Gates Mills Improvement Society

THE 53rd GATES MILLS ART SHOW
Sunday, April 21 - Sunday, May 5, 2024
HOURS: Noon-3 and 7-9 Weekdays
HOURS: 1-5 Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)

Christmas Eve village traditions carried on this year—though not quite “as usual”.

A considerable snowfall began in the early afternoon, setting the wintry scene for a roaring bonfire and Santa’s arrival at 4:15 sharp to visit with children and collect gift wishes.  Close-up contact was not possible, but Santa was able to converse with his visitors and get the important information from a safe distance.  The wonderful carillon bell concert from St. Christopher’s by-the-River completed the festive holiday feeling.

In accordance with Covid-19 guidelines, no refreshments were offered.  Instead food donations were collected from generous villagers to assist the record numbers of people currently in need of food aid.  We collected and delivered several hundred pounds of non-perishable food to the Cleveland Food Bank.

Special thanks to the Service Department for the bonfire and for help with setting up and taking down. Thanks also to Becky Everett for the carillon concert and to everyone who attended. 

Susan Dougherty, chair

 

 

The Gates Mills Land Conservancy

Recap of 2023/24 Highlights

 

Land Preservation

• In late June 2023, the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) transferred an orphan property to GMLC at zero cost.  The narrow 1.2-acre parcel located on Berkshire Road was formerly part of the Inter Urban right-of-way known as the Cleveland and Eastern Railroad.
• This spring, the Conservancy is in the process of acquiring a heavily forested, 14-acre parcel located on Mayfield Road’s west hill, a major gateway into and through the Village.

 

Community Outreach

• Last September, GMLC and the Mayfield School District hosted a seminar at the Gates Mills Environmental Center called “Preserving Gates Mills”.  The well attended event featured three expert speakers.  They discussed the geological evolution of the Chagrin River Valley, management of tree canopies and diseases, and protecting the fragile Chagrin River watershed.
• GMLC also published the third edition of its 2023 online Newsletter.

Stewardship

• In November, GMLC received a $10,000 grant for removing the aggressive invasive “Tree of Heaven” from its Sherman Road and Austin Woods Preserves.  These funds will support the Conservancy’s third year of removing invasives employing both volunteer and professional resources.

Fund Raising

• In 2023, annual membership contributions to GMLC reached a record $40,938.  In addition to this community support, the Conservancy was fortunate to receive the largest cash bequest in its history, a $100,000 donation from longtime Village resident Dan Kish.

Levy Receipts

• During 2023, GMLC received a total of $114,600 in levy proceeds which are used for land and easement acquisitions.  In March, the Village transferred an additional $50,000 to the Conservancy, its first of two levy receipts expected in 2024.

Governance

• GMLC’s annual meeting was held on December 4^th in the Community Center.  A speaker from Penitentiary Glen provided a lively discussion, including the appearance of several wildlife ambassadors, about their mission of caring for injured birds and wild animals.
• In March, Mayor Siemborski made two appointments to GMLC’s board.  Mitch Bass joined as a new director, and John Kramer was appointed for another term.

Land Trust Alliance Re-Accreditation

• In March, GMLC submitted its final application for re-accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance.  This is the Conservancy’s third accreditation cycle.  Renewals are every five years, and they involve comprehensive audits of the Conservancy’s records against LTA standards.

Financials

• In fiscal 2023, GMLC ended the year with operating revenues of $143,000 and expenses of $33,000, resulting in a surplus of $110,000 due the large bequest it received in 2023.
• The Conservancy’s total cash reserves at year-end were $787,000.  Out of that total, $170,000 were Levy Funds, and the balance was in Operating and Stewardship Reserves.