By Mike Finney

DOVER — The YMCA of Delaware has named John Rappaport as the group vice president and executive director of the Dover YMCA.

As the executive director, Mr. Rappaport aims to help the branch reach its potential to grow membership and programs while advancing the mission of the YMCA.

Additionally, he will support the expansion of the Sussex and Middletown locations as they move toward construction of new facilities in the coming years, and he will oversee all aquatic operations across the YMCA of Delaware.

“I am excited to join the YMCA of Delaware team and look forward to expanding our impact to meet the needs of the Dover and surrounding communities,” said Mr. Rappaport, who has worked for the YMCA for more than 30 years. “With a focus on membership and program quality, along with fundraising, we will be able to deliver our mission and provide a top-notch experience to those we serve.”

In his most recent YMCA position at Central Maryland, he supported several branches and two aquatic centers. He is also an accomplished trainer and serves as faculty for YUSA, and is well known for his expertise in aquatics, membership and fundraising.

“We are thrilled to have such a dedicated and passionate YMCA veteran joining our Y of Delaware family,” said Deborah Bagatta-Bowles, CEO. “He is ready to jump right in and is excited to grow membership and programs while welcoming everyone in the community to the Dover Y.”

The Dover YMCA features a state-of-the-art fitness center, one outdoor pool and two indoor pools, a full-size basketball gymnasium and more. Many programs are available at the Y, including babysitting and youth fitness while people work out, swim lessons, summer camp, before and after school care, teen programs, free group exercise classes, personal training and more.

The Dover Y proudly provides nearly $450,000 in financial assistance each year, ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, has access to all the Y has to offer. In 2020, more than 125 children were able to attend summer camp at the Y thanks to financial assistance, and nearly 135,000 free meals were provided to the community.

Milford’s Euphoric Herbals opens smoothie and tea bar

The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting last Wednesday at Euphoric Herbals Apothecary at 621 N. DuPont Blvd. in Milford.

CDCC members and friends joined the business’ owner and founder Cindy Collins to celebrate the grand opening of the new smoothie and tea bar.

As an herbal apothecary, the focus of Euphoric Herbals is botanical products, bulk herbal and natural ingredients. In addition, they now offer a 100% plant-based smoothie and tea bar with products made from real fruit and vegetables.

Euphoric Herbals began as an e-commerce company in 2010. Since then, the veteran-owned, female-owned company has served more than 30,000 families in 58 countries.

In 2018, Ms. Collins added a brick-and-mortar apothecary to the business model and, in 2021, in an effort to create new jobs and add value for their customers, they opened the smoothie and tea bar.

Euphoric Herbals ships around 2,000 orders per month.

FOLDS Laundry Delivery Service keeping Smyrna clean

The CDCC has been busy, as it also hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for FOLDS Laundry Delivery Service on Aug. 20 at East Mount Vernon St., Suite 101, in Smyrna. Chamber members and friends joined Arthur and Kohren Rowland to celebrate the grand opening of FOLDS Wash House.

FOLDS Laundry Delivery Service offers residential and commercial wash, dry and fold service. They use a flat-rate model that allows customers to know exactly how much they are paying for their service. They provide two different sized laundry bags from which to choose.

The customer fills the bag with dirty laundry, members of the FOLDS team pick up, wash dry, and fold, and deliver it within 48 hours, smelling fresh and clean. Now with the opening of FOLDS Wash House, customers have the option to drop off laundry for a discounted rate.

The Rowlands moved to Central Delaware seven years ago in search of a more family centered community. FOLDS Laundry Delivery Service had its start in 2018 in partnership with a laundry facility in Cheswold.