan American Airlines offered an around-the-world plane ticket which was a bargain at $1,000. The only condition was that the passenger had to keep traveling around the world in the same direction. As a Christmas present, Charlie sent her one of the tickets and encouraged her to stop and visit him in Japan on her westward travels. She arrived and decided to stay, and they were married in Tokyo. After leaving Japan,

and for the next six years, the couple lived in Salzburg, Austria, and Indonesia. From their base in Jakarta, Indonesia, they traveled widely throughout Southeast Asia.

The couple returned to New York, where their two sons, Luke and Zack, were born. Luke is now the executive director of The David Rockefeller Fund, and Zack is working on a Google-based dictionary of all the written languages of the world.

Harriet changed careers when the boys were grown, becoming a very successful sales person for the Corcoran Group, a f i r m specializing in Manhattan real estate. When she b e c a m e i l l s eve ra l yea r s ago, they moved b a c k t o L e e , where she died about 18 months ago.P e r h a p s a s a reflection of his grandfather and great uncle, in

his 50s Charlie enrolled at New York Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America, a small seminary that trains clergy for urban ministries, and especially to gay and lesbian families. He is still working on a long-term project: a novel about the historical Jesus, telling the story as he understands it and based on the research he has done.

Charlie’s interest in collecting and making art is shown right from his front door, where the wall has two elaborate, centuries-old paddles, souvenirs of Girls Day in Japan. On that day, adolescent girls play a ceremonial game of badminton, using the battledores, the technical name for the paddles. Since the battledores are quite heavy, Charlie speculates that the game may be brief.

(continued on next page)

Charlie with two of his “boxes”

January 2018 The Kimball Farms Observer 3

The Many Worlds of Charlie Haynes

(Haynes, continued from page x)

Inside Apartment 228, the walls are adorned with contemporary art done by friends in New York City during the 1980s, when there were many small galleries on the Lower East Side (now called East Village). There’s also a big Indonesian carving, illustrating part of the Ramayana, an Indian epic about the life and adventures of a hero and his wife. And there are also a number of Charlie’s own creations, the collages he calls “boxes” that he has been making for the last 25 years and has shown at several shows in New York City. The boxes, which he has built himself, use “found” paper to make three-dimensional graphic assemblages. Liquor boxes are a favorite source of colored paper. In the art studio, he’s working on a piece for the narrow space outside his door. Its working title is The Moon Is......

Music & EntertainmentThursday, January 4 2:00pm Drew Herzig: Understanding LGBTQ

Monday January 8 7:30pm Education Committee Lecture

Tuesday January 9 7:30pm Royal Garden Jazz BandThursday, January 11 2:00pm June Green, Hospice Family Support Getting Your Affairs in Order

Tuesday January 16 7:30pm Professor Vincent Ferraro Lecture Wednesday January 17 3:30pm CATA presentation and art showSaturday January 20 7:30pm Berkshire Chamber Players

Monday January 22 7:30pm Education Committee Lecture

Thursday, January 25 2:00pm Mlada Bukovansky, Smith College The Liberal World Order Loses Its Leader

Movies 7:30pmWed.1/3, Sat. 1/6, Wed.1/10, Sat.1/13, Wed.1/17,

Fri.1/19, Wed.1/24, Sat.1/27 & Wed.1/31

Now, what about the black skull cap he wears all the time? Charlie says the boring explanation is that his head gets cold, but you are free to make up a better story if you wish!

Susan Dana

New Year, New ArtThe new year brings new art to the halls of Kimball Farms. You may recognize the style or even the works themselves as they have been exhibited in the conference room gallery fairly recently.

Last winter we had a one-woman show of the water colors of Marguerite Bride featuring winter scenes and landmarks of the Berkshires, and our new purchase depicts the Nathaniel Hawthorne house in Lenox with a few snowflakes here and there.The other two works of art are by Ed Lacoille, whose recent show was very well received. We hope that as you walk the halls and enjoy the art, you will be on the lookout for our recent acquisitions.

Stephanie Beling

In MemoriamDesmond Tivy

February 3, 1928 to Dec. 5, 2017

Walter TaylorJanuary 27, 1938 to Dec. 2, 2017

4 The Kimball Farms Observer January 2018

The past publishing season has produced an unusual number of fine biographies. Here are introductions to four that are particular interesting. All are available in either our library or the Lenox Library or both.

Next to Louisa May Alcott, probably the most popular writer of historical novels for young girls was (and still is) Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957), author of the acclaimed eight-book series collectively known as the “Little House” books which chronicle life in frontier America in the late 19th century. Although great in stature as a novelist, she was actually well under five feet tall! Her life and times are beautifully recreated in Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Holt) by Caroline Fraser, who, in passing, lays to rest the rumors that the books were actually written by Wilder’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.

Laura was born in the Big Woods region of Wisconsin and spent her early life there and in Kansas. These experiences form the basis of the first two books in the series. She later married Almanzo Wilder, whose life story, Farmer Boy, is a separate book in the series. In 1894, they settled on a farm in Mansfield, Missouri, they called Rocky Ridge, where she died in 1957. In 1932, at the age of 65, she published the first book in the series Little House in the Big Woods and at age 76, the last, These Happy Golden Years. The 1953 edition of the series was i l lustrated by Garth Williams and the books inspired a 1970s TV series that lasted for nine seasons. This is an insp i r ing b iography about a remarkab le woman.

The career of Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the Civil War general and 18th president of the United States, had more ups and downs than a roller coaster ride. For example, although his presidency was frequently involved in corruption scandals, he was able at the same time to champion the civil rights of African Americans and thwart the growth of the Ku Klux Klan. Late in life he

lost his fortune through swindling schemes of Ferdinand Ward, but, though mortally ill, managed to repay his debts through the writing and publication of his memoirs.

Critics agree that Ron Chernow’s new biography Grant (Penguin), does a brilliant job in recreating the life of this controversial figure. Adjectives like “superb,” “brilliant” and “insightful” are frequently used, and most agree that it is better than the author’s earlier Alexander Hamilton, the basis of the prize-

winning musical. Perhaps Wa l t W h i t m a n b e s t summed up Grant’s life w h e n h e c a l l e d h i m “nothing heroic…and yet the greatest hero.” Mark Twain called him “the most lovable great child in the world.”

The most discussed, highly p r a i s e d a n d t o u t e d biography of the season has to be Walter Isaacson’s handsome Leonardo da V i n c i ( S i m o n a n d

Schuster). The author has even been featured on late-night talk shows. The word ‘handsome’ is used to describe the book because of the inclusion of many color reproductions of the artist’s work (paintings, drawings, pages from his notebooks) as well as the work of his contemporaries. The artist is, in truth and hyperbole, a renaissance man, not only because of the time he lived (1452-1519), but also because of his accomplishments in such fields as invention, science, painting, music, writing, mathematics and astronomy.This book is worthy of its subject, giving details on (what we know) of his life and times. He was born in Florence but also spent time in Milan, Rome, Bologna and Venice. His last three years were spent in Amboise, France, in a house given him by Francis I. The author presents da Vinci as a handsome, affable, generous person who was also a genius.

There is a separate fascinating chapter (10 pages) devoted to the Mona Lisa. It was commissioned by Francesco del Gioconda (continued on next page)

January 2018 The Kimball Farms Observer 5

Library Lines: a Biography Bonanza

(Library Lines, continued from page x)

(the painting is sometimes called La Gioconda), a wealthy Florentine who wanted a portrait of his much-younger wife, Lisa, who was 23 years old. It was begun by da Vinci in 1503 and carried with him (he never delivered it) the rest of his life subject to his continual reworking. It was found after his death in his studio in France. The author also supplies fascinating material with details on lighting, clothing, the background scene, the veil that covers her hair, the lack of jewelry and, of course, the smile. This is a fascinating book.

The annotation for Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s semi-autobiography, My Own Words (Simon and Schuster), that appeared in a Daedalus Books brochure describes it perfectly: “The first book from Ruth Bader Ginsberg since becoming a Supreme Court Justice in 1993, this is a witty and engaging, serious yet playful collection of writings ..… She speaks of gender equality, the workings of the Supreme Court, being Jewish, law and lawyers in opera, and the value of looking beyond U. S. shores when interpreting our own Constitution.” Two items I found particularly interesting were an editorial on great documents she wrote for her school newspaper when she was in the eighth grade, and excerpts from the libretto of an opera by Derrick Wang called Scalia/Ginsburg. Until a full-scale biography of Ginsburg appears, this is a more than satisfactory substitute.

John Gillespie

The Kimball Farms Observer is printed and published by and for the residents of Kimball Farms

EDITOR PRODUCTION Andy Pincus Ned Dana Michelle Rosier

EDITORIAL STAFF:Stephanie Beling, Susan Dana,

Ned Dana, Virginia Fletcher, John Gillespie,Bernie Handler, Dorothea Nelson, Gwen Sears,

Margot YondorfPHOTOGRAPHS:

Ned DanaCONTRIBUTORS THIS MONTH:

Nelda McGraw

Concert Series Will BowJohn Perkel, retired Boston Symphony Orchestra librarian, approached the Stockbridge Library last March about the possibility of creating a chamber music series. The Library was enthusiastic and so the series was born. Most of the participants are former Tanglewood students chosen by John Perkel, who also selects the repertoire.

Three concerts were scheduled for 2017/18 and Kimball Farms is the venue for the January 20 performance, featuring works by Debussy, Schubert, Beethoven, Varese and Mozart. Of the performers, cellist Ronald Feldman is well known to us. He will be joined by violinist Natalie Kress, violist Charlotte Malin and flutist Mira Magrill – all veteran musicians and Tanglewood graduates.We welcome the Berkshire Chamber series to Kimball Farms and hope for many returns.

Margot YondorfChair, Music Committee

January TripsSunday January 7 1pm bus Clark Art- Free Day

Saturday January 20 10am bus Mass MoCA – Free Day

Sunday January 28th 1pm bus Ghent Playhouse

Support GroupsMonday January 8 Conf. Room 1:30 pm Alzheimer's Support Group–

Please Call to RSVPJackie Tripicco, Community Social Worker

X-7037Please feel free to contact me for additional

information.

6 The Kimball Farms Observer January 2018

Happy New Year to one and all. It’s that special time of year once again, when we’re all determined to make those changes in our lives that we just didn’t quite get around to last year … the time of the famous New Year’s resolution. Year after year, for many of us, the number one resolution is to lose weight or in other words to “go on a diet.” My own experience, and that of the thousands of patients that I have worked with over the years, is that diets don’t work. There is instead another option, and that is to learn some basic principles that will guide you to a lifetime of healthy eating and weight control.

Dieting as a method for achieving and maintaining one’s ideal weight is a notorious failure. For most people, there is an initial weight loss, but too often it’s short-lived for reasons such as low energy, depression and hunger. The diet then ends before the goal is reached. The few that stay on a diet may achieve their ideal weight, but what happens after that is the real problem. As the diet ends, the old eating lifestyle is resumed, and the result is weight gain that often leaves the person heavier than ever before. This repetitive pattern of weight loss and weight gain is known as the “yo-yo” syndrome familiar to all dieters. It is a stress on the body and therefore something to be avoided.Only a lifestyle of healthy eating can result in weight loss and permanent weight maintenance — the only acceptable goal of a weight loss program. This goal is achieved through developing nutritional awareness. The hardest part is making the initial decision, learning some basic food facts and following a personal food plan, not a “diet.” A basic principle of healthy eating is first and foremost to become aware of your excesses, and keeping a food diary for several days can be very revealing. The experience of writing everything down and looking at it later can pinpoint the places where unnecessary extra portions, and non-nutritious snacks and beverages – the nonessential “fattening foods” – have crept into your daily eating. Once aware of them, it becomes easier to give them up. You can then begin to develop your personal food plan, taking into account your likes and dislikes. Some specific principles to help get started are:• Take smaller portions, especially of fatty foods and larger portions of nutrient rich, high fiber fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.

• Make your food choices with your head, not with your stomach.

• Eat regular meals and snacks to avoid hunger, leading to uncontrollable, urges and splurges.

The vitamin- and mineral-rich foods provide fuel for energy, and repair as well as the “spark plugs” for your metabolic machinery. In addition to these benefits, nutrient-rich, high-fiber foods are low in calories, making them excellent choices for a long-term weight loss food plan.Slow weight loss is the best route to permanent weight control. Losing weight quickly is often accomplished by skipping meals and other starvation tactics. This approach fails 95 percent of the time. It takes time to develop healthy eating habits. Losing weight slowly is less stressful for your body, and in fact the plateau periods that everybody hates so much actually give you the opportunity to stabilize your weight at a new lower level and practice weight maintenance.

We must accept that the road to permanent weight loss is bumpy. One thing that can smooth the path is regular exercise and an active lifestyle. Exercise and activity are integral components of any weight loss program. Physical activity burns up existing fat, improves appearance and self-esteem and reduces stress. A weight loss program, however, is not the only thing that benefits from physical activity and exercise. There are additional real-life benefits as well. If you become stronger, it is easier to carry groceries from the car, easier to pick up fallen objects, and easier to pick yourself up if you fall.

Ending this article on a positive note, a recent study published in The Journal of the American Geriatric Society showed that even light activity (light household chores, walking slowly over short distances) reduced mortality in older women, and other studies have shown that physically active older adults have lower rates of all-cause mortality including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and colon and breast cancer. So if a New Year’s resolution is still being considered, please resolve to be more physically active.

Stephanie Beling, M.D.

January 2018 The Kimball Farms Observer 7

A New Year’s Resolution: Eat Right, Don’t Diet

First Four Speakers Comingfrom Smith and Yale

Kimball Farms is initiating a new program for 2018, one that embraces a message propounded by Merlin in T. H. White’s The Once and Future King, in which we are reminded that “The best thing for being sad is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then - to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”

Now, we may not be sad, but a New Year can stir up reminders of what we haven’t done and the desire to tackle something new. Thanks to Marketing Director Melissa Metcalf and Outreach Director Sharon Lazerson, Kimball residents who participate in a new monthly lecture series can check off a new accomplishment at the end of this year.

The first four speakers have been selected; dates of the lectures and brief biographies are shown below.

January 25: Mlada Bukovansky, Smith College Professor of Government. She focuses on international ethics and challenges to the international order.February 11: Linda Greenhouse, Yale University Lecturer in Law, Senior Researcher in Law. Recipient of numerous awards, including American Political Science Award for “major journalistic contributions to our study of politics,” and winner of Pulitzer Prize for her work as a liberal/progressive reporter, who for 30 years covered the U.S. Supreme Court for the New York Times.May 31: Justin Cammy, Smith College Associate Professor, literary/cultural historian with research and teaching interests in Yiddish literature, East European Jewish History and Zionism and contemporary Israel.

June 7: Carrie Baker, Smith College Associate Professor of Women and Gender. Her primary interests are women’s legal history, gender and public policy, and women’s social movements.

Sharon Lazerson (Ext. 7043), who has major responsibility for selecting lecturers, encourages Kimball residents to let her know any particular topics and disciplines they would like to have presented. This new series has the dual purpose of answering our concerns and demonstrating to prospective residents the rich array of opportunities our community offers.

Disabled Artists Featuredin January Program

It isn’t only a new lecture series that will be launched in 2018. A single event on Wednesday, January 17, will demonstrate the skill, determination and talent among persons with disabilities in the Berkshires. Community Access to the Arts (CATA), led by Executive Director Margaret Keller in partnership with more than 20 area organizations, provides space, direction, and training to guide men and women, boys and girls who are not your typical students of the arts. Each one is encumbered with a type of disability, a disability that becomes unencumbered when guided by a nurturing expert who provides the spark that releases each student’s innate creativity.

CATA “provides innovative arts workshops to people with disabilities in a wide range of genres … painting, drawing, dance, theater, singing, drumming, juggling, yoga and creative writing.” And they are everywhere: exhibits at the Clark and the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts; performances at Jacob’s Pillow; workshops across Berkshire and Columbia counties; drumming at MASS MoCA. We’re hoping for large turnout of residents on January 17. Director Keller will be on hand to describe CATA’s programs at a reception in the Auditorium at 3:30, after which Rachel Siegel, talented actor and writer, and a CATA faculty member, will read selected works by the group’s writers. CATA board members, faculty and artists will join us as we then leave the Auditorium to view the art display on the Bridge. Music, refreshments and original art will offer their unique warmth on this midwinter day.

Dorothea Nelson

8 The Kimball Farms Observer January 2018

New Lecture Series Spotlights Scholars