ESCANABA — Well, it took a while, but I think most would agree that winter has finally arrived here in Delta County. It might not be the winter of old but it’s winter, nonetheless. There are quite a few things that come with the onset of the quiet season. Icy sidewalks, sledding, cloudy breath, frosty windows, slower driving (hopefully), increased hot chocolate consumption, and, some would say, a definitively Yooper affliction, known as Cabin Fever.

Marked by a tendency to not leave our homes except for work, food, and some medical emergencies, Cabin Fever can result in excessive grumpiness, lackluster hygiene, bad dietary choices, and terrible online shopping decisions at 3 a.m. (not that we’re endorsing a bunch of online shopping but that’s a column for another day #shoplocal).

But if you find yourself suffering from CF, as we in the business call it, there is hope. We here at the Delta County Chamber of Commerce are proud to offer two potential cures to the doldrums of winter.

First, might we suggest enrolling in the Delta Force Class of 2024. Begun over 20 years ago, Delta Force is a program that has been built around taking individuals from the community who have a desire to bring positive change to our area and providing them with the tools and knowledge to do so. We do that through several seminars over a period of months that familiarize people with the inner workings of several aspects of local business, government, and culture. With a class size of around 20 individuals, Delta Force offers a chance for people to get their questions answered and make new connections in the community. With hundreds of graduates in the Delta County area, the program continues to have an impact and will help fight back the blahs of winter.

Our second suggestion to fight the Fever is a once yearly treatment known as “Dancing through the Decades”. Whether used by an individual or a large group, this event beats back the blues of winter with large doses of dancing, great food, fabulous music, and the chance to catch up with all your fellow Delta County friends also battling the long, dark days. And did I mention the prizes and auctions? There will opportunities galore to win or bid on that one item that just might just be the solution to those crawling the walls, ants in the pants, heebie-jeebies that come with winter in the Great White North. Or maybe it’s the Great Wet North this year? Regardless.

“Dancing through the Decades” will be taking place on February 3 while Delta Force seminars will begin late in February and continue for the next nine months. Information on both programs is available is available at DeltaMi.org with “Dancing through the Decades” tickets available on the community calendar portion of the page. For further information, please call the Delta County Chamber at 906-786-2192.

It should be noted that neither of these Cabin Fever treatments has any side effects other than a general increase in happiness and an overall warm and fuzzy feeling about your community. We should also point out that there is no evidence showing that one person cannot take both treatments at the same time. So come out and help us fight the scourge that is Cabin Fever and, more importantly, put a smile back on your chilly, windblown face.

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Mark Cowman is with the Delta County Chamber of Commerce