After 40 years working for Hyannis, he's fighting for it.

Charlie advocates for more and better affordable housing that's true to the character of Cape Cod — not the urban big box development we're seeing today. Let's protect what we love about this historic seaside village. 

It's past time to protect Barnstable's villages from overdevelopment, urbanization, and pollution in drinking water, lakes, and ponds. The PFAS study in Hyannis is still enrolling.  Our health and environment need attention.

 The Open Meeting at Barnstable High revealed just how impressive and engaged our citizens are. Let's promote transparency, respect, and real communication among Town Councilors and the people who give them their trust.  

Charlie Atsalis (Charlie's grandfather) came to America from Greece by himself at the age of 15, and worked hard to build a business from the ground up. His uncles were Russell, Jimmy, and John Atsalis. All three uncles worked at "Charlie’s Variety" eventually building businesses of their own.  Russell and Jimmy served in WWII, as did Charlie’s father, Joe Bloom and his three brothers. Charlie’s uncle, John Atsalis served in the Korean War.  

Charlie Bloom was born in Bristol, Connecticut on February 2, 1950.  Every summer, Christmas, and Easter, his parents would pack up the kids and the car to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles who lived on Ocean Street.  By the time he was 6,  Charlie and his family moved to the “tree streets” in Hyannis across from Ridgewood Park where all the kids played. 

Charlie was a Hyannis Elementary kid, where Mom was a Second Grade teacher.  He then went to the Barnstable Junior High where Dad taught woodwork and metalwork. After  Barnstable High, Charlie graduated from Boston College with a degree in Psychology and Philosophy. He then went to grad school, Boston University to study Counseling Psychology.

Of course, he worked at his grandfather's "Charlie’s Variety" too.  From his wise grandfather and uncles, he learned a life rule:  if you’re going to do something, do it right. Charlie worked for Selwin and Dexter Leen at their shoe store on Main Street, Seymour “Zimmy” Zimmerman, Marvin Blank at his candle factory off of Rte. 132, and behind the bar at the Hungry Mariner (now the Black Cat) .

After grad school and two years as a teacher at Hyannis East Elementary, Charlie joined Services to Offenders Project (STOP). His work? Help prisoners who had lived in Barnstable County prior to sentencing adjust to a new, positive life after they've earned release. The work took him to MCI facilities and Court to advocate for specific prisoners in the program.

Charlie has been a child abuse investigator. He had to make awful decisions: are the allegations of child abuse or neglect  sufficient to remove a child from the parent. In the early days he was on his own, not accompanied by official Counsel when presenting a protective custody case in court on behalf of the Commonwealth. Charlie never lost a case. 

He worked in mental health, for people and families in trouble on Cape Cod.  He evaluated children in crisis whose parents had no other option than the ER or a police station. It was Charlie’s responsibility to interview the family and hospital staff to decide if a psychiatric hospitalization was needed, or less restrictive treatment would be better. Family first. 

Eventually, Charlie was hired by Glen Anderson as the Guidance Counselor at Hyannis East Elementary School.  When Hyannis East became a charter school, he finished his career with Barnstable Public Schools as the elementary Special Education Team Leader. Charlie retired in 2014. 

Shortly after he retired, Charlie’s mother, Sadie, had several strokes. It didn't diminish her spirit, her humor, or her love for family.  In order to keep Sadie in her home on Ocean Street, Charlie and his sister Kathi split the day up and cared for Sadie until she passed away in January 2023.  Her wish was to die at home. That wish was granted to her.

Charlie moved back to his childhood home at the corner of Oak and Linden with his wife, Maria (who grew up in West Barnstable) 20 years ago. Today, he's stepping forward to run for Town Council, representing you in precinct 9. He's handled people, problems, crises, and very hard choices, always professionally and with grace. He's ready.