The winners have been chosen for the "Most Romantic Story Contest" for The Wilderness Center's Romantic Moonlight Serenade.
The winners are Bill and Mary Westphal of Canton, originally from Sandy Valley.
Many stories were submitted and judges had a difficult time choosing a winner.
Bill and Mary won two tickets to this summer's Romantic Moonlight Serenade event at the Wilderness Center. They also won a large picnic basket and an overnight stay from Amish Door Inn in Wilmot.
The following is the Westphal's winning story:
"A mutual friend tried to set up a date for my future husband, Bill and myself. At the time, Bill didn't want to call me first because he knew his half-brother had a crush on me in school, so ... I called him. Our dating consisted of all the usual stuff, movies, eating at our favorite restaurants, making lots of plans, etc. and after he found out I like to fish and hunt ... well, we have been fishing and hunting together ever since. He is always telling his buddies that I'm the only one he wants to fish and hunt with.
"We're not just married but best friends. We have had our ups and downs like most couples, but have always worked hard to make a good life for ourselves.
"We had just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last spring when Bill was diagnosed with with cancer and given only six months to live. We are now fighting the biggest fight of our lives as we both were not ready to give up ... after radiation and continuing with chemo- he is doing better and has outlived the original six months and happy to say that we are fishing again. Bill is truly one of a kind, as he knows how to make me laugh when I'm down and I try to do the same for him. We make every day that we are together count now more than ever, and we look forward to celebrating the next 25 years together."
The Wilderness Center is a nonprofit nature center located one mile west of Wilmot, just north of Route 250. The center is dedicated to connecting the community with nature, educating people of all ages, conserving natural resources and practicing environmental stewardship. The center derives its support from memberships and donations. It is not a government agency and is not supported by taxes.
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