by Ashe in America | Apr 21, 2023 | Feature Story Bottom Left
On Monday April 10, former Mesa County Clerk & Recorder Tina Peters appeared in court for sentencing on her Obstruction of Government Operations conviction last month.
Accused of attempting to prevent officials from seizing her iPad, Peters was sentenced to four months of home detention with an ankle monitor, 120 hours of community service, and an almost $800 fine. Peters is appealing the sentence.
“I don’t even have a traffic ticket,” Peters told me. “This is pretty harsh for a first-time offender and Gold Star mom with no prior criminal history.”
Peters made headlines in 2021 when she did a full back up, as required by law, of her county’s electronic voting machines prior to the State’s “Trusted Build” software update.
What followed was a whole-of-government effort to demonize and persecute the duly elected Clerk in an effort to discredit the shocking truth her actions would reveal.
The state took over the Mesa County Clerk’s office, ousted Peters’ loyal staff, and engaged in one of the greatest coverup operations in the history of Colorado.
But the damage to the official election narrative was already done.
A series of reports by cyber and technology experts revealed multiple state and federal violations of election law by the Secretary of State and election vendors.
The first Mesa County Forensic report, delivered September 15, 2021, revealed, “…election records, including data described in the Federal Election Commission’s 2002 Voting System Standards (VSS) mandated by Colorado law as certification requirements for Colorado voting systems, have been destroyed on Mesa County’s voting system, by the system vendor and the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.”
In case you think the local authorities in Mesa County are serious about finding and exposing the truth, within seconds of the report being delivered to the County Commissioners, it was leaked to reporters.
Before the Commissioners read it, they leaked it.
The second forensic analysis, delivered March 1, 2022, revealed that Mesa County’s electronic voting systems contained 36 separate wireless devices, allowing connections to the internet and/or other outside devices that can connect to the internet.
Now remember that, at the time, the standard narrative was that our electronic voting systems “cannot connect to the internet.” Despite that lie being uttered, repeatedly and under oath, across the nation, it was immediately memory-holed.
At once, the narrative shifted to “the systems weren’t connected to the internet,” and the Colorado Secretary of State now issues guidance to local clerks to monitor election systems to ensure they don’t accidentally reconnect to the internet. Notably, no one was monitoring for this during the 2020 election. Back then, the machines “couldn’t” connect to the internet.
The second report also revealed that Mesa’s system was set up to automatically delete audit records and system log files during the “Trusted Build,” despite the legal requirements to retain all records and log files for 22 months federally and 25 months in Colorado.
The third report, delivered March 19, 2022, revealed the creation of shadow databases, in the system back end — as well as illegal software and actual vote swapping — without the knowledge of election officials.
This is the equivalent of keeping a separate set of books in accounting, and this finding was so explosive that District Attorney Dan Rubenstein had to pretend to investigate to explain it away. Rubenstein’s “investigation” was conducted in collaboration with Dominion Voting Systems — yes, really — and he shakily explained away the damning discovery as human error and “time drift.”
Revealing the truth about our elections — and the level to which career elected officials are covering them up — is Tina Peters’ real crime.
Tina Peters will be back in court on May 5 for a “Contempt of Court” charge relating to recording a public, livestreamed hearing. The main trial on Peters’ indictment on seven felonies and three misdemeanors is set for October 17.
Remarkably, Peters remains faithful and unphased. “I am taking some time off to relax, spend time with God, and seek where He wants me to go, and what He wants me to do next.”
As the persecution of Peters has shown, true leadership in the face of overwhelming opposition is both remarkable and rare.
She deserves our gratitude. And she certainly has mine.
Ashe Epp is a writer and activist. You can find all her work at linktr.ee/asheinamerica
by Valley Gadfly | Apr 21, 2023 | Valley Gadfly
“April is the cruelest month,” T.S. Eliot wrote. Cold snaps and harsh winds last month were unkind. But May is here, so say goodbye to April showers and say hello to May flowers.
“The Lusty Month of May,” is how Lerner and Loewe described it for their Broadway musical Camelot. In short, the lyrics stated of May, “There’s simply not a more congenial spot.”
Here are our “Make May Memorable” choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment as you Go Round the Maypole and begin to feel a sense of renewal and energy as gardens grow:
3 Don’t miss seeing-hearing celebrated Israeli “guitar god” Rotem Sivan and his band entertaining at Dazzle@Baur’s May 3, 7-8:30 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
3 Enjoy concerts, learn to play the fretted string dulcimer during Colo. Festival at Saint James Church May 5-6, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Information: ColoDulciFestinfo@gmail.co.
3 Delight as DYAO’s musicians and the Symphony Chorus do Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall May 7, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-433-2420.
3 Joyce DiDonato performs in the Ellie for Opera Colorado’s 40th B-Day Bash, followed by dinner in the Seawell Ballroom May 13. Information: 720-865-4220.
3 Enroll your youngsters — Boys & Girls Grades K to 8 — in Glendale Youth Rugby’s Spring Try League, May 1-June 24. Practices are Mon. & Wed. at Infinity Park, games on Sat. Players are placed on teams according to age, weight, and ability level. Infor-mation: 303-630-4713.
3 Treat mom and the family to a delicious Mother’s Day meal at popular pub, Alpine Tavern. Choices include a huge selection of sandwiches and sweets. Enjoy a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere with a patio and a caring staff. Serving 11 a.m. to midnight. Information: 720-389-6203.
3 Catch the Denver Brass season finale Ain’t Misbehavin’ with bites and bodacious brass in the Seawell Ballroom May 21, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-832-4676.
3 Enjoy concerts under the glow of candlelight by the Nexus Strings Quintet at Wings Over The Rockies May 25, 6:30 and 9:15 p.m. Information: 303-360-5360.
3 View fine arts and crafts at 24th Denver Arts Festival with music and Kids Art Zone at Central Park’s Conservatory Green, May 27-29. Information: 303-330-8137.
Attend and bring friends to Rooting for Change, a night of art, giving, and connection at Raices Brewing Co. May 4, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The fundraiser is sponsored by Circle, the local non-profit that mentors and equips young people in education and community work. By supporting the celebratory night, attendees will enjoy a catered meal, two drink tickets, a folkloric dance performance by ArtisticCo Dance Company, and live art by painter-muralist Julio Mendoza. Attendees can also bid on donor-contributed wellness and experience-based items during silent and live auctions. Circle works with young people, schools, and other organizations to address systemic inequity and interpersonal inclusiveness. Information: 720-324-8550.
May has always been an inspiration for writing songs that teach us about spring weather. Moreover, the songs stimulate us to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mothers’ Day, and Memorial Day. May’s full moon, called the “Flower Moon,” appears on Friday, May 5, reaching peak illumination at 11:36 a.m. Step outside to see that big, bright disk here from 11:47 a.m. to 3:32 p.m.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Glendale Sports Center | Apr 21, 2023 | Glendale City News
by Amanda-Scates Preisinger, MPH, Senior Director of Health and Well-Being, YMCA of Metro Denver
Some say fitness is mind over matter, but true health requires both mind and matter. Mental health is how we think, act, and feel; We all have mental health. During Mental Health Month (this May), mental self-care is front-of-mind for us at the YMCA of Metro Denver, especially since we aim to provide workshops and experiences that promote mental health in our community.
Just ask Betsy Schwartz, Denverite and YMCA of Aurora member. “It’s all so connected — mental and physical health,” she shared with us recently. “I can see when I’m looking at the mirror in Body Pump class how much stronger my arms are, which is good for my mental health… There’s also endorphins that release when you really work up a sweat, and so I’ll bike.”
She is not alone. Recent studies have found that physical exercise can significantly improve mental health, and that regular, positive activity boosts cognitive function and can combat depression. This is true not only for older adults, but also for teens and pre-teens.
It’s particularly encouraging to work out in a space where you’re known and appreciated, which is why the YMCA is committed to providing Denverites a safe, encouraging community with opportunities for physical as well as mental self-care. “It’s all the benefits of physical exercise plus the community,” as Betsy has said.
In addition to improving physical health, finding ways to grow social/emotional skills and mindfulness can have other significant health benefits as well. The YMCA focuses on incorporating social and emotional elements throughout our programs. Samantha Church, manager of YMCA Out of School Time, manages teams that “build social and emotional pieces into our curriculum and check in with the kids every day. We have conversations about what it means to be a friend and how to express emotions in a healthy way.”
Her team members are also part of regular learning cohorts on trauma-informed care and how to provide kids with consistent emotional and social support.
Because of its importance, our YMCAs also offer a variety of programs focused specifically on mental health, including mindfulness. Betsy and a fellow member Jane recently joined the Y’s Mindful Eating Program and were both surprised about how much they learned to appreciate food and other aspects of life in the process.
“It’s slowed me down a little bit — to be aware,” Betsy explained. “It made me look at food not as a reward or something to avoid, but something to hopefully live with for a long time, slow down, taste it, and enjoy… It’s journey and a practice, kind of like yoga.”
“With mindful eating, you start applying the same tactics to other things you do,” Jane added. “It teaches you to appreciate what you have.”
In an increasingly stressful world, it is more important than ever before that we support each other mentally and emotionally to lead happy and healthy lives.
To learn more about our mental health workshops, events, and resources at the Y, please visit denverymca.org/mentalhealth.
by Charles Bonniwell | Apr 21, 2023 | Editorials
Kelly Brough
The Denver voters at the April election winnowed down a large field of 16 potential candidates for Mayor to Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston. We could have done worse, like when we three times elected the worst mayor in the city and county’s history, Michael Hancock. Was there a candidate who could have become a mayor like Wellington Webb, Frederico Peña, Robert Speer, and Benjamin Stapleton, who with all their faults, helped build and maintain Denver as an incredibly great place to live? We don’t know. But our choice now is between Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough.
Another troubled former great city, Chicago, has elected Brandon Johnson to be mayor with the strong endorsement of the all-powerful teachers union. The press has been warning that teachers unions across the country are trying to elect their candidates to the detriment of the citizenry. The endorsement of the Denver teachers union is however, kryptonite in Denver. Even the incredibly desperate Westside Investments refused to disclose in its unsuccessful campaign to destroy Park Hill Golf Course open space that the Denver Classroom Teachers Union had endorsed its “Yes on 20.” The teachers union is endorsing no one in the Denver race, but there is no doubt it is backing the former Denver union teacher Mike Johnston.
Even more concerning is the avalanche of dark money that is coming in for Johnston from across the country. There is never money without promises and Johnston refuses to say what those promises were. Johnston’s cavalcade of standard liberal bromide positions earned him the also unwanted endorsement of the hedge fund-owned Denver Post, whose endorsement has lately become a political kiss of death.
With nothing new or interesting about Johnston, we turn to Kelly Brough. People in Glendale know a great deal about the former head of the Denver Chamber of Commerce. She succeeded now U.S. Senator Michael Bennet as chief of staff for then Mayor John Hickenlooper before going over to the Chamber. Unfortunately, while the people in Glendale found Bennet a delight to work with, not so much the perpetually dour Brough. People in Glendale almost don’t recognize the campaign photo of Brough with a huge smile. She has the backing of most of the Denver business community which unfortunately includes the high-density apartment developers who want to gobble up every inch of park and open space in the City and County of Denver.
Mike Johnston
When asked by The Denver Post whether she supported the redevelopment of the Park Hill Golf Course property most of her answer was such gobbledygook that the Post refused to print it. But at least she was not bought off by Westside Investments like Johnston who supported the open space grab.
She does have the endorsement of former mayor Wellington Webb, which is one of the few endorsements that carries weight with us. Sadly, she counter-balanced that with promoting endorsements from two of the worst former mayors in the metro Denver area — Adam Paul of Lakewood, and Herb Atchison of Westminster.
If we had to pick a former Denver mayor she most politically resembles, it would be William H. McNichols, who reigned in Denver from 1968 to 1983. He did little during those 15 years to improve the city, but he was not interested in destroying it either like Hancock.
Brough has had a lot of pain in her life, with her father being murdered and her husband killing himself, so she can empathize with others in pain today in Denver. Moreover, she can could grow and shine in the position of mayor. As we said politics is a matter of choice and here we choose and endorse Kelly Brough.
