by Charles Bonniwell | May 16, 2025 | Main Articles
Good Work: Rich Wyatt leads fundraising efforts in Colorado for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to raise money for homeless veterans.
Hotel Conversion: The former Fairfield Inn on Colorado Blvd. will be converted into housing for veterans by Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
by Charles C. Bonniwell
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation founded by Frank Siller, in honor of his brother Stephen who died during the September 11 attacks in 2001, is a nonprofit foundation that supports families of fallen first responders and veterans while working to end veteran homelessness.
The organization is best known for retiring the mortgages for families of first responders who were killed in the line of duty. It also builds and gives mortgage free “tiny homes” (500 sq. feet) to eligible veterans.
Residences
Tunnel to Towers more recently has begun converting hotels into residences for homeless veterans in Atlanta, Memphis, Las Vegas, and now Denver. It plans to have six more properties purchased and remodeled over the next several years.
Tunnel to Towers acquired the Fairfield Inn hotel property at 1680 S. Colorado Boulevard (corner of Colorado Blvd. and East Mexico Ave. near I-25 and Colorado Blvd.) for $12.7 million in September of 2024.
It is to be converted into 120 apartments for homeless veterans in the Denver metropolitan area, The site will also feature support services including job training, benefit assistance, PTSD counseling, and addiction.
It is estimated that there are over 400 homeless vets in the Metro Denver area.
Fundraising
An additional 8 to 10 million dollars is estimated to be needed to convert and update the property.
In Colorado, fundraising is headed up by Rich Wyatt, who was a volunteer fireman, former police chief, and was featured in a reality TV show titled American Guns along with family members.
Wyatt became involved with Tunnel to Towers when his reality show, back in 2017, became very popular with disabled veterans. He would organize and lead gun adventures with disabled vets who had a high risk of suicide attempts, due to their inactivity caused by their disabilities, with little to look forward to.
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Wyatt held a breakfast fundraiser across the street at 3900 E. Mexico hosted by Dutton Commercial Real Estate. In addition, 710 KNUS Radio host Peter Boyles spoke at the fundraiser which was headlined by 9/11 fireman survivor Tim Brown who inspiringly talked about his experiences on 9/11.
Wyatt and Tunnel to Towers are looking for individuals who will host fundraisers at their homes or businesses. If interested in doing so, call Wyatt at 303-475-5007. For more information on the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, visit www.t2t.org.
by Mark Smiley | May 16, 2025 | Main Articles
Dean Peterson, Co-Founder Of The Bull & Bush Brewery Died At Age 87
by Mark Smiley
Founding Fathers: Identical twin brothers Dean (right) and Dale Peterson (who passed away in 2009) often rode their bikes by the local dairy that would one day be the home of The Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery. In 1971, casting aside their stockbroker careers, the brothers built the Bull & Bush to kick-start a list of successful restaurants.
On May 3, 2025, Dean Peterson, co- founder of the Bull & Bush Brewery in Glendale passed away at age 87. Regarded by many as a pioneer in the industry, Peterson, along with his identical twin brother Dale, co-founded the Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery in 1971 in Glendale, Colorado. Back in those days, there was not much other than farmland around and it was difficult to get a loan from the bank. In fact, as you looked West from the Bull & Bush, you could see the old Riviera sign on Kentucky Avenue with nothing obstructing the view. Glendale was a few years away from becoming the spot for nightlife and the Bull & Bush was at the forefront.
Inspired by a fact-finding trip to England, they modeled their establishment after the original Bull & Bush Pub in Hampstead Heath, London, which dates back to 1645. They imported authentic artifacts, including a now-iconic warped copper top bar, to recreate the traditional English pub atmosphere.
The Peterson brothers were born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1937. Dale Peterson passed away in 2009 while Dean outlived his brother by nearly 16 years. After a three-year battle with cancer, Dean Peterson passed away. A celebration of life brought a standing room only crowd to the Bull & Bush Brewery on May 20, 2025. Dean’s nephews, David and Erik Peterson, entertained the crowd and kept the mood upbeat while others shared stories.
Peterson was born in Nebraska but moved to Denver as an infant. He and his twin brother and older sister, Charlene, lived at
Dean and His Daughter: Dean Peterson and his only daughter Tami Beardsley pose for a photo a few years ago. Beardsley was the inspiration for the iconic Bull & Bush logo.
6th and Albion for years and Dean graduated from East High School in 1955. Fast forward to 1971, when they founded the Bull & Bush Brewery, Dean was seen as the back of the house “number cruncher” while Dale was the front of the house “glad hander.” It is in that back of the house, where Dean thought it would be a good idea to put their now famous green chili on top of mashed potatoes. He came up with this concept in the late 1970s and it is still on the menu today.
Just because he was seen as the back of the house owner, doesn’t mean Dean did not enjoy sitting at the bar talking to guests and swapping stories. “People would sit at the bar and get advice they didn’t need or want,” said David Peterson, co-owner of the Bull & Bush Brewery. “But everyone loved Dean.”
“My fondest memories of my uncle had nothing to do with the restaurant,” said Peterson. “Our family trips were a lot of fun and as we got older, we started to go to places like Las Vegas. We always had a great time with family and Dean was a big part of that.”
Initially, the Bull & Bush served as a lively gathering spot, featuring live music and one of Denver’s first dart rooms. In 1997, the Petersons expanded the establishment by adding a brewery, which has since gained acclaim for its innovative beers. Notably, their “MAN BEER” received a Gold award at the World Beer Cup.
Today, the Bull & Bush remains a family-run business, operated by David and Erik Peterson. They have continued the legacy by maintaining the pub’s welcoming atmosphere and commitment to quality. The establishment offers a diverse menu, a wide selection of whiskeys, and continues to brew award-winning beers, solidifying its status as a cherished Glendale institution, an institution that started with the late Dale and Dean Peterson. “We are forever grateful for the sacrifices my dad and uncle made 54 years ago,” said Peterson. “May Dean rest in peace and look down on how we continue to put smiles on people’s faces that walk through our doors.”
by Mark Smiley | Apr 18, 2025 | Main Articles
The Family-Owned Restaurant Opens First Location In Denver
by Mark Smiley
Now Open: Los Dos Potrillos opened at 11 a.m. April 15, 2025, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Los Dos takes over the space formerly occupied by Hacienda on South Colorado Boulevard. It is the first restaurant for the family in the city of Denver after decades in the suburbs.
Los Dos Potrillos, the family-owned Mexican restaurant known for its Mexican comfort food opened its first Denver location near Colorado Boulevard and I-25 at 4100 E. Mexico Avenue on April 15, 2025. The space was formerly occupied by Hacienda. The new Los Dos Potrillos has space for 253 patrons inside and 70 more on its patio.
They have been eyeing locations in Denver over the last several years but could not find the right area. “Whenever we look at any type of location, we always want to make sure it fits our way of going into any type of property,” said Danny Ramirez, CEO of Ramirez Hospitality Group, who owns Los Dos Potrillos. “We look forward to becoming a welcoming haven for our growing community, offering the same quality, consistency, service, and commitment that defines the Los Dos family,” Ramirez.
“Expanding to Denver is an important step for us, allowing us to connect and serve a new group of diners. Our Los Dos family is excited about this growth and cannot wait to bring our delicious food and overall dining experience to a new community in such a centralized location,” added Luis Ramirez, COO and President.
Fresh Remodel: Los Dos Potrillos spent six months renovating what is now their sixth location in Colorado.
This milestone brings their family recipes and welcoming atmosphere to the heart of the Mile High City, marking a new chapter and the seventh Los Dos Potrillos full service restaurant opening in the Ramirez family’s journey.
Founded by Jose Ramirez in 2002, Los Dos Potrillos has grown from a single restaurant in Centennial to a popular local brand with multiple locations across the Denver metro area. This Denver location represents the sixth addition to their growing family, joining the ranks of their other establishments.
The Colorado Boulevard location is the second largest footprint for the restaurant family next to the Castle Rock location which b
oasts 8,000 square feet of space.
The Denver Los Dos Potrillos will uphold the traditions and quality that have made Ramirez Hospitality Group a beloved household name across the region. Customers can expect the same welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and Mexican comfort food that have earned the restaurant group a loyal following.
Taking over an existing Mexican restaurant made it a bit easier to move forward. “There wasn’t much to do since it was a Mexican restaurant,” said Daniel Ramirez. “All we had to do is come in and put our touch to it. We changed the outside and changed the interior. The kitchen is in immaculate condition. We just added our spice to it, literally,” Ramirez said with a smile.
For more information, visit www.los2potrillos.com.
by Ashe in America | Apr 18, 2025 | Feature Story Bottom Left
ASHE IN AMERICA — OPINION
Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced a run for Attorney General on April 7th, asking for donations to ActBlue to get her campaign “off to a strong start.”
ActBlue is currently under investigation for fraud and “possible terror-financing,” according to a New York Post report in March.
Griswold originally launched a run for governor, but she was immediately hit with a complaint for “campaign finance violations,” which her campaign initially lied about. From Colorado Politics in March:
“According to the complaint, when asked about the website, Chris Griswold, brother and campaign manager … ‘initially lied, stating it was definitely not their domain.’ The complaint said the Griswold campaign revealed it purchased the website only after learning that his email address was tied to the campaign’s email subscription.”
It’s one scandal after another with Griswold, and now she’s doubling down on ActBlue.
The House Judiciary released their report on ActBlue fraud at the beginning of April, showing Democrats’ proactively relaxed fraud prevention measures at two specific points during the 2024 election cycle. And their investigation isn’t over.
“This staff report is not the end of our investigation. We’re also asking for transcribed interviews with current ActBlue employees…and reviewing suspicious activity reports (SARs) of fraud on ActBlue.”
The relaxation of standards is important, because it enables “smurfing.” Smurfing is the practice of using people’s identities without their knowledge to knowingly launder otherwise illegal campaign donations.
Smurfing isn’t new. It goes back to Obama.
The New York Times debunked Obama’s “small donor” claims on November 24, 2008, “Study: Many Obama Small Donors Really Weren’t.” A study from the Campaign Finance Institute that showed that Obama’s small donors repeatedly donated in excess of legal limits (like smurfs).
But in 2012, the small donor talking points were back, and the Campaign Finance Institute had a new study that ignored the old study and supported the small donor narrative:
“Nearly half of the donors to Obama’s reelection campaign in 2011 gave $200 or less, more than double the proportion seen in 2007, according to the analysis from the Campaign Finance Institute, which tracks money in politics.”
The 2008 scandal was memory-holed, which is a stunning rebuke on journalism considering the scandal was actually being litigated during the 2012 campaign. In January 2013, Maggie Haberman reported that the fine on the Obama Campaign “for hiding donors” was “one of the largest fines ever” levied by the FEC. This was after the election, of course.
From the House Judiciary X thread on the new report: “Even before these policy changes, ActBlue staff were told to accept as much fraud as possible.”
Yikes.
When smurfing is caught, as it has been since ActBlue was formed in 2004, it’s referenced as “campaign finance violations” — but it’s actually a highly-coordinated portfolio of crime:
18 U.S.C. § 1956 – Money Laundering
18 U.S.C. § 1957 – Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Unlawful Activity
18 U.S.C. § 1001 – False Statements to Federal Agencies
52 U.S.C. § 30122 – Contributions in the Name of Another
18 U.S.C. § 1343 – Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1341 – Mail Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 371 – Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
18 U.S.C. § 1028 – Identity Theft
18 U.S.C. § 1030 – Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
15 U.S.C. § 6801–6809 – Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
31 U.S.C. 5311 et seq – Bank Secrecy Act (12 CFR 21.11, 12 CFR 21.21)
52 U.S.C. § 30122 – Contributions in the Name of Another (FECA)
18 U.S.C. § 1028 – Identity Fraud and Document Fraud
There is a look-up tool at electionwatch.info to see if it happened to you.
Back to Jena Griswold, remember how she worked for Obama’s 2012 campaign as a voter protection attorney before returning to Colorado to work for Hickenlooper in 2013? Interesting timeline.
While Griwsold is doubling down on ActBlue, their employees aren’t so bullish.
According to The New York Times in March, “ActBlue, the online fund-raising organization that powers Democratic candidates, has plunged into turmoil, with at least seven senior officials resigning [in late February] and a remaining lawyer suggesting he faced internal retaliation.”
I wonder if that whistleblowing is related to the fraud probe and allegations that they relaxed their fraud prevention measures in the middle of the election cycle (twice).
Jena Griswold is using ActBlue for her campaign to be “The Law” in Colorado.
No one is above the law, right?
Ashe in America is a writer and activist. Find all her work at linktree.com/asheinamerica
