< Previous10 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 A year ago this month, Kate Dworman wrote about awaking in a century-old hotel room to the realization she was about to fulfill a lifelong dream of wolf-watching — in Gal- veston of all places. “Galveston, Texas, a community of just over 50,000 residents, is renowned for its warm Gulf Coast beaches, fantastic seafood and of course its notorious hurri- canes,” Dworman wrote in an article for Idaho-based Inter- national Wildlife Coexis- tence Network of which she’s a board member. “However, one of the most incredibly unique features of the island is its wildlife, and more specif- ically, the ‘ghost wolves’ that roam what remains of the coastal community’s wild spaces.” Dworman, who had accompanied Suzanne Asha Stone, founder of the network, on the wolf-watching trip was referring to coyotes living in and around Galveston Island that carry genetic echoes of red wolves and might hold the key to saving the near-extinct species, researchers have said. As evidenced by Dworman and Stone’s visit, ghost wolves have put Galveston Island under the national gaze of re- searchers and wildlife advocates. But in this issue, you’ll read about local efforts to protect the canids and the disappearing wild spaces they roam as advocates seek concessions and compromises from develop- ers of beachfront condominium complexes and resorts. Although the red wolf is protected by the Endangered Species Act, no laws protect Galveston coyotes; those efforts fall on the many island volunteers who’ve taken it upon themselves to speak for the elusive creatures. Such wild beauty of the upper Texas coast lures many thousands of people to visit or move here, which in turn threatens ecosystems. Along with advocates of ghost wolves, this issue honors people and organizations Coast Monthly considers Texas Stars. In these pages, you’ll meet people protecting raptors, reefs and other ecosystems, making the Texas Coast a better place today and in the future. Each person or organi- zation featured in this is- sue is doing something to protect important wildlife and ecosystems and we thank them for the effort. In the first edition of 2025, we thought it also fitting to introduce new and revived features based on reader requests. One such feature is You Wear It Well, which shines a spot- light on our most stylish residents. Another is Treasure Trove, a returning feature highlighting some of the fascinating relics you can find living by the sea. We wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. LAURA ELDER Coast Monthly Editor FROM THE EDITOR SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR TEXAS STARSTo find care near you, visit houstonmethodist.org/care-clearlake or call 281.333.8899 . Convenient, easy-to-access locations for primary, specialty and emergency care in Clear Lake and surrounding communities We offer a full spectrum of care, including: •Primary care physicians for you and your family, providing personal care and service •Specialists with innovative treatments and customized programs for all conditions •Collaborative teams of experts using the newest technologies and latest research 45 45 225 146 DICKINSON 96 FRIENDSWOOD TEXAS CITY PASADENA DEER PARK NASSAU BAY 528 518 LEAGUE CITY 270 2351 HOUSTON METHODIST CLEAR LAKE HOSPITAL Clear Lake Hospital Breast Care Emergency Care Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Primary Care Specialty Care HOUSTON METHODIST LEADING CARE in Clear Lake 12 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 SHORELINES WE ASKED ON FACEBOOK: What coastal conservation project is dearest to your heart? I’m a big believer in and supporter of the periodic beach renewal proj- ects and dune restoration to help mitigate the effects of erosion due to storm surges, etc. It also leaves a nice, pretty, larger beach area for residents and tourists. Bobby Martin Laffite’s Grove is dearest to my heart. It belongs to my chapter of the Daughters of the republic of Texas, The Sidney Sherman Chap- ter. We have a historical marker to remind us of the fight between Jean Laffite and the Karankawa Indians. We treasure it by leaving it as a natural wildlife habitat. Marcy Hanson More sand to save our beaches. Stacey Gottlob East End Lagoon. Phil Newton Not sure this applies, but the Point Bolivar Lighthouse. Pat Tinsley Not scraping the beaches every day and leaving the seaweed. Gerri Plummer Oyster survival in the bay. Jerry Jackson Anything Galveston Bay Foundation — watchdogs of our precious bay. Laura Manning Stokes Galveston Island Tree Conservancy has planted more than 23,000 trees since Hurricane Ike, which devastat- ed Galveston’s tree canopy. Wendy LeCornu Morgan Artist Boat kayak/learning pavilion on the West End at Spanish Grant. Brax Easterwood Artist Boat because it’s courageous in educating all children, and adults are fascinated that they learn they too are students. Susan Wilson Walker Causeway wetlands! Jerry Jones (From top) A berm of sand extends into the water at Dellanera RV Park in Galveston as crews work on a beach expansion project on the island’s West End in 2023; Karla Klay, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Artist Boat, has helped educate both children and adults about the island’s wetlands and coastal prairies, as well as preserve more than 800 acres on the West End in the organization’s Coastal Heritage Preserve; Milt Alberstadt, from left, watches Hector Arias, Randy Penn, Priscilla Files, executive director and senior arborist for the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy, and Maryanne and John Welford plant a black cherry sapling in 2021 at San Jacinto Park in Galveston. FILE PHOTOS: JENNIFE r r EYNOLDSExquisite Homes Pirates Cove | Laffite’s Cove For Sale For Sale For Sale For Sale 281.773.3477 bjennings@greenwoodking.com Chase Jennings, Associate chasejennings@greenwoodking.com BET JENNINGS 2022 & 2023 Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Pros in Galveston & Texas14 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 GHOSTS OF THE COAST Island group fights to protect rare coyotes and their habitat from beachfront developments story by LAURA PENNINO T hanks to a dedicated pack of humans, coyotes on Galveston Island with rare red wolf DNA have emerged from the shadows and into the spotlight. For many years now, con- cerned residents, volunteers, researchers, scientists and environmentalists have been raising their voices on behalf of these canids — known as ghost wolves — who can’t speak for themselves but are increasingly threatened by development. Those advocates are raising their voices to save these endangered animals and their habitats, and their efforts have garnered national attention. Islander Ron Wooten first photographed and reported coyotes with unique red wolf characteristics shortly after Hurricane Ike in 2008. Since then, researchers determined that, in fact, the coyotes living in and around Galveston carry high amounts of red wolf genetic ancestry. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1980 declared the red wolf extinct. Wooten, who refers to himself as a citizen scientist, and Josh Henderson, Galveston Island Humane Society executive director, are actively engaged in the Gulf Coast Canine Project, along with many other team members. Wooten helps with public education and outreach. He also takes tissue and scat samples and photos of ghost wolves. Henderson serves as the lead for GPS-collared ghost wolf tracking. The Gulf Coast Canine Project officially was launched in 2020 by Drs. Kristin Brzeski and Bridgett vonHoldt. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 15 A coyote runs on the beach in Galveston. Photographer David Avina first spotted it near 45th Street and Seawall Boulevard, he said. “I followed him in my car all the way down to Mario’s,” Avina said. “He had a steady lope, not fast but determined. I could barely keep up with him. Even though I was hidden, he noticed me right away. He disappeared into the saltgrass on the East End Flats.” Follow Avina on Facebook and Instagram at This is Galveston. PHOTO: COurTESY DAVID AVINA PHOTOGrAPHY16 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 FEATURE Brzeski is an associate professor at Michigan Technological University and the co-director of the Gulf Coast Canine Project who is helping to develop a citizen scientist scat collection team and leads much of the Galveston Island genetics research; vonHoldt is a Princeton University professor and project director of the Canine Ancestry Project. She also is the co-director of the Gulf Coast Ca- nine Project genetics research and serves as lead in conducting meetings with developers and other conservation groups. In October 2024, Wooten, Henderson, Brz- eski and vonHoldt were honored by island conservation organization Artist Boat for their efforts to save the ghost wolves. “We have worked very hard to try to reach out non-combatively to approach de- velopers who have submitted their plans to the city of Galveston and/or are currently in the initial phases of development,” Wooten said. “We are asking them to consider im- plementing green corridors or green space within their plans to help our priceless ghost wolves and other significant wildlife here on the island reach and access their natural food sources. Several conservation groups have joined our ghost wolf research- er pack to help them in working with pri- vate developers and the public at large.” Some beachfront developers are more responsive and collaborative with Gulf Coast Canine Project members than others. Among developments the group fears will harm the coyotes’ habitat is a $250 million Margaritaville Resort proposed near East Beach in Galveston. Developers initially said they would con- sider wildlife corridors and other suggestions conservationists pitched to ensure the proj- ect doesn’t harm the genetically significant coyotes. Gulf Coast Canine Project members are hoping the developers will consider re- serving some land for wildlife to cross from PHOTO: CO ur TESY J u LIE CA r AMANTE Galveston Island is home to a population of hybrid canids that carry genes similar to red wolves, an endangered species of wolf that once lived in areas around the Gulf Coast. (Opposite, from top) A pack of coyotes lounges on Galveston’s East End; Josh Henderson, left, and Ron Wooten have been very active in trying to protect coyotes on the island. “We want to continue our efforts to get a worthwhile wildlife ordinance in place to address the many concerns that have been raised in the past few years with pending construction projects throughout the island. Our hope is to provide guidance and guidelines regarding these projects that enable responsible development.” JOSH HENDERSON COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 17 the East End Lagoon to the beach, among other concessions. But the parties haven’t yet reached such compromise, Wooten said. About 55 coyotes are living on Galveston Island and about five have been trapped, equipped with GPS tracking collars and released, Henderson said. “Two of the collars are still active and reporting location data,” Henderson said. “We have an additional five GPS collars that are ready to launch, and we will be working to trap and launch these addition- al collars in 2025.” Gulf Coast Canine Project priorities for 2025 include continued research and conser- vation efforts, Henderson said. “We have collars that need to be placed on healthy canids and released into the field,” he said. “Our goal is to trap the ani- mals needed to get all of these collars in the field collecting data. We want to continue our efforts to get a worthwhile wildlife ordi- nance in place to address the many concerns PHOTO: CO ur TESY r ON WOOTEN PHOTO: ST u A r T VILLAN u EVA18 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 FEATURE that have been raised in the past few years with pending construction projects throughout the island. Our hope is to provide guidance and guidelines regarding these projects that enable responsible development.” Launching a new citizen science component regarding scat collection to allow the community at large a measure of involvement is meant to further the research and provide an- swers to some lingering questions, Henderson said. Wooten and Henderson also would like to see ghost wolf curriculum in area school districts and interpretive centers at tourist venue Moody Gardens, Rosenberg Library in Galveston or even the Houston Museum of Science. Educating others about the ghost wolves is a high priority for 2025, both Henderson and Wooten said. They encourage the public to attend a Jan. 11 town hall meeting at Moody Gardens for an update from the Gulf Coast Canine Projects as well as an open discussion about key achievements to date and plans for the future. www.gulfcoastcanineproject.org Josh Henderson, executive director of the Galveston Island Humane Society, talks before a town hall meeting in January 2024 at Moody Gardens focused on preserving habitat for the island’s unique “ghost wolf” coyotes. Another town hall meeting is set for Jan. 11. FILE PHOTO: JENNIFE r r EYNOLDS PHOTO: CO ur TESY J u LIE AMADO r Two Galveston coyotes at play.“Cynthia, CynthiaCorder ” Iseeyoueverywhere. ForIknowtheplansIhaveforyou,”declarestheLord,“planstoprosperyouand nottoharmyou,planstogiveyouhopeandafuture. Jeremiah29:11 writtenby ALYSSADELOSREYES REALTOR®|TVHOST|TEAMLEAD –NatalieSolina,GalvestonNative-BOI WhenIsatdownwithCynthiaCorderforthisinterview,thosewerethefirstwordsI said–“Iseeyoueverywhere”.Andit’strue—youcan’tmissherimpact.Fromreal estatesignsdottingGalvestontothelivestransformedthroughhernonprofit, RecoveryChick,Cynthia’spresenceisdeeplyfelt. WhatBroughtHertoGalveston? Cynthia’sstoryisoneoftransformation,faith,andunyieldingpurpose.“What broughtmetotheisland?”shemuses,“ItwasJeremiah29:11.Godhadaplanfor mehere.”AfterservingasachaplainatHarrisCountyJailinHouston—whereher officewasaliteraljailcell—Cynthiafoundherselfphysicallyandemotionally depleted.Longingforpeace,shetookaleapoffaith,donated90%ofher possessionstoTheWomen’sHomeinHouston,andembracedtinylivinginafifth wheelparkedatTikiTom’sRVpark. HowDidRealEstateFindHer? Cynthia’sjourneytookasurprisingturnwhenshebeganworkingasapersonal traineratUrbanHealthandFitnessonPostOfficeStreet.Aclient,localreal estatebroker,andnowdearfriend,LynnBeardslee,encouragedhertoexplorethe industry.Startingasanunlicensedassistant,Cynthiaquicklydiscoveredhergiftfor connectingwithpeopleandturningdreamsintoreality.Today,sheleadsoneof thefastest-growingteamsinGalveston,TheCorderTeam,closinganaverageof 50homesayear.Withexpertiseindiversepropertytypes—includingluxury beachfronthomes,short-termrentals,commercialproperties,multi-familyunits, andlots.ForCynthia,it’sneverjustbeenaboutsales;it’saboutbuilding community.“Realestatehasgivenmetheplatformtoserveonalargerscale,”she says. WhatDrivesHerMission? Unexpectedly,herrealestatecareeradvancedRecoveryChick,the501(c)(3)nonprofitshefoundedtosupportwomeninaddictionrecovery.It beganin2012whenCynthiawastaskedwithdevelopingarecoveryprogramfor1,000incarceratedwomen.“Isawsomanywomentakethe firststepstowardhealingbutstruggletofindsafe,accessiblehousingafterward.Thatstayedwithme,”sheshares.InOctober2018,she openedJudy’sHouseinhonorofherlatemother,safeandaccessiblehousingtowomeninsubstanceabuserecovery.Today,withGod’sgrace, RecoveryChickhasexpandedtoincludePreciousRubiesinDickinsonandVictoryHouse,asecondsoberlivinghomeinGalveston. CynthiaseesRecoveryChickaspartofabroadermissiontochangeGalveston’sperception.“Peoplearenolongerjustcomingheretoparty; they’recomingheretoheal,”shesays.Hervisionisclear:tocontinueempoweringothers,whetherbyguidingclientstotheirdreamhomesor offeringwomeninrecoveryaplacetorebuild.“Wereachuptolearn,butwereachbacktohelp,”shesayswithconviction.CynthiaCorder isn’tjusteverywhere;she’severywherewithpurpose,creatingalastingimpactoflove,hope,andfaith. RecoveryhelpshealGalveston’s reputationasapartytown.Itshows whowereallyare—acommunityof strength,resilience,andfaith. 409.795.1269 www.TheCorderTeam.com 6025HeardsLn#1W,Galveston,TX77551 ForyourRealEstateneeds,contactustoday! THECORDERTEAMISHIRING! PAID ADVERTISEMENTNext >