State Representative Demetrius “Do You Know Who I Am” Atsalis’s Klu Klux Klan tactic coerces church soup kitchen to remove political lawn signs…
Having learned first hand from serious burns inflicted by Howie Carr when he exposed a series of annual bogus charity golf events sponsored by Atsalis at the Hyannisport Golf Course,
Atsalis went to a new low when he made an anonymous telephone call to Pastor Bruce Smith of the Calvary Baptist Church on Lincoln Road, Hyannis.
CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW AND HEAR ATSALIS'S MESSAGE...
The Pastor is just recovering from the trauma of a hate crime inflicted on his church in May.
As a hate crime victim, Reverend Smith is sensitized to anonymous bullies, so he let his lawyer listen to the cryptic telephone message.
The lawyer, concerned with Atsalis’s use of the term “non-profit to characterize the soup kitchen,” advised Reverend Smith to remove the lawn signs to overly-conform with Rule 557 of the Non-Profit Entity legislation which prohibits non-profits from supporting “legislative” measures.
Reverend Smith did not want to risk leaving his 100-odd daily poor dinner guests without a place to eat, so he removed the Dolby, Thoman, Dandridge, and Schwaab lawn signs that were implanted on the extreme edge of church property on West Main Street, 50 yards from the church building.
Atsalis is Town Council President Janet Joakim’s cousin by marriage. 
Joakim goes into apoplectic fits whenever the names Schwaab, 
Thoman, or Lopez are mentioned.
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Rep. Atsalis admitted to Mrs. Caroline Marshall Smith, the pastor’s spouse, to leaving the intimidating message on the church's answering machine, when she called the his cell phone number recorded on the machine’s caller id.
Atsalis told the pastor that he thought the $1,300 he characterized as a “donation” was owed to the town.
The deal on the $1,300.
Eric Schwaab, author of the blog, capecodliving.com, and a Town Council candidate for Precinct 3, which includes the Calvary Baptist Church,
through no fault of his own received residential exemption benefits in 2006 and 2007 worth $1,300.
After Schwaab learned of his windfall, he tried to return the money to the Town Assessor, but his offer was refused.
Schwaab subsequently donated the money to the Calvary Baptist Church.
The real issues are,
“Why did Atsalis his call anonymously?
“Did Atsalis interfere in the town election at the request of his cousin, Janet Joakim, who is known to have personal problems with three of the candidates; Dolby, Schwaab, and Thoman?"
Several years ago Atsalis, and his golf partner were escorted off the Old Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf course by police, after Atsalis ignored the starter’s admonition that only foursomes were permitted.
Atsalis's response to both golf course officials and the police was;
Do You Know Who I Am?
Excuse us for living Lord Atsalis.
Maybe the town should reduce your
$6.00 per YEAR
per parking spot property tax to $3.00.
That way you can make a bigger profit on the
$10 per DAY
per parking spot ferry customers pay you.
Wow. It is completely -i n a p p r o p r i a t e - for a state rep to call up a soup kitchen and dictate that they examine their mission. Ironically the kitchen at the church is called the Nutrition Mission. They roll up their sleeves and cook for truly needy people. I am sure this Assholas guy has never felt a hunger pain in his life. Bet he does not know that a homeless person would not recognize the difference between a putter and a nine iron, and could not care less whose signs are in the yard of the place that keeps them from starving. This little stunt, obviously some sort of favor to Joakim, will backfire on these hateful jerks. I will be voting for all of those people whose signs were removed. If bullies like Joakim and her cousin are against them, then I am all for them!
Posted by: hall monitor | October 25, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Mr. Atsalis showed his "true colors" like the other spinless cowards like Janet Joakim, Hank Farnham and others. Talk about a bunch of assenine idiots! It is PAINFULLY OBVIOUS that these jerks are very scared at the thought of CHANGE! WHY? Simple:
Because these IRRESPONSIBLE morons are like many other government idiots. They just think they can KEEP coming to the taxpayers for MORE! And since they all know change is imminent, they are having trouble facing this.
No offense Demitrius but YOU are one PHONY coward. Here this guy is a STATE REP and he tried to HIDE his identity!
Demitrius, I hope this causes you many problems in your next run and I hope your opponent takes you to the cleaners, whoever HE OR SHE is! Pretty sad when state reps have to HIDE like cowards. And he is one!
Good day to all...
J J
Posted by: John Julius | October 25, 2007 at 06:17 PM
Atsalis has terminal "short man" syndrome.
Posted by: | October 25, 2007 at 07:48 PM
What sort of self respecting MAN would act like such a little bitch? That call was at the very least extremely disrespectful to the people who are meeting a need that no other part of our community provides. Any one with any class or breeding of any kind would have at the very least identified himself. His motivation could not be clearer, and I hope this pre-meditated act of intimidation comes back to haunt both the Joker and Representative Asshole-ass.
Posted by: appropriate | October 25, 2007 at 07:58 PM
Hopefully someone will get this to Howie Carr and a couple papers up town. Let's see what Mr. A will have to say for himself. Like the infamous golf tournament. Demitrius, you have NO class as someone here tonite pointed out.
Posted by: J J | October 25, 2007 at 08:16 PM
Good morning gentleman. Just looked over an email with a link to this site. Let me say it is damn if I do , damn if I don't. I never tried to hide my identity, I would have blocked my call if that was my intent. Think what you want.
There was no ill intent with my call to the church. If you guys remember or do not know the property was filling up with many candidate signs along both west main st. and lincoln road. The reason why I pointed out one candidate in particular is because he did donate and their status as a non-profit could have been questioned by others. I believe attorneys for the church had the same take on the issue. Did I call State or Fed. authorities? Was it ever mentioned on the message? No to both. Maybe you do not know ,but at one time my cousin was the Pastor at the church and I know the good work they do. I send people in need there and other pantry's from time to time. So please do not tell me I was trying to hurt the church. I would rather keep my conversation with the pastors wife private (unless she is ok with me talking about our call.
And gary you know the facts on my golf, never escorted off, never said "do you know who I am". By the way, the starter actually let us go off the front nine as a two. it was a golf shop employee on the back nine who had the issue.You know better than that. Also, unless you missed this, my annual golf outing was found to be 100% in the clear by the state's ethic board. Actually they found that the AG's office was incorrect in stating I needed additional paper work. So I guess your facts were fiction here also. The end result is that 3 students have recieved a scholarship for school. What have you done? All you guys have to do is read from credible sources not those looking to sensationalize in order to sell a few papers.
Gary, there was a time that you would come to my office weekly when no one else would give you the time of day. What happened along the way for you to twist and manipulate facts to falsely acuse me of things? when is it a crime to have a business, pay what the town has set as fees for such a business? We pay property takes, income taxes, what else do you want? Does the Mall or the Steamship pay for their spaces? No, not one dime back to our town. There are plenty of businesses you can be going after not those who play by the rules and pay their share to the town. Do you think that two 1/8 acre lots should be assessed at over $900,000, when they may not be able to be developed? I think that is a crime in itself.
A little food for thought say what you want, but has any one of you ever sat down with me and asked me the tough questions?
Posted by: Demetrius | October 26, 2007 at 08:12 AM
Why has Demitrius become this? Since the beginning of this year he keeps losing my support.
Posted by: Bradley G Ouimette | October 26, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Demitrius:
Unfortunately I, for one, don't believe for a minute that you didn't try to hide your identity! Nice try...
Maybe you might learn a lesson from this. You SHOULD have identified yourself like you did here today... for today you get some credit.
Mr. Atsalis, maybe you may want to consider the following:
NONE of us are here to fight with anyone. What WE ARE trying to do is FIX a badly broken and corrupt (sorry to say) system and very BAD form of government. Maybe you may not see it that way but good friend, perhaps maybe one weekend you should go out to the dump and speak to a few hundred people. Ask them HOW THEY FEEL about our town's government! I can tell you it is NOT pretty!
Many of us have watched the Town Manager and town council spend and WASTE our tax dollars into oblivion! They have ALL participated in RIPPING OFF many young and older people in our town! Want proof Demitrius?
Here, consider these 2 examples:
1. I have personally over 100 foreclosure homes that some GOOD DECENT HONEST people have lost. Think the town manager cares? Think the town council cares? Well I DO NOT! Why? Here watch this:
Take a home in Hyannis I have for sale now for $ 185,900. It is worth MAYBE $ 150K, IF that! The town ASSESSOR has that assessed for $320,800. The TAXES on that home are: $2,582. What SHOULD those taxes be? TRY about HALF that, if that!
And here, another one: I have another foreclosure home for sale in Osterville for $ 262,500. If that bank is LUCKY, it might sell for $250,000. What does the town ASSESSOR have that one assessed for? Try $ 337K. Demitrius, a BIT OVERASSESSED, would you say?
You see, we have supposed "leaders" who spend and WASTE our money like drunken sailors! And YET right now many seniors and YOUNG people are being TAXED from their homes! And do you think JOHN KLIMM cares? Think ANY councilors care? Well Demitrius, I DON't! And many others don't either!
Here we have a bunch of elected AND APPOINTED assenine supposed leaders who WASTE our money while people are taxed from their homes and the council AND Town MANAGER think they do NOT have to cut back! Of course not. Hell, the TAXPAYERS can go pick the EXTRA money off their money trees!
Mr. Atsalis, maybe one day you will learn a few things. But for now you seem to be blind like these other IRRESPONSIBLE supposed leaders. Just WAIT till they come crying for an override! Just WAIT. I know so many people struggling now while these complete ASSES sit there, do NOTHING and KEEP WASTING and WASTING. Like their PHONY All American Town Award.
Mr. Atsalis, OPEN YOUR EYES. This is NOT any All American town. We have the highest foreclosure rate in the Commonwealth. The town's schools are in shambles. Go ahead. Keep closing your eyes to all this Demitrius and just wait for things to get worse! They will, trust us!
So here is the difference Mr. Atsalis: WE ARE TRYING TO HELP and the major league assenine supposed leaders see nothing wrong. Wait Demitrius, just wait. When the dust settles, you guys might just be here all by yourself.
Maybe it is time for you and THEM to go spend a few weekends at the Post offices and the dump. TALK to people. Talk to the Seniors on their FIXED incomes. Talk to the young STRUGGLING parents and single Moms. And all the while the Town Manager and council do NOTHING!
Here, a great place to START: The Manager AND COUNCIL should ORDER the Town ASSESSOR to go out and REASSESS the properties to what they are REALLY worth. Will this mean LESS money to the town coffers?
Yes, it will! Will it mean that this winter many SENIORS can use the EXTRA 6 or $700 to keep WARM?! Yes, it will.
And to the assenine counrilors and Manager, STOP wasting our money. IF the young people and SENIORS have to CUT back and live on LESS then these ASSENINE jerks who call themselves our 'leaders' should too!
No offense Demitrius and no disrespect to you but it is TIME for them to wake up and you too! And the next time you make a phone call, PLEASE, be man enough to identify yourself like you did today.
Thank you.
John Julius
Posted by: John Julius | October 26, 2007 at 09:55 AM
John
I get your point and understand there are people in dire straits. But the way some of these blogs are written is offensive. I read for the first time yesterday and was shocked. Jerk-off Atsalis, going after my father etc. Scwabb and Lopez attacking a 74 year old man for what? He has always followed the law every day and raised a good family here in town. Schwabb today saying I called "little old ladies" and others over a ten week period.How would you react to crazy/false statements? I have to respond on this blog. I have no choice when my character is questioned.He attacks with venom and poison, not caring if he is factual or not. He should realize he is not that important. I make one call, have no problem stating it was me and not home depot. Your a smart guy, do I sound threatening. I say thanks at the end, threatening? I do not think so. Have you ever called someone and maybe or maybe not left your name. I think we all have, I get calls all the time where the caller does not identify himself. Does that mean it was intentional. Scwabb further bolsters my claim, his was not the only sign. I never claimed it was. But, his mattered because of his donation to a 501c3. He went a bit overboard with his dramatization at his site and Lopez, people dying etc. come on.
I have to go, thanks for your time and maybe, just maybe you will see and understand what I have put before you. If either you or mr Ouimette would care to call me, you know how to get in touch, my machine does work contrary to what Schwabb says and I do return all of my calls.
Posted by: Demetrius | October 26, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Demitrius, thanx for your response... Yes, I do understand everyone's frustration and do not like anyone who writes slander or libel. Are we frustrated? Yes, we are. Do we all have a good REASON for this? Yes, we do...
Some wrote some unbelievable libel about me last year and involved my wife AND business partner. I have it all and a libel Attorney is STILL in Barnstable Superior Court trying to get a court order to google to identify WHO the author is... Funny how last November when I discovered this, I called then president Hank Farnham and aske him point blank IF he knew who it might have been....
Know what Demitrius? Hank denied knowing anything about that and 21 minutes later the site mysteriously disappeared AFTER I told Hank I am going to SUE someone! And I still PLAN to at all costs! Why?
Simple... because this IS America and we should have NO PLACE for anonymous jerks! And the libel Atty will likely get the phone records to find our just WHO may have been called. But I have faith in the system and I will put an end to that garbage....
Like I said Demitrius, the ONLY thing I will keep trying to do is keep HELPING those who need the help.
In the meantime, if anyone wants to call me anything, go ahead. Just sign your name to it like many of us do. And DO NOT bring family members into things...
Last Demitrius, I must say No, I do not make calls and not leave my name. Especially in my business. I am who I am, speak my peace and ALWAYS identify myself. I have never been ashamed of what I say and what I write, and never will.
Like I said, I am trying to HELP people in our town and the council and MANAGER had better start as well before they TAX the good decent honest out of here. To the MANAGER and COUNCIL:
START CARING and giving a DAMN about the PEOPLE in barnstable. Up to now, they could have cared less!
THIS is what we are trying to FIX! And NOW, before it is too late...
Good day to all.
And PLEASE, vote for me on Nov 6th. I am running for charter commission and want to see a MAYOR who we all can ELECT and HOLD ACCOUNTABLE!
IF we get a Mayor who even tries to run the town the way Manager klimm has, we will have his or her ASS out the door so fast their heads will SPIN! And NO golden giveawy package either like the past Police Chief, School Sup't etc. and on and on and on...
It is TIME for accountability and I will fight like hell to HELP us all get this! And checks and balances too!
Our town officials and administration have gotten away with murder with the WASTING and MISMANAGEMENT of OUR TAX $$$$!!!
We need to fix this NOW! And I can help.
Thank you.
John Julius
Posted by: John Julius | October 26, 2007 at 11:02 AM
no complaints here with family members, your friends should live by your rule. I am fair game but not my family. Bring my family into these matters is just plain wrong. I will defend my family and integrity. Anyone who knows me is aware that I do not hold back what I have to say and never hide behind a wall. My only wish is that some fact should be injected into some of the others blogs instead of speculation and outright lies. Heck, over the past month i have been mentioned as the "next" deputy director at the cccommission, asst.town manager, Undersecretary of Economic dev. etc.And now I have designs to run for Mayor. All that is rubbish. But according to some it is fact. Should have asked me first.
Have a good day, will not say my intentions on election day but good luck.
Posted by: demetrius | October 26, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Glad know you have no intention to run for Mayor because you would be humiliated, Dets. Your cousin Janet is another -DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM - sort of creepy small time politician and you both need to find another line of work. How can anyone believe you did not anonymously call other people in the third and threaten them similarly? We are supposed to think you are a reasonable guy because you did not rat out the church to the state or the feds? You are a disgrace. Nobody likes a tattler. No offense to your parents, but did they have to pay other kids to play with you when you were in school? You really owe the church an apology, and a donation, if you can let a few moths fly out of your wallet to offer one. I am sure they would be happy to take your money. Repent, now. Either way we are going to protest your little party on Nov. 5th at the Island Merchant. We will be peaceful and comply with the law, but we will let the town know what we think of your scare tactics, creep.
Posted by: memphis boy | October 26, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Good idea, Memphis. Let us see if this jerk can admit that he was not exactly a gentleman and perhaps he should make amends. If he will not part with his money, maybe he could go down and serve some food to the homeless people he tried to hurt. What do you say, Demetri? Can you admit that at the very least you could have handled yourself better, or, are you always right because the little people should know who you are? Thanks to the Barnstable Patriot for letting folks know about this situation. You would never read this stuff in the Cape Cod Times!
Posted by: Beans & Rice | October 26, 2007 at 11:52 AM
come on, don't you think the church should have known better and do you really think the call was threatening? Scare tactics, really? I think Atsalis said he spoke with the pastors wife or did you guys miss that.
Posted by: | October 26, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Oh, no. We got it. He lied to her about the nature of Schwaabs donation saying the money belonged to the town. His call freaked them out enough that they called an attorney. Yes, scare tactics. Any real man or smart politician with a reasonable set of stones would have identified himself and explained his concerns rather than use buzz words like non-profit. He also talked down to these people and told them to - re-examine their mission - What a pompus ridiculous person.
Posted by: West Hyannis does not need Atsalis | October 26, 2007 at 12:30 PM
if the town gave it to him by mistake is it now his to give away? shouldn't it have gone back to a town entity? it was town money. By the way , how did Atsalis lie? is was not schwabbs to give away to a charity. I think the towns senior center or community center was more appropriate. see the connection -town$ =town agency.
What buzz words, sounded like he was stating facts, giving an explanation to help them. remember he called on Sunday, signs were taken down on Thursday. Did he call again Monday thru Thursday? And how do you know the nature of his call to the pasto's wife? hmmm, very interesting.
Posted by: | October 26, 2007 at 01:03 PM
To the 1:03 poster...Are you reading-challenged?
Next to John Julius's picture the post clearly states;
Rep. Atsalis admitted to Mrs. Caroline Marshall Smith, the pastor’s spouse, to leaving the intimidating message on the church's answering machine, when she called the his cell phone number recorded on the machine’s caller id.
We talked with Caroline Smith, and know how the conversation went.
I cannot fathom telephoning a total stranger, and leaving a message on his or her answering machine without identifying myself.
Atsalis is doing some damage control.
I just called the Cape Cod Voice to tell them I received a dozen calls of people complaining that they can't buy a copy.
The paper is out replenishing stores today, and plans to reprint more.
Posted by: gary lopez | October 26, 2007 at 01:24 PM
Gary, come on, I said yes without any hesitation to leaving a message, it was not intimidating. Your from the city and know what intimidating is.Would I say thanks and bye if it were meant to be so? Were there follow up calls in the days leading up to Thursday, no? One call and done, I did not even think about it again. You know me better than that or at least I thought you did.
Posted by: demetrius | October 26, 2007 at 01:53 PM
The people who have a problem with Atsalis are focusing on the fact that he didn't leave his name when he called. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. You'd still be criticizing him if he did. Everyone knows that unless you have a private number then the number is going to show up on caller ID. The issue you should be focused on is; What if a call, no matter who it was from, was never placed to the Pastor letting him know that having the signs on the property could have a negative impact on their funding as a non profit, and the sate/fed authorities ended up finding out on their own, and then they penalize the church? What would you be saying then? Would you be blaming the people who's signs were on the property? Who would take responsibility for that outcome? It's not a stretch to assume that some people would blame our town and state politicians for not warning the church ahead of time. It seems that if someone was out to hurt the Church then they would have contacted the State/Feds directly instead of calling the church. It's not dictating when you are informing someone of a potential violation, especially a church. A representative, whether state of local, is obligated to look out for the people he or she represents. Why is it inappropriate for him to make a call. I didn't hear him say "you must" or "if you don't I'll report you". If it was someone you supported making that call you wouldn't be blasting him or her. Have you ever seen politcal signs on other churches in our town? If it wasn't a conflict to do so you can be sure that their property's would be full of them. If anything the candidates who planted their signs and nailed them to a tree were selfish for putting the church in that position. As candidates they should have known that what they were doing could hurt the church. As a voter I am concerned about how qualified those people are to represent us if they either didn't know the rules or didn't care b/c they put their goals ahead of the well being of the church.
Posted by: AJN | October 26, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Dets - I've been trying to get a sit down with you for a month. Why won't you meet me? Jason Cox spoke with you and he said you wouldn't sit down.
We're going to have to open a public discussion on why your family doesn't it's fair share of the town's taxes. If you think this is an attack, you are wrong. I tried to meet with you privately and you blew it.
You're right about one thing. I'm not important because this isn't about me.
This is about our town, our lives, our children. You've been sucking on this town for to long. It's time you got a job and worked for living.
Posted by: Eric Schwaab | October 26, 2007 at 02:05 PM
Bullshit. Dets is damned because he DIDNT!!! Nobody is buying his story. Listen to the tone of his voice. It is in keeping with his DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM attitude. You are not fooling anyone here, Atsalis. Now go make amends to that little church right this minute you sorry little puke.
Posted by: Not buying it | October 26, 2007 at 02:20 PM
I've had some doubts about cogs tactics, but now that I see what lying, thieving, scum-bags these good old boys really are, I say let them have it. Run them all out of town. The sooner the better.
Posted by: | October 26, 2007 at 02:26 PM
It's important right now to establish the fact that the Calvary Church and Reverend Smith and his wife, Caroline, did nothing illegal or unethical.
Rule 557 of Chapter 501 C corporation law prohibits non-profit corporations from using funds to support "legislation."
Displaying political lawn signs for candidates in a local election is far from supporting "legislation."
In Atsalis's message he inferred that somehow Schwaab's $1,300 donation was linked to his political sign.
The Smith's did nothing wrong, and Atsalis knows it.
The Smith's only concern was not being able to feed the 100 poor people every day.
Atsalis should be ashamed of himself by even implying that he would drop a dime on the place to leave the 100 starving.
I just called Howie Carr's office at the Herald, and he may give this legs to this post.
Posted by: Gary Lopez | October 26, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Eric. Can you tell us which year you realized you were receiving the residential tax expemption from the Town of Barnstable while you were a full time resident in Brighton? (For those of you that don't know Mr. Schwaab mistakenly received the residential expemption from Barnstable while he was actually a resident in Brighton.) Was it the first year or second year you received it? How do you miss something like that? It's not like it was hidden on your statement. So, you were receiving exemptions from both Brighton and Barnstable. What took you so long to notify the town of Barnstable that they made a mistake? Now that you are resident here are you still receiving the exemption in Brighton? Is it Public Record. To the blind followers of ES it is a fact that your friend took money from our town that wasn't owed to him for not one, but two years and he didn't attempt to give it back until well after the fact b/c his secret was exposed. Again, the key word here is fact, which is a big difference from the factually untrue, exaggerated comments he makes about people who are not on his side or their family members who have never met or acted against Eric. His character flaws are not made up by others, the tax records in Barnstable speak to that as do his libelous comments in black and white. He claims to care about our town, but he took money that wasn't his for multiple years, never voted here unitl he registered this past summer, and launches personal attacks on anyone and everyone that doesn't agree with is line of thinking. With that kind of resume he has the audicity to question residents, both life long and not, who have done nothing more then work hard, pay their taxes , raise their families, and be positive members of our community. Eric, I'd like to see what your answers are to those questions about the 2 year's worth of exemptions you took from our Town while you were living another. How do explain double dipping?
Posted by: AJN | October 26, 2007 at 03:15 PM
AJN, do us all a favor. Go away. If anyone has his fact wrong it is YOU! Eric is trying to HELP us all here by getting rid of a USELESS Town Manager and 12 USELESS CLUELESS town councilors who have been taking the PEOPLE here to the cleaners and WASTING OUR tax money!
Like it or not, most of these people are CLUELESS and useless. And NOW, like a bunch of maggots, they are beginning to run! Well, GOOD. Let these morons all run. We will all be better off!
At least Eric and others are not afraid to log IN AS WHO HE is and is MAN enough to tell it like it is!
So AJN, like I said, if anyone has his facts mixed up, it is you.....
Why can't you log in here with a REAL name instead of your phony initials?
Want some credibility? Do that. THEN we can all have a civil 'debate'.
Good ajn...
John Julius
Posted by: John Julius | October 26, 2007 at 03:24 PM