Your top choice for compassionateIn-Home Care in Delray Beach, FL

It's often said that the golden years of your life are the most enjoyable. For most older adults in the U.S., it's a time to unwind, reflect, and live in the comfort of familiar surroundings. And that's how it should be - most senior citizens in America worked hard to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise their families. Shouldn't they be able to age with grace and dignity at home?

The answer is undoubtedly "yes," but as seniors age, they sometimes need assistance to live independently. Unfortunately, many older adults are unable to rely on adult children for help due to busy schedules, a lack of expertise, or both. That's where Mind & Mobility's home care in Delray Beach, FL begins to make a lot of sense.

Our in-home care services cater to those who want to stay in their homes as they age but require ongoing care that their loved ones cannot provide. Nowadays, most seniors prefer to live away from long-term care facilities and closer to their home where they feel most at ease.

If you or your senior loved one wants to thrive in their own house and avoid care facilities, in-home care is an effective, safe way to give family and friends the care they need when they need it the most.

Service Areas

The Mind & Mobility Difference

Mind & Mobility is a home care agency that takes pride in helping seniors enjoy life at home with grace and comfort. One of the biggest reasons why so many seniors and their families choose us is that our senior caregivers in Delray Beach, FL, do more than just change bedsheets and prepare meals. They make it a point to provide compassionate care and connect with patients on a personal level.

Instead of eliminating independence from our senior population in Florida, we believe in maximizing it - a goal that's not always supported by assisted living facilities and nursing homes. In fact, those locations are often overpriced, understaffed, and known for the spread of disease. Senior care from Mind & Mobility provides a more emotionally and financially relieving option, whether you need a little help around the house or more involved services like companion care or dementia care.

While we take pride in providing compassionate caregiving services for seniors at home, we also offer clients free access to our Mind & Mobility Homecare Center in South Florida. Here, your senior can receive treatment from therapists who are experts in physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Our therapists work collaboratively in a supportive environment, taking into consideration the client's needs and concerns. They combine their expertise with the latest research in their fields to deliver cutting-edge, evidence-based services. With unlimited access to one-on-one sessions, our therapists' top priority is to help seniors live and age gracefully at home without having to relocate to an assisted living facility.

What is Senior Care in Delray Beach, FL?

Many older adults in the United States prefer to age at home, as it offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity. According to an AARP report, three out of four adults aged 50 and above wish to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

However, as adults approach their 60s and 70s, some may require assistance around the house, especially when family members are too busy or live far away. The truth is that the natural process of aging can make it challenging to continue living at home. Simple tasks like running errands become more difficult due to mobility issues. Preparing healthy meals and keeping track of medications and appointments can also become a challenge. Safety becomes a concern, and family members may worry about the well-being of their loved ones.

In these situations, in-home care is often a perfect fit. It allows seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

Mind & Mobility provides a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they receive the help they need to remain independent. If you have a senior loved one who needs some extra help to stay happy and healthy, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even from afar.

Some of the most common home care services offered at Mind & Mobility include.

Light Housekeeping
Nutrition Monitoring
Assistance with Technology
Meal Preparation
Dressing, Bathing, & Grooming
Medication Reminders
Laundry Services
Activity Escorts
Much More

Did You Know?

U.S. adults over the age of 60 have a 59% higher chance of being unable to perform daily routines and activities if they're lonely.

Our in-home care services are covered by medical insurance, long-term care policies, and private pay. Members have the freedom to choose their own caregiver and can benefit from unlimited physical and occupational therapy, regular visits from a registered nurse, and care management from a licensed clinical social worker.

Curious if home care in Delray Beach, FL is right for you or your older loved one? Contact our office in Florida today for a no-pressure discovery call to learn more. If you or your loved one is ready to live life to the fullest, getting in-home care from Mind & Mobility is a quick, easy three-step process.

1. Speak to a Care Representative

One of our skilled care representatives will speak with you in person or over the phone and help you select the best home care plan to keep your loved one happy at home.

2. Go Over Your Care Plan

A local care professional from Mind & Mobility will travel to your home and sit with you one-on-one to discuss the details of your care plan.

3. Thrive from the Comfort of Home

Once your care plan is selected, you will have the pleasure of watching your senior loved one enjoy an independent life at home with the help of a compassionate caregiver.

Companion Care You Can Count On

Aging in place refers to the practice of aging adults living in their homes as they grow old. Studies show that around 77% of retirees prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible, and home care can be an excellent way to bridge the gap between receiving elder care and staying at home.

Allowing your aging loved ones to maintain their independence is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. This can contribute to their overall health and well-being, as opposed to a living facility where they may feel powerless and depressed. Unfortunately, these facilities often take away a senior's ability to do simple things like cooking for themselves, scheduling visits with family and friends, and even bathing in the comfort of their own homes.

Home care in Delray Beach, FL, including companion care services, is designed to provide both medical and non-medical solutions that your senior needs in order to maintain their independence. That way, your senior doesn't have to destabilize their life or adjust to a new way of living away from home.

Mind & Mobility companion care incorporates a number of different services, including.

Spending Time with Your Senior
Conversation
Homemaking Support
Planning Outings
Mobility Assistance

Help with Nutrition
Staying Active
Memory Skills and Games
Running Errands
More

Getting Started with Companion Care from Mind & Mobility

To learn more about our companion care services, you can contact any of our nine locations in Florida to request a care consultation with one of our representatives. During your consultation, we'll assess your needs to ensure that we provide the right caregiver at the right time to meet your specific requirements.

Doing so helps us ensure that we get it right the first time. We'll also be happy to answer any questions you may have and introduce you to the team of senior home companions who will provide you with companion care services in Florida.

Need home care companion services on short notice? As a respected senior care business with more than a decade of experience, we have access to a large pool of senior caregivers in Delray Beach, FL who would be happy to provide you or your senior with last-minute support.

Take a Break with RespiteCare Services from Mind & Mobility

Taking care of a senior loved one can be a tiring and overwhelming task, particularly if the caregiver is employed full-time and has other responsibilities to handle. Taking care of an older adult in such a situation can result in caregiver burnout, which can lead to a decline in the quality of care provided and even illness. To combat this issue, many adult caregivers choose respite care as a solution instead of full-time home care in Delray Beach, FL.

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults in the United States provide care to someone aged 50 or older. Unfortunately, many of these caregivers experience stress, fatigue, and even depression.

Respite care services offer a short-term break to family members and unpaid caregivers from their caregiving duties. This is a crucial service that benefits both seniors and their caregivers and can be arranged for a few hours or even several days, depending on their requirements.

What are the Benefits of Respite Care from Mind & Mobility?

Respite care services can have a significantly positive impact on the health of your elderly loved one, as well as your own. Whether it's for an extended period of time or just a few hours a week, respite care can help ease the burden of caregiving.

Taking some time off for yourself may seem selfish at first, but it's crucial to recharge your batteries to be able to continue providing care. Taking a short (or longer-term) break can also improve the overall quality of your care. Plus, professional respite care services offer your senior an opportunity to learn from and engage with a compassionate caregiver from Mind & Mobility.

Some of the most common caregiving services provided by our respite care professionals include.

Housekeeping
Laundry
Medication Reminders
Meal Preparation
Help with Dressing and Grooming
Bathing Assistance
More

Our respite care services in Florida are typically offered on a temporary basis. However, we also serve many clients who require assistance on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on their specific needs. We recognize that care needs and schedules can be subject to change, and we strive to be flexible in our approach to ensure that your and your family's needs are met.

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Three Hurdles That Family Caregivers Face

Caring for your aging parents can be a fulfilling act of love. As you reminisce about the care they gave you while growing up, you now have the opportunity to return the favor. However, providing care for loved ones can be challenging. It's important to anticipate the obstacles you may face and learn how to manage them to protect your own health and well-being.

Here are three of the toughest challenges that family caregivers have to face when caring for their senior parents or loved ones.

Not Enough Support

It's common to feel like you're carrying the majority of the burden when it comes to taking care of your aging parents. However, assuming that you are solely responsible for their care can be overwhelming and cause strain in other relationships. It's important to remember that caring for someone else is not a one-person job. Attempting to do so can lead to burnout, depression, and other serious health issues. It can also negatively impact the level of care your parents receive.

Not Enough Sleep

Interrupted sleep can be a problem for older adults whose circadian clock has shifted, leading them to wake up more frequently throughout the night. It can also be a result of stress and worry. If dementia is a factor, you may need to stay alert due to sundowning and wandering. Those tasks can be difficult and require a sharp mind that has had plenty of rest. In fact, getting enough sleep is crucial for your ability to provide the best care for your parents, as well as for your own physical and emotional well-being.

Not Enough Privacy

Sharing living space with your parents can compromise both your physical and emotional privacy. This is especially true if one or both of your parents have dementia, which can cause them to feel afraid or disoriented when you're not around. At the same time, your parents may also find it difficult to maintain their privacy while under your care.

That begs the question - how can you conquer the challenges that most family caregivers face on a daily basis?

In-Home Care in Delray Beach, FL Helps Alleviate Your Burden

Mind & Mobility's in-home caregivers can be there to help you ensure the best care for your parents and a healthier life balance for yourself. Taking a break from caregiving is not just a great idea; it's essential.

Our respite care services offer you regular breaks from caregiving, which allows you to take care of yourself while enriching your parents' lives. We provide opportunities for socialization and engaging activities, along with the necessary support to ensure safety and comfort. You can rest easy knowing that your parents are in the best of hands while you take a break.

Compassionate Care When You Need It the Most

At Mind & Mobility Home Care, we take pride in our commitment to helping older adults maintain a high-quality life. Our team of senior caregivers cares deeply about the well-being of our clients and works together to craft personalized services that are backed by research and experience.

Our home care services are designed to support clients in various ways. Whether it's recovering from hip surgery, preventing falls, enhancing cognitive abilities through brain training, or pursuing new hobbies, you can rest easy knowing we have your senior's health and happiness at heart.

Of course, every one of our clients has their own unique needs and goals, and we adjust their levels of care accordingly. But one aspect of our home care services never changes - and that's the compassionate care we provide to seniors so that they may remain independent.

Contact Mind & Mobility today to take the first step toward aging gracefully at home. We'll be there by your side every step of the way.

Looking for fun things to do this weekend Feb. 23-25? Top 5 events in Palm Beach County

Eddie RitzIt's officially winter in South Florida and though you won't be building snowmen or hitting the slopes, you will be able to enjoy outdoor activities without having to layer up or even wear a jacket most of the time. This is the time to venture outside enjoy festivals, ...

Eddie Ritz

It's officially winter in South Florida and though you won't be building snowmen or hitting the slopes, you will be able to enjoy outdoor activities without having to layer up or even wear a jacket most of the time. This is the time to venture outside enjoy festivals, greenmarkets and the area's incredible entertainment. Get out this weekend see works of art at the Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival, strike a pose during full moon yoga in Delray Beach, or listen as Kev Ohm plays during Sounds at Downtown.

In addition to the top five events listed there's always something great happening at places like The Norton Museum of Art or the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. On top of that you could always just enjoy a great meal with an equally great view at one of Palm Beach County's waterfront restaurants from Jupiter to Boca Raton. Plus, we've curated a list of the best things to do all year in the county, and here it is: your bucket list of 55 fun must-try things to do in Palm Beach County.

1. Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival

This festival will see both Lake and Lucerne Avenue in downtown Lake Worth Beach turned into works of art as over 600 chalk artists from around the country turn sections of pavement into Picassos. There will live music, drink and food vendors as well as drink and food specials from local merchants and more.

The event is Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25. Lake and Lucerne avenues, Lake Worth Beach. Free. Information: spf.lakeworthbeachfl.gov

2. MacArthur Under Moonlight Concert

This concert will feature The Raquel Renner Duo performing in the park's beautiful outdoor amphitheater. This spirited country musician will be bringing some serious 'southern charm' to compliment the full moon.

The concert is 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach. $5, members free. Information: macarthurbeach.org

3. Strike a pose during Full Moon Yoga

Held at the Seagate Beach Club, this class will help you stretch, strengthen and lengthen. The 60-minute nocturnal Vinyasa yoga flow class will help build strength, stamina, flexibility, and concentration. Give the moon its due with lunar meditation, moon salutations and yoga poses, followed by a moonlight cool down.

The class is 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. 401 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. $20. Information: seagatedelray.com/beachclub

4. Sounds at Downtown, Downtown Palm Beach Gardens

Don't miss out as Kev Ohm plays originals as well as some great covers of songs including "Ain't No Sunshine," "Truth Hurts" by Lizzo, "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles and many more.

The event is 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., Palm Beach Gardens. Free. Information: downtownpbg.com

5. Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival

Held at Old School Square in the heart of Delray Beach, this one-of-a-kind craft festival showcases the best of local and national crafters and is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a lively artistic community. Discover unique and high-quality wares, ranging from intricately-designed home decor, stunning wearable accessories and much more.

The event is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25. 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Free. Information: artfestival.com

Black History Month Bonus: 'MOVED: A Celebration of Black History and Culture Through Dance'

Hosted by Natural Movers Foundation and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, this inaugural single-day dance experience invites attendees to move, learn, and witness the spaces that Black dancers and artists pioneered, carved, and influenced in the field of dance.

Experienced dancers and those new to dance can take various master classes in modern, ballet, African dance, hip hop, and more.

This year’s featured dance artists include David “The Crown” Stalter, world champion of the “World Hip Hop Dance Championship” and USA Champion of “Red Bull Dance Your Style,” and assistant professor of dance at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and master teacher of the Umfundalai technique Shaness Kemp.

The workshops are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; performance is 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. $25. Information: .naturalmovers.org

Black History Month Bonus: Art After Dark Black History Celebration

This installation of the popular weekly series will feature a screening of the short film "Flower" by Lauren Finerman. It is about world-renowned ballerina Misty Copeland and features new, original music from Grammy-winning recording artist Raphael Saadiq.

The evening’s tour will highlight African American Artists in the Norton's collection. Natural Movers Foundation will present "Dance Works + Progress" celebrating the Art of Storytelling as it relates to dance and the Black experience with a talk and dance performances by local dance companies.

The event is Friday, Feb. 23. 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Adults and senior $10, students $5. Information: norton.org

Black History Month Bonus: 'Black Art Matters' featuring Jashua Sa-Ra

Presented by the WPB DDA, in celebration of African American Culture during Black History Month, award-winning performance poet, author, event producer, host, lecturer, playwright teaching artist, graphic designer and musician Jashua Sa-Ra will perform.

The performance is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at CityZen Garden, 400 Datura St., West Palm Beach. Free. Information: downtownwpb.com

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

Owner of Stanley Steemer in Delray Beach warns public about impersonator

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The owner of Stanley Steemer in Delray Beach is warning South Floridians about a group of people who have allegedly been claiming to be with his company, taking money from people and performing shoddy work."They're committing fraud," Tom Scalera, owner of Stanley Steemer in Delray Beach, told WPTV.Scalera told WPTV here lately, he's been putting out fires."I got a text from a person on LinkedIn," Scalera said. "She was very upset that someone came to her parent's house ...

"They're committing fraud," Tom Scalera, owner of Stanley Steemer in Delray Beach, told WPTV.

Scalera told WPTV here lately, he's been putting out fires.

"I got a text from a person on LinkedIn," Scalera said. "She was very upset that someone came to her parent's house from our company and cost her $1,100 and the whole floor is wet. The furniture looks like it's being ruined."

Scalera said after speaking with her further, he realized someone had been falsely claiming to be with his company.

"That's not Stanley Steemer," he said.

The impersonator allegedly shows up in an unmarked, white van and carries out shoddy jobs, taking thousands of dollars from people.

"It was someone advertising underneath us on the Google page and that person answered the phone, 'Hi,' and when they said, 'Are you Stanley Steemer?' He said, 'Yes,'" Scalera said. "After that first incident, I asked one of the customer service representatives here, 'Has anyone gotten any calls?' And ironically one of them said, 'Yeah, we just got one yesterday from another person.'"

WPTV spoke with one of the victims over the phone on Wednesday. She wanted to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation for speaking up.

"The guy told me he was Stanley Steemer and he could come over that morning," the woman said. "When he came to the back gate, to let him in, he told the guard there that he was Stanley Steemer and he came in and we said, 'You're (Stanley Steemer)?' (He said), 'Oh yeah, we're Stanley Steemer.' He said, 'We're hired by them because they can't afford to have that many trucks out.'"

Scalera told WPTV that none of that is true. Stanley Steemer does not hire any subcontractors. All of their crews are Stanley Steemer employees and they show up to their jobs in uniform, wearing shirts with the Stanley Steemer logo on them.

"When someone uses our name to do illegitimate work in our name, it damages our reputation," Scalera said. "But, worse than that, it hurts our people (who) believe that they're using Stanley Steemer."

Scalera's company redid the alleged shoddy jobs for the victims for free and he reported all of this to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office last week.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office told WPTV that a fraud investigation is underway.

"We're hoping that they can be brought to justice," Scalera said.

Scalera wants the public to know his team's trucks are yellow and say 'Stanley Steemer' on them. He also said his crews always work in teams of two in their official Stanley Steemer uniforms.

If you think you've hired Stanley Steemer and someone else shows up, Scalera said to call 800-STEEMER and you will be connected with the local office.

Popular Ocean One Bar & Grille's closing at Delray Marketplace still a mystery

Jasmine FernándezDELRAY BEACH — Six-dollar seafood lunches no more. At least not from restaurant chain Ocean One Bar & Grille, a cornerstone at the popular ...

Jasmine Fernández

DELRAY BEACH — Six-dollar seafood lunches no more. At least not from restaurant chain Ocean One Bar & Grille, a cornerstone at the popular Delray Marketplace, one of south county's go-to spots for open-air shopping, dining and entertainment.

Late in 2023, the chain abruptly shuttered all six of its locations in South Florida. Owners still haven’t provided a reason why.

The chain’s Delray Marketplace location last posted on social media on Dec. 19, 2023. The post, on the chain’s official Facebook pages, promoted the restaurant’s chicken wings, but customers had other topics in mind.

“Why are your locations closing?” one diner asked.

The account, in response to this person, replied, “For reasons we prefer to keep private.”

Further down in the thread of roughly 40 comments, the Ocean One Bar & Grille account confirmed that its Delray Beach Marketplace location was permanently closed, again, with no further explanation. It later added that all Florida locations are closed.

When asked why the chain had closed its Delray Marketplace restaurant, a receptionist with Kite Realty Group, the firm representing Delray Marketplace, declined to provide any comment.

She said there was “no estimation at this time” on what would be replacing the Ocean One Bar & Grille once anchoring Delray Marketplace, which is one of the signature corner locations upon arrival.

As of late 2023, the restaurant’s Delray Marketplace doors were padlocked shut. Though it still appears as open on Google, its phone line is disconnected and its website reroutes to its one remaining open location in Las Vegas. It no longer appears in the shopping center’s directory either.

Previously in that corner of Delray Marketplace sat a Cabo Flats. The Mexican-inspired restaurant closed in the summer of 2019.

In May 2021, Delray Marketplace’s Ocean One Bar & Grille was shut down twice by state inspectors for fly infestations. It was one of about a dozen Palm Beach County restaurants to do so.

The restaurant then voluntarily closed for nearly a month to make itself as fly-free as possible. It screened its outdoor seating area, added an air curtain in the kitchen and installed 24 large fans on its outside patio. Bug zappers, too, were added to all of its fans and lights. These measures cost the restaurant more than $30,000.

Located just west of Florida's Turnpike on Lyons Road, Delray Marketplace is about 8 miles, or a 20-minute drive, from the city’s downtown area.

Coming this month to suburban Delray: Smoke Shack BBQ & Burgers

Though its unknown what will replace Ocean One Bar & Grille, a new barbeque eatery just expanded to west of Delray Beach this month.

Smoke Shack BBQ & Burgers will host its grand opening at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 13900 Jog Road. Free samples of the restaurant’s appetizers will be available to visitors.

Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.

We invested in Atlantic Ave. Now preservationists want to stifle business here | Opinion

Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue was a dangerous and dirty downtown in the 1980s. It was not safe to go there after dark, and no new stores or dining establishments could stay open. To address this the city invited private investors to come and discuss the possibility of making the town into something special....

It was not just the downtown area that needed attention but the surrounding areas as well. At that time there was no city funding available. Real estate values were low, and developers shied away from the avenue and the neighborhoods surrounding it.

Gradually, several people with vision could see the value in being so close to the beach and so close to I-95. They saw what was needed to get this area to grow and flourish: a safe environment with new and clean restaurants, a variety of activities that would bring lots of people downtown and create a new source of revenue to help sustain and rebuild the area.

More:Local preservationist: Suburban sprawl could make Delray Beach look like everywhere else

More on Delray Beach:Delray Beach's new downtown: Atlantic Crossing opens its doors

The city hired Chris Brown to take on this task. Mr. Brown worked with our city’s mayors for many years as the director of the CRA. Thirty-five years later, Atlantic Avenue is studied by other urban experts as one of the best examples of how to turn a dilapidated old urban setting into something special.

The history of Delray Beach is one of change. There is a constant upgrading of existing older buildings done with local craftsmen and architects. Delray Beach is the poster child for adaptive reuse of old, stale, tired properties. Delray Beach has become successful because of the innovation, creative use, and changes implemented by the adaptive reuse of the existing buildings.

It did not become the crisp, inviting, safe, solid revenue stream without local investors taking a chance and using their experience to provide the basis for this growth along with the city. Together we have created a safe and inviting environment which also provides a solid revenue stream for the city and its people. Our city continues to grow and be successful because we are an eclectic, constantly changing inventive and exciting urban location that has worked well with local government to maintain, sustain, and control the scale and growth on Atlantic Avenue.

More:Atlantic Avenue to get buffered bike lanes and wider sidewalks from Turnpike to Jog Road

There is currently a vocal group of preservationists, though, who want to roll back the success of Atlantic Avenue by pushing to make it a historic district. Although the area is not organically a historic district, the preservationists want to manufacture such a district.

So, who decides what makes a building old and historic? Why should the term "historic" be applied to property that someone has invested substantial funds to purchase that was not historic prior to the purchase?

The group relies on a report from one expert that a historic district will increase real estate values and save the city from too much change. What they do not cite are the many other reports and opinions that making a commercial district into a historic district will inhibit the natural growth of property values.

It is common knowledge in the commercial sector of real estate that updating properties increases their value. There is no shortage of top-tier economic studies that support this and everyone who has worked or participated in the commercial sector for any period understands that.

One result of making Atlantic Avenue a historic district would be to make substantial new layers of government permitting and approvals and make changes and upgrades even more expensive. The rules would severely limit a property owners’ ability to grow and change and upgrade. The preservationists want to take control of private citizens’ properties and be the all-encompassing judge of what can and cannot be done with their property.

The hard facts and economic evidence support the conclusion that the city has been on track and is very successful by any definition. Since 2010 property values in the central business district are up 265%. This happened because of a time-tested formula: public/private partnership that maintains the momentum. While state grants and property tax abatements might be available if the property becomes “historic,” the benefits are not substantial enough to outweigh the hardships and losses an owner would encounter.

Not one person on the historic board, working with the board, or on staff of the board or the commission of Delray Beach has ever owned a property on Atlantic Avenue. They have no idea how difficult it is to get work permitted on the avenue. They have never financed a property, applied for permits for a property, negotiated a lease for any property, designed a new storefront, marketed a property for lease, battled to get these approvals. Existing controls, such as the current height restriction of three stories and review by several boards, are already onerous.

These existing development regulations are why Delray Beach still has all the charm and grace of a small town. It can continue to be successful if left to the commercial real estate operators who know, understand, live, breathe, invest, and are totally committed to commercial real estate.

Steven Cohen is a real estate investor and a Delray Beach resident.

Looking for fun things to do this weekend Feb. 9-11? Top 5 events in Palm Beach County

It's officially winter in South Florida and though you won't be building snowmen or hitting the slopes, you will be able to enjoy outdoor activities without having to layer up or even wear a jacket most of the time. This is the time to venture outside enjoy festivals, greenmarkets and the area's incredible entertainment. This weekend bring your child or find your inner child at the World's Largest Bounce House in Lake Worth Beach, kick back along the West Palm Beach waterfront during Screen on the Green or maybe enjoy a pint or two at the Wellington Classic Brew Fest.

1. World's Largest Bounce House at John Prince Park

You read that correctly: "World's Largest Bounce House." Presented by The Big Bounce America, this touring event features eight inflatable attractions including the 24,000-square-foot bounce house, the seafoam party inflatable "Octoblast," a 900-foot-long obstacle course called "The Giant" and more. Get out and get your "wow" factor pushed past 10!

The event is Saturday, Feb. 10, Sunday, Feb. 11 and Feb. 16, 17, 18. 2700 Sixth Ave., Lake Worth Beach. See website for exact times and prices. Information: thebigbounceamerica.com

2. Screen on the Green featuring 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'

Featuring the voices of Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Pratt, Jack Black and more, this animated movie sees Mario and brother Luigi travel through an underground labyrinth to save the princess. Whether you grew up playing the game or not, this is good family fun, outside, along the beautiful West Palm Beach waterfront.

The event is 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. 100 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Free. Information: wpb.org

3. 5th Jazz and Gospel in the Gardens Concert Series

Jazz singer Bianca Rossario will perform at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens near downtown West Palm Beach. Enjoy an amazing afternoon of great music set among the monumental works in the garden.

The event is 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11. 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach. Adults $30, children $12, seniors and ANSG members $25. Information: ansg.org

4. Wellington Classic Brew Fest

Enjoy unlimited sampling of over 100 of the finest craft brews and hard ciders from Florida and beyond. Some of these will include Hop Life Brewing Company, Clown Shoes, Mathews Brewing Co., Roadhouse Brewing Co., Stormhouse Brewing and many more. This 21-and-over event will also feature an assortment of food trucks, music, beer-centric games and more.

The event is 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. 12150 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. VIP pass advance purchase $90, day of event $95; general admission advance $60, day of event $65; non-drinker $15. Information: wellingtonclassicbrewfest.com

5. Morning Beach Yoga at The Seagate

Turn off the television, your computer and, yes, absolutely your phone and just be. Get a dose of vitamin sea as you greet the sun and stretch and strengthen during this 60-minute Vinyasa yoga flow class taught by Cocoyogi's Corey Heyman. Class features creative postures, meditation and breathwork. Bring mat, towel and water bottle.

The class is 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. 401 South Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. $20. Information: seagatedelray.com

Black History Month Bonus: Black Art Matters featuring Von Archer

Presented by the WPB DDA, in celebration of African American Culture during Black History Month, this South Florida-based hip hop artist will be bringing his culturally-diverse style to CityZen Garden in downtown West Palm Beach.

The performance is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. CityZen Garden, 400 Datura St., West Palm Beach. Free. Information: downtownwpb.com

Black History Month Bonus: 'Black Barbie: A Documentary' screening at the Kravis Center

This documentary film focuses on the little-known history of the African American designers at Mattel who imagined and created the iconic Black Barbie doll. This event is part of the African American Film Festival.

The event is 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. $25. Information: kravis.org/events