LAKEVILLE — Mrs. Anita (Kollstede) Westsmith, 98, a longtime resident of the Lakeville area, passed away peacefully at her home on April 4, 2011. Anita was born Feb. 17, 1913, in Providence, R.I. She attended Dana Hall School, and studied fashion design both in New York and Paris at the Parsons School of Design and the Sorbonne. She and her father left Paris in 1936, and moved to Coronado, Calif., where she met and married her husband, Dr. Richard Alan Westsmith, with whom she had a happy marriage of almost 60 years. In 1948 they moved to the San Francisco Bay area where they were instrumental in founding the Crystal Springs School for Girls in Hillsborough (now the Uplands School). Anita opened a needlecraft and design shop, the Designing Woman, while living in California; then in 1964, when the couple moved to Sharon, she opened her second shop with co-owner Ginny Palmer. Anita and her husband both participated in Sharon social and civic activities. After they moved to Lakeville in 1984, they were involved in starting the Taconic Learning Center, which Anita and her daughter, Lyn, enthusiastically enjoyed through this spring. She was a well-known figure in the community, notable for her bright yellow Smart car, and she will missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her three daughters, Lyn Westsmith of Lakeville, Jan Kolstad of Northridge, Calif., and Kim Simmons of Litchfield; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Salisbury Congregational Church on a date to be set.The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon has charge of the arrangements.
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Marsala is eager to go home with you.
Tiffany Lemelin, shelter manager, brushing Marsala upon arrival.Provided
The Little Guild is an animal shelter at 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike in West Cornwall. Founded in 1957, the organization rescues animals from local surrenders and under-resourced shelters. When a rescue animal arrives at The Little Guild, staff begins a careful intake and transition process to ensure the animal is safe, healthy and ready for adoption.
New arrivals are quarantined in-house. Vaccinations are verified as up to date, and staff assesses each animal’s medical, behavioral and placement needs. Rescues receive medical care, daily support and behavioral training to ease shelter stress. Once a dog has finished quarantine and is ready for a home, its profile is published at littleguild.org.
Michael DeBarba, certified dog trainer working with Marsala.Jennifer Almquist
Prospective adopters fill out an online application with information about their household and veterinary and personal references.
The next step is for the prospective adopter and family members to meet the dog. If there is already a dog in the household, a meet-and-greet is scheduled so the dogs can get acquainted.
The animal care staff offers guidance based on its knowledge of each animal’s personality, needs and quirks to help families find the best fit.
Marsala wins a heart.Jennifer Almquist
Once a match is made, the adoption contract outlines aftercare. Adopters agree to return the animal to The Little Guild if the adoption doesn’t work out. The organization’s commitment continues after adoption, with six months of free training and follow-up from staff to answer questions or address concerns.
“Please don’t pass Marsala by,” Lemelin said. “He loves people and other dogs. He’s a lap dog who lives for snuggles, cuddles and face kisses. Marsala deserves a family, a soft bed and a lifetime of being chosen.”
To find out about Marsala and other rescue dogs and cats, visit littleguild.org
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