Herb Read, long
known for his activism in the Save the Dunes Council, Izaak Walton League
and Bailly Alliance, celebrated his 89th birthday Monday by continuing his
fight to save the Indiana Dunes from development and encouraging others to
do the same.
Read roused the
crowd at the DunesAction! organizing meeting, recounting the many times he
and his wife, Charlotte, have battled so--called “done deals.”
He named efforts
such as stopping NIPSCO’s planned Bailly Nuclear plant, overcoming the
business community’s effort to block the establishment of the Indiana Dunes
National Lakeshore 50 years ago and, later, battling further efforts to
block expansion of the Lakeshore and bulldoze the remaining dunes.
“Don’t let anyone
tell you that it’s already over. This is not a done deal,” said Read.
“It ain’t over ‘til
it’s over.”
He received shouts
of support and rounds of applause as he urged the gathering not to give up.
Following the
meeting, a dozen or so Dunes Action! members sang “Happy Birthday” to Read.
The Library Service
Center was standing room only for the meeting, as over 125 people attended
the informational event.
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