Bellingham Select Board Licenses Senior Center Cafe, Defers Conservation Appointment

BELLINGHAM — July 7, 2025 — Bellingham Select Board approves Senior Center cafe license and interviews three Conservation Commission finalists. The board unanimously granted a common victualler license to the Joyful Cup Cafe, a new public food service operation at the Bellingham Senior Center at 40 Blackstone Street, after a brief public hearing in which cafe representative Josie described plans for Wednesday lunches and Thursday breakfasts aimed at providing affordable meals to seniors. The board then interviewed three candidates for a single open Conservation Commission seat — Robert Dvau, a doctorate-holding biotech professional who has already certified a local vernal pool; Danielle Delinos, a 12-year Bellingham resident and nonprofit manager with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts; and an environmental science teacher at Northboro-Grafton Agricultural High School with a master's degree in regional planning and prior work on municipal conservation and agricultural preservation programs. Board member John Martinez said he wants to consult Conservation Commission members about current skill gaps before making the appointment, which will appear on the next agenda. In other action, the board voted 4-1 to appoint Dan Rey as Board of Registrars Republican representative and approved a tax abatement of $1,786.34.