Your Thursday Onslow Insider

Carbonara and Tiramisu:

Tommaso Melilli’s Italian recipes

with a twist

Italian cuisine so often references old times; I love simple food and forgotten tales, too, but I also feel the need to escape this tradition. We opened our restaurant, Trattoria della Gloria, in Milan in 2023, and instinctively refused to spend every night selling a remote and often fictional past. Instead, we explore and experiment with ancient gestures, methods and pairings to create “new old things”. That is, dishes that our grannies could have made, but didn’t.

Italy is no country for sauces – most of our meat, fish and vegetable dishes are usually served by themselves, or with just olive oil and little else. Italian sauces do exist, but they are held in captivity by pasta dishes. Carbonara, say, has become a very serious matter, calling for nothing but . . . Read more

Surf City Property Taxes Going UP!

by: an anonymous Surf City property owner

The Mayor explained that our Town property tax rate is going up only 12 cents. Sounds like Surf City's property owners, myself included, are making quite a fuss about a dime and two pennies. However, it's a little more complicated than that.

Here's what our Mayor didn't say:

That the 12 cents equates to a 2026 Town property tax bill that will be 30% higher than our 2025 tax bill. In 2027, after the dual county revaluations, that 12 cents balloons to $822 in extra tax payments for the average Surf City house owner, unless there is a very serious revenue-neutral tax rate adjustment. So that 12 cents isn't really just a dime and two pennies. In fact, that additional 12 cents, alone, is still double the complete total of the Wrightsville Beach rate of 5.31 cents.

What's really worth looking at is that Surf City's total tax rate of 53 cents is ten times higher than Wrightsville Beach's 5.31 cents tax rate.

Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Mayor stated, "The truth is that no one knows what the future holds". And yet, the Town Council was able to see far enough into the "future" to pass a make-my-day budget by unanimous consent. After all, what's a paltry 30% property tax hike on the Town's already sky high property tax rate? (sarc)

The Mayor said, "Listen to the facts and not fear". Well, hate to say it, but with these sky high property tax rates, I'm scared shipless about having my house financially underwater. Here are some "facts" as to why that is. The tax rates of six different beach towns in four different counties:

Duck, NC 18 cents per $100 of valuation

Emerald Isle, NC 10.5 cents per $100 valuation

Wrightsville Beach, NC 5.31 cents per $100 of valuation

Carolina Beach, NC 14.17 cents per $100 of valuation

Ocean Isle Beach, NC 13 cents per $100 of valuation

Sunset Beach, NC 16 cents per $100 of valuation

Surf City's Town property tax rate of 53 cents is three to ten times higher than the other six beach towns. It appears that the Surf City Government has a serious case of B.O.(budget obesity). The B.O. stinks for the town's property tax payers and their tenants. In her video, the Mayor stated that Surf City hasn't raised tax rates in eleven years.

Not only should the old tax rate of 41 cents not have been increased, but it should have been decreased to match those other beach town rates.

In those eleven years, Surf City's additional commercial enterprises have grown exponentially. This activity is supposed to bring money into Town and bring down residential taxes. Why are we experiencing the opposite?

Don't wait until October 7th. Contact your Town Representatives, and tell them to vote for a revenue-neutral budget for 2027 at the Oct 7th Town Council Meeting. Revenue-neutral means that the Town taxes we will be paying then will be pretty close to what we are paying now. If this doesn't happen, I can predict the future. That future is that 30% to 40% of Surf City homeowners will no longer be able to afford to live in their homes.

Need some more facts? Watch these:

Florida Property Tax Crisis Is Reaching a Breaking Point. (And It’s Getting Worse)

Watch here

The American Way of Life Is Crumbling (Prepare Now)

View the video here This is more than 50% about real estate and housing

This chart compares Surf City's property tax rate to other, comparable beach towns.

Why the disparity?

Pickleball, anyone?

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Amazon Announces Prime Big Deal Days For 2025

Another Amazon sale is always a big deal

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is; there’s always a good reason to save money. Amazon understands this better than most and tries to offer as many sales a year as possible. This week, it announced the official dates of Prime Big Deal Days, unofficially known as . . . Read more here

Get Involved

Boards & Commissions

Are you interested in volunteering and serving your county? If you are an Onslow County resident at least 18 years of age, registered to vote and willing to volunteer your time and expertise to your community, the Onslow County Board of Commissioners invites you to consider serving on a County Board or Commission. The Onslow County Boards are . . . Listed Here

Events

The 54th Annual Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival

This long-running event has become a staple of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, drawing visitors from near and far to enjoy a weekend filled with seafood, entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Where:

Sneads Ferry Community Center

126 Park Lane

Sneads Ferry, NC 28460

When:

Friday September 26, 2025

12:00 PM

Saturday September 27, 2025

12:00 PM

Festival Highlights

Shrimp Feast

At the heart of the festival is the much-anticipated shrimp feast. Attendees can savor freshly caught local shrimp prepared in various mouthwatering ways, showcasing the culinary expertise of the region. The event not only satisfies taste buds but also supports the local shrimping industry, which has been a cornerstone of Sneads Ferry's economy for generations.

Entertainment and Activities

The festival offers a diverse range of entertainment options to keep visitors engaged throughout . . . Read more

Fall at the Farm

Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 7am - 9:30pm from 9/26/25 through 10/31/25

(100% FREE to attend, certain onsite activities cost)

- Parking (Free)
-Pumpkin Patch for photos and pumpkin sales
-Pumpkin Carving Station (Throw your pumpkin scraps to the pigs!!!)
-Kids haybale maze (FREE)
-Playground (FREE)
-Animal feedings
-Barn market
-Food trucks and ice cream
-Local vendors to shop with
-Hay Ride
-And More
Evening Halloween/Fall Trail- 6pm-10pm (FREE)
The main trail is FAMILY friendly, just good decorations and lights, no jump scares. Be sure your kids bring their trick or treating baskets and if they can wear their costumes!!! There will be a candy stop on the trail.

All pumpkins carved onsite will be photographed and on the last night a winner will be chosen and awarded a custom “King/Queen of the carve” trophy.

On Halloween night we will also be hosting a costume contest, best costume will be awarded with a satchel of candy plus a one of a kind Pogies at the farm Certificate.

Where:

Pogies at the Farm
117 Williams Farm Rd

Maysville, NC 28555

Food trucks/Vendors/Farmers/ Home goods/ bakers and more wanted
Text - 252-808-7340 for questions or if you would like to reserve your spot here at the Farm. (Its 100% free to set up)

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Clean, audit-ready books (Jan 1 → today)
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Rock The Block

We're throwing a block party to celebrate the completion of the New Bridge St Project and you're invited to celebrate our awesome community!

What to expect:

🎤Live music with our main entertainment - Joe Brown & The Band

🍴Mouthwatering food trucks

✨Entertainment for all ages

💸Local vendors This is your chance to showcase your business, connect with the community, and join us in celebrating the heart and soul of our downtown.

Whether you sell handcrafted goods, art, services, or something delicious, we want you to be part of the fun!

Where:

New Bridge Street

Jacksonville, NC

When:

Friday, September 26, 2025

5 PM - 9 PM

Got something to sell, rent, hire, or promote in Onslow County? Get it seen in Onslow Insider Classifieds - services, jobs, yard sales, rentals. Affordable local reach.
Email onslowinsider@gmail.com

(Subject line: “Classified – [Your Item/Service/Job]”)

Tip: Send classifieds by Wednesday 1:00 PM ET for Thursday’s issue.

Antique Tractor Show

Come help us kick off our fall season with our 22nd Annual Antique Tractor Show! We are once again partnering with the Richlands High School FFA Chapter who will be co hosting this event and putting on all of the tractor games and leading the tractor parade around the farm.

Everyone is welcome to bring antique tractors, equipment and cars to the show beginning at 9:00 AM with no registration fee!

Events will include:

Tractor Games, Parade & Prizes
Pumpkin Patch Hayrides 10-8
BBQ Sandwiches & Hotdogs 10-until
Food Truck with Farm Food to Go 12-8
Restaurant open 12-8
Gift Shop, Bakery & NC Products Barn 10-8
Magic Shows with Rockstar Magic at 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00
Animal Area 10-8
Harris Creek Bluegrass 3-7
Free NC Wine Tasting 10-8

Where:

Mikes Farm

1600 Haw Branch Rd
Beulaville, NC 28518

When:

Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 10 AM

Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Jacksonville

Now is the moment we’ve been waiting for. With new treatments emerging in the fight against Alzheimer’s, now is the time for hope. Now is the time for action. Help us keep the momentum going!

Where:

Jacksonville Commons Recreation Complex

100 Recreation Ln

Jacksonville, NC

When:

Saturday, September 27 10 AM to 12 PM

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Happenings

FREE COMEDY AT CHICANO's

Comedy At Chicano’s is a FREE 90 minute Stand-Up Comedy Showcase featuring the region’s funniest comedians at the finest dining and cocktail establishment in Onslow County!

Dennis Vee
Louis Tee
John Paul Edmundson
Chad Newcomer
Adam Kemp
And Special Guests

Where:

Chicano Street Kitchen
720 Court Street
Jacksonville NC, 28540

When:

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Happy Hour: 7-8 PM (seating is first come first serve)

Show: 8-9:30PM

*PARENTAL ADVISORY * Recommended ages 18 and older

Comedy Show

With @paul_b_glizzy_king
Featuring @matthewcoghlan

@ksingerr

and our host @fathersailorhoosier

Doors open at 7pm.

Showtime 8pm.

Bar is open till 2am.

Full bar. 18yo to enter.

$15 tickets online: Tickets Online Here
$20 tickets at the door.

Open mic after the show.

Where:

Playhouse Nightclub

531 Richlands Highway

Jacksonville, NC

When:

Friday, September 26, 2025

8 Pm - 10 PM

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Weather - The Week Ahead

Q/A Questions

Q: What are some popular tourist attractions in Jacksonville, NC?

A: - Some popular tourist attractions in Jacksonville, NC include the Lejeune Memorial Gardens, Lynnwood Park Zoo, and the Beirut Memorial.

Q: What are some outdoor activities to do in Jacksonville, NC?

A: - Outdoor activities in Jacksonville, NC include hiking and camping at Hofmann Forest, fishing and boating on the New River, and playing golf at the Jacksonville Country Club.

Q: What is the history behind Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC?

A: - Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, NC. It was established in 1941 and serves as a major training facility for the Marine Corps.