![Three-story brick building with collapsed center]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1.riggs_.causeway.storm_.asylum-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":4193},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1.riggs_.causeway.storm_.asylum-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":9977},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1.riggs_.causeway.storm_.asylum-400x267.jpg","width":400,"filesize":28600}})
LEST WE FORGET
‘Storm of storms,’ a sad September memory By Forest Riggs This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Great Storm that decimated Galveston Island in 1900. That Saturday, September 1,
ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY
![Man smiling under beach umbrellas with inset photo]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Set-Image-1.causeway.valliere.lucky_-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":16322},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Set-Image-1.causeway.valliere.lucky_-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":21666},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Set-Image-1.causeway.valliere.lucky_-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":36960}})
DISHING ON THE DISHES
“We have reason to believe you are a homosexual,” his bosses said. They even threatened him if he retaliated. This incident stirred something deep inside Tom and fueled his passion for human rights and respect of dignity, no matter what life or lifestyle.
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ROCKETS RED GLARE
There is division among the lavender troops here in Galvetraz! The community has never been more divided and filled with anger, jealousy, judgment, gossip and, honestly, mean bullsh*t!
![Elderly man in glasses holding jacket]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Jim-Nonus-WEB-PHOTO-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":9732},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Jim-Nonus-WEB-PHOTO-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":12397},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Jim-Nonus-WEB-PHOTO-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":20381}})
GALVESTON’S RENAISSANCE MAN
Galveston is known for its lore of pirates and Jean Lafitte. The island still has many great treasures and one of them, certainly, is Jim Nonus!
![Historic southern mansion with tall white columns]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1.causeway.before.fire-WEB-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":16052},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1.causeway.before.fire-WEB-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":23590},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1.causeway.before.fire-WEB-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":45314},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1.causeway.before.fire-WEB-843x494.jpg","width":843,"filesize":105563}})
GALVESTON LOSES A GRAND LADY
Saturday, April 12 was a quiet morning in the Silk Stocking District, until someone noticed smoke and flames billowing out of the historic George Ball home located at 1405 24th Street.
![Man leaning on illuminated yellow bar]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/332-Cool-NEAL-copy-2-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":15390},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/332-Cool-NEAL-copy-2-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":22016},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/332-Cool-NEAL-copy-2-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":41208},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/332-Cool-NEAL-copy-2-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":90817}})
APRIL SHOWERS ARE FILLED WITH TEARS
Fly high, you beautiful, blazing star. Sister Forestine smiles knowing you have found that city that we all sang about on those sunny Sunday mornings.
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GALVESTON IS MARCHING TO THE BEAT: It’s Mardi Gras time on the island
By Forest Riggs –– After a little cold snap that dampened some early festivities, the parades, music and partying for Mardi Gras 2025 kicked off on February 21. Friday evening
![Man leaning over kitchen table writing]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3.-330.causeway.WEB_.Mark_.creating-COPY-COPY-copy-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":21354},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3.-330.causeway.WEB_.Mark_.creating-COPY-COPY-copy-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":28208},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3.-330.causeway.WEB_.Mark_.creating-COPY-COPY-copy-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":49879}})
CONNECTING THE DOTS
By Forest Riggs –– The artistic legacy of Mark L. Watford In January, Galveston Island was treated to a showing of the fantastic art works by long-deceased island resident and
![Glowing yellow 2025 numerals on black background]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/causeway-calendar-flip-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":7000},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/causeway-calendar-flip-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":13298},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/causeway-calendar-flip-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":31178},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/causeway-calendar-flip-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":83391},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/causeway-calendar-flip-1024x573.png","width":1024,"filesize":106895}})
WHOOPEE! ’24 IS OVER! Bring in the new, please
By Forest Riggs With Christmas behind us, we now move into 2025 — and none too soon. I don’t think I could take another day of Sunny 99.1 playing their
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GOBBLE GOBBLE – It’s turkey time in Galveston
By Forest Riggs Did you ever hear a Thanksgiving song? Didn’t think so. I often wonder why that is. Years ago, the Texas Troubadour, George Strait, included a song on
![Wet seawall promenade with storm waves]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GALVESTON-image-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":5700},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GALVESTON-image-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":12595},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GALVESTON-image-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":34600},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GALVESTON-image-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":98750},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GALVESTON-image-1024x474.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":112896}})
PEOPLE GET READY | Hurricane Beryl’s big lesson
By Forest Riggs In June, Galveston was struck pretty hard by Tropical Storm Alberto. After crossing into Mexico and leaving the Yucatan, the winds intensified over the warm Gulf waters.
SUMMER’S FIRST BIG BLOW | The arms of Alberto reached across Galveston
By Forest Riggs The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season started June 1st, and it took only eighteen or so days for the warm Gulf waters to feed a disturbance, reminding all