PROTECTING THE KING. Bill Crooks, 89, a new resident at Daystar Retirement Home in West Seattle, makes the first move with a new chess set acquired by the home Saturday, April 3. Activities director, Gail Sherman, standing in center, and residents observe.
The Daystar Retirement Village in West Seattle may not be searching for Bobby Fischer, but the home did make a big move with its new oversized chess set it just acquired.
“I have a dream that by the use of the chess game we can get the residents’ brains more active,” enthused Gail Sherman, activities director. “Even our residents who are the spectators are thinking actively as they’re watching. The Community School of West Seattle’s kindergarten to third graders are learning to play chess. They visit us the first and third Thursday of every month.”
The private school is at 9450 22nd Avenue SW. Sherman said they walk a few blocks to the home, at 2615 Southwest Barton Street.
“The students have been visiting for over three years, and engage residents with drawing and story-telling” Sherman said. They are little actors and actresses, and now this chessboard will be a way for the students to engage residents with a real thinking game.”
