Janet and Jason Dick love decorating their roomy, 10,000-square-foot home in the Tuscan Lakes neighborhood of League City for the holidays. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Galveston residents Chris and Dave Mitchell enjoy decorating their backyard patio in the Colony Park neighborhood of Galveston for Christmas. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Georgia Meyer Barzilay, left, holds a portrait of her parents, Nora and George Saracco, on their wedding day in 1931 as Zelma “Z” Reid holds the christening gown she made using Meyer Barzilay’s mother’s wedding dress. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Melissa Murphy, a children’s book author and nonprofit founder, is approaching her one-year anniversary as the executive director at The Bryan Museum in Galveston. Her top priority has been expanding the island museum’s education department. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Texas City resident Mike Parani casts his net from the granite rocks at the Texas City Dike. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Photo by Capt. Nate Skinner

Raz Halili grew up in San Leon and is the vice president of Prestige Oysters, a Gulf oyster company his family founded and owns. Last year, he opened Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 Sixth St. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

A Texas historical marker stands at the site of “Maison Rouge,” Laffite’s stronghold on Harborside Drive in Galveston. Spellings of Laffite’s name varies. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Andy Hall, a marine steward with the Texas Historical Commission, holds a painting of the Texas Navy ship Invincible. The schooner sank off East Beach in Galveston Island in 1837. Photo by Stuart Villanueva