Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt recently honored Lisa Williams Schary, a resident of North Bellmore, as Legislative District Thirteen’s 2018 Trailblazer Honoree. Each year, women from each legislative district are honored as a “Trailblazer” for their accomplishments in the community.
She has led a varied and exciting life. She has been a K-12 teacher, an artist, singer, dancer, actress, mountain climber, and paralegal. She has also parachuted out of planes. But her true passion is her love of nature and photographing it. She is a dedicated environmental advocate.
Lisa together with her husband, Richard, founded the Friends of the Massapequa Preserve, a non-profit organization which protects, cares for and conserves the Preserve’s 423 acres of undeveloped woods, ponds, lakes and fresh water wet-lands that is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. Lisa has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and educate residents about this natural treasure by sponsoring educational programs and even producing and narrating an award-winning video documentary on the preserve that has been used in local schools and libraries. She is a founding and current board member of the Friends of Norman Levy Preserve and the Friends of Tackapausha Preserve and sits on the boards of many other environmental organizations including the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference and the New York State Department of Transportation’s scenic Bikeways Committee. An avid hiker, Lisa has been the dynamic force behind the creation of the Wantagh Nature Trail and Trailview State Park. She has helped supervise over 30 Eagle Scout projects in our parks and she is also a graduate of the Nassau County Citizen’s Police Academy.
“I have known Lisa for many years. She has served our community through these various organizations,” said Legislator McKevitt. “It was my pleasure to honor her as District Thirteen’s 2018 Trailblazer in recognition of all her accomplishments and achievements.”
Shown in photo above: Honoree Lisa Williams Schary and Legislator McKevitt.