Jamie Carracher, 2025 GMLC President

When Jamie and Sara Carracher moved to Gates Mills in 2020, he wanted to find a way to give back and connect with both the environment and the community. A simple email to the Gates Mills Land Conservancy led to volunteering for invasive species cleanup, which eventually grew into helping with the website. By 2022, he was invited to join the Board.

Jamie feels that Gates Mills stands out as a community that truly values and protects its natural environment, “The foresight that went into creating the Land Conservancy, reflects the village’s deep-rooted commitment to preservation.”

Now, after serving two years as Vice President of GMLC, Jamie is honored to step into the role of President. He looks forward to working with the passionate, all-volunteer board to build on past successes, engage the community, and welcome new people to the organization.

As Jamie puts it, “Making sure everyone feels involved and empowered to do things that are important to the organization, expanding on the good work we’ve done, engaging the community, and getting new people involved are so important to our future and the future of the environment.”

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A Member's Perspective -

by Rik Bole

"As a longtime Gates Mills resident, I saw firsthand how unchecked development could alter the landscape of our community. My passion for preservation, along with the support of like-minded residents and local leadership, led to the formation of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy. 

It’s remarkable to see how much our community values conservation. From the very beginning, Gates Mills residents have been willing to support efforts that protect the character of our village. The Land Conservancy has grown because people here truly care about the land and want to see it preserved for future generations.

My commitment has not waned, in fact, it has grown stronger. I support the GMLC because in recent years, the Land Conservancy has expanded its outreach, hosting informative seminars, increasing community engagement, and publishing newsletters to keep residents informed. Efforts such as the tree canopy initiative, invasive species management, and conservation easements are all part of a broader plan to maintain the village’s rural character while balancing the needs of residents.

I encourage everyone to be interested in the health of the environment, and to support this organization's working on behalf of all of us."

Rik Bole

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Ohio's helpful Insects

Some of the most helpful insects in Northeast Ohio include lady beetles, dragonflies, lacewings, and praying mantises. These insects help control pests and pollinate flowers. 

Lady beetles

• The Convergent Lady Beetle is Ohio's official state insect. 
• Beetles are known for eating aphids, scale insects, and other soft-bodied insects. 
• Lady beetles are attracted to flower nectar and pollen. 

Lacewings 

• Lacewing larvae eat aphids, thrips, scales, moth eggs, small caterpillars, and mites.
• Lacewings are beneficial for pest control.

Dragonflies 

• These insects are beneficial because they eat mosquitoes, gnats, and flies.
• Dragonflies are harmless to humans.
• They are vulnerable to habitat loss and stream pollution.

Praying mantises 

• These insects are generalist predators that eat aphids and other insects.
• Praying mantises can be seen in bushes, hedges, or limbs that are more than two feet above the ground.

Other beneficial insects in our area include

Assassin bugs, Ground beetles, Syrphid flies, Soldier beetles, Big-eyed bugs, and Damsel bugs.

As you begin spring clean-up remember to not use insecticides, glyphosates and other harsh chemicals in your yard. Let these helpful insects thrive and provide all of their benefits and beauty!



Historic Property -

Kay Perkins Preserve

In March 2024, the Gates Mills Land Conservancy (GMLC) made an exciting and meaningful acquisition—14.5 acres of pristine Hemlock-Beech-Maple forest along Mayfield Road. This stunning woodland, known as Prairie View Holding, is now officially named The Kay Perkins Preserve, honoring the legacy of Katharine "Kay" Haskell Perkins, a lifelong advocate for conservation and the natural beauty of Gates Mills.

The newly preserved land holds deep historical significance. It was originally owned by Kay Perkins and her family, who cherished and protected the rich, wooded landscapes of Gates Mills. Kay, who moved to the village in 1948, was a passionate conservationist long before land conservation became a widespread movement.

Her efforts to preserve the north western hillside of Mayfield Road, interrupting the continuation of Carpenter Road across Mayfield, helped maintain the area’s natural integrity, ensuring future generations could enjoy its beauty.

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Nature's Neighbors

Avian Influenza - Knowing

the Facts

Ohio is a “hot bed” for avian influenza or bird flu. Currently of the 51 confirmed flocks infected, many of these are commercial egg laying facilities, which has been confirmed in 56 counties in Ohio with approximately 2200 cases. 

Avian influenza is an influenza 'Type A' virus that occurs naturally in wild aquatic birds, including ducks, geese and gulls. Mild forms of avian influenza (known as low pathogenic avian influenza, or LPAI) are routinely found in wild birds and don’t cause serious illness.

However, a mild strain can change over time through mutation or mixing with other flu viruses into a more severe type of the virus, (known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI). The current strain of bird flu, H5N1 is an highly pathogenic virus, which means it causes a high mortality rate and is more contagious.

Due to this HPAI virus we have seen a 75-100% mortality in poultry, like chickens and turkeys, and over 100 wild bird species that are infected. It has also spread into dairy cattle, domestic cats, many species of wildlife (foxes, skunks, bobcats and bears) and a small number of people.

While the risk to humans is low and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission, staying informed and practicing good hygiene can help protect both humans and wildlife.

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Tammy O'Neil, Wildlife Care Manager



In The News -

Our New Board Members

The 15 Board of Directors of the Gates Mills Land Conservancy are our neighbors and friends in the Village.

The role of these active, all-volunteer Board Directors is to conduct yearly property inspections; review and update policies, standards and practices to align with our national accreditation; and promote environment outreach and communication to the community.

This outreach includes our Annual Meeting for Members, Fall Seminar, 4th of July Parade, Tri-annual Newsletter, monthly Pink Sheet articles and miscellaneous opportunities for community engagement.

Ten Directors are selected by the GMLC Board, and five are appointed by the Village's Mayor. Candidates with environmental and conservational interest are selected to serve a four year term.

Recently the GMLC Board voted to appoint villagers Phil Campanella and Alex Bercheck, as well as mayoral appointee Anne Marchetto. GMLC is grateful to work side-by-side with these three talented and enthusiastic new Directors who will be working on behalf of our community.

If you see Phil, Alex and Anne out and about, please say hello and congratulate them on their new role in environmental conservation.





Upcoming Events

GMLC's Spring Membership Drive

Look for our 2025 Spring Membership Letter in April.

We hope that you will continue to support the environmental efforts of GMLC and renew your commitment to Membership.

GMLC is supported by our community in two ways...

• Funding in the form of a 1 mill Conservation Levy. Currently GMLC receives 50% of this funding. The existing contract between the Village and the GMLC requires that GMLC's funding be held separately and used only for the protection of land by purchase, conservation easement, or deed restriction and for the ongoing stewardship of these preserved open spaces in the Village. 

• Additionally, your membership in the GMLC provides operating funds for our rent, legal fees, accounting fees, and supports specific initiatives throughout the year; such as our accreditation with the national Land Trust Alliance, the Member Annual Meeting, Fall Seminar, and marketing/communication efforts.

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Spring Inspections of GMLC properties

Each year GMLC's all-volunteer Board inspects over 750 acres of property, including each GMLC fee-owned property and every conservation easement in the Village. 

As we continue to mitigate the invasive Tree-of-Heaven on these properties, please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns regarding your own mitigation plan at... gmlc44040@gmail.com