Dedicated Her life and Her Resources to Protecting and Enhancing Sedona

By Tommy Acosta

Sedona, AZ (October 18, 2011) – Sedona is home for many people who give selflessly and are driven by a sense of community responsibility so profound that they go way beyond the call of duty and give everything they have towards making the world a better place.

One such individual is Sedona’s own Rita Livingston, who dedicated her life and her resources to protecting and enhancing Sedona and maintaining the quality of life we all enjoy.

Her boundless spirit, indomitable will, strength of character and determination to do what’s best for Sedona led her to found and publish the Sedona Times in 2008, the first Sedona newspaper to truly represent the will of the people and provide opportunity for our voices to be heard.

Through her publication, Rita Livingston championed the fight to preserve Sedona’s night skies and keep a string of lights off of Scenic Route 89A that would have forever altered and diminished one of Sedona’s main attractions.

Though the Sedona Times she thwarted political efforts that would have rendered the position of the city mayor almost meaningless, by steadfastly defending the Constitutional right of electing our mayor rather than have him or her appointed by other elected officials.

There is no doubt that had Rita Livingston not been there to offer a different perspective on candidates and issues than the established media in Sedona, the political leadership we presently have, would still be the ones they replaced.

In her fight for what’s right, for truth and justice, Rita spent everything she had. She gave beyond what anyone could give.

One can only give so much before the stress takes its toll.

Her challenges now have shifted from protecting her beloved community to surviving injuries she sustained in a serious accident and struggling to meet the financial demands she now faces alone.

She was there for us when we needed her most and now it is time for us to be there for here in her hour of need.

Please join those of us who appreciate the incredible sacrifices this noble woman has made for us and our community and attend a Fall BBQ to benefit and raise funds for Rita Livingston, to be held Sunday, October 23 from 4:30 to 7 P.M., at 75 Lolomi Drive in Sedona, at the home of Barbara and Mike Litrell.

Now is a chance for all of us, her friends and those who appreciate what she has done for Sedona, to rally to her support.

We hope you will join us for the BBQ and offer a donation to Rita to help her through these difficult times.

Please RSVP to Barbara Litrell 649-0135 or blitrell@aol.com