Thanksgiving Is 7 Days Away!

Christmas Is 35 Days Away

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."

- Melody Beattie

OF INTEREST

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

LuxeBabe Boudoir & Portrait Studio

 by Veronica Contreras Photography 

👆Veronica and family cutting the ribbon at the grand opening!👆

LuxeBabe Boudoir & Portrait Studio is Downtown Jacksonville’s newest luxury photography studio, created by Veronica Contreras Photography.

Veronica brings a bold, vibrant, and confidence-driven style to Eastern North Carolina. Her studio offers luxury boudoir sessions with hair and makeup included, along with maternity, branding, birthday portraits, family sessions, and outdoor portrait experiences.

Veronica’s mission is to create a safe, empowering space where every woman and every family feels celebrated.

Let's all welcome this business to Jacksonville!

Located in downtown Jacksonville at:

516 Court Street

Units 400/500/600

Jacksonville, NC 28546

  👇More info on our website👇

Veronica Contreras Photography

veronicacontrerasphotography@gmail.com

How the Recent Federal Government Shutdown Affected Onslow County, - and Some of the Aftermath

by Roy Shipley

What happened locally

• Many federal workers in Onslow County (because of the large military presence, especially Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune) were impacted by the shutdown. A report noted the county is one of the “military communities” that felt a greater impact.

• Food assistance benefits were delayed or reduced: The county’s social services office noted that because of the shutdown the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November might be partially issued, with some households receiving less than usual - affecting roughly 8,940 households in Onslow County (about 19,307 individuals receive SNAP here) and local grocers, retailers and farms saw less money entering the economy.

• School funding concerns: The county’s schools, which receive federal funding (for example via “Impact Aid” because of the military base) were flagged as at risk for disruption if the shutdown dragged on. For instance, the statewide story noted Onslow County Schools had about $3.8 million in 2024 from Impact Aid.

• Travel and operations disruptions: According to a local report from Onslow County, travelers and government workers expressed relief when the shutdown ended, but noted that airport operations and other federally-run services had been strained.

Local implications for Onslow County

• Immediate financial stress: Federal employees without paychecks struggle with bills, mortgages, car payments, etc. - which means less spending in the local economy (restaurants, shops, services) - a ripple effect.

• Retail and food sectors: With SNAP benefits delayed or reduced, households had less money for food or other essential purchases - local grocers and convenience stores that rely on those benefits were impacted. Onslow County estimated roughly $3 million enters the local economy each month via food & nutrition programs.

• Schools and children’s services: Programs funded by federal dollars (especially in a military-heavy community) are vulnerable if funding is delayed - this affects after-school programs, meals, and support services.

• Uncertainty erodes confidence: Even after the shutdown ends, local workers and businesses face uncertain recovery - catching up on bills, making up for lost time, restoring normal operations.

Aftermath & what to watch

• Back pay and morale: Federal workers will need to be paid and budgets restored. The local union leader from Onslow said she’d believe the resolution when paychecks finally arrive.

• Flow-on economic recovery: Local businesses may see delayed rebound. Some services may have been postponed; some households may have cut back spending. The recovery isn’t instant.

• Food aid and nutrition programs: While SNAP and other benefits are being restored or scheduled, households that went without or with less will still suffer short-term impacts (hunger, stress, cutbacks) - long term, the local economy loses value.

• Schools & social services: Monitoring how federal funding streams resume will be important. If there is a second wave of disruption (or new belt-tightening), child-care, meal programs, and support services may be strained.

• Community resilience: Onslow County shows the characteristics of a strong military-community region that helps each other make it through. Local offers, charities, businesses stepping up will matter.

CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS

We’re gathering fall and holiday photos from across Onslow County - colorful leaves, cozy porches, Christmas decorations, and everything in between! Fall in Onslow County is one of the most beautiful times of year - and we want to see it through your eyes!

Send your favorite autumn and/or holiday photo, first name, and what part of Onslow County your pic is from to: 

onslowinsider@gmail.com - by 12 noon Wednesday

for a chance to be featured in the next Thursday edition of the Onslow Insider.

(If no name is included, your photo will appear as anonymous.)

This newsletter sponsored by:

Will Be Handy, LLC

Beat the storms. Impress the guests. Get it painted - now.

Most paint jobs fail before the first coat: weak prep, sloppy edges, no clean-up.

We do it the right way:

Protect everything: floors, furniture, fixtures

Prep right: patch • sand • caulk

Apply clean: straight cut-ins, even coverage

Daily clean-up + final walkthrough

Interior: walls, ceilings, trim, doors ·

Exterior: siding, brick, porches, shutters

Local. Reliable. No Drama. On-time scheduling.

Free, no-pressure estimate.
CALL/TEXT 910-284-4272

willbehandy.com

(Mention you saw this in the "Onslow Insider")

EVENTS/HAPPENINGS

Jacksonville Christmas Holiday Parade: A Storybook Christmas

Get ready to experience a holiday season filled with magic and wonder! This year, the Jacksonville Christmas Holiday Parade: A Storybook Christmas, presented by Marine Federal Credit Union, will bring your favorite festive tales to life. This cherished community event by the Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce, will feature classic Christmas characters leaping from the pages of beloved holiday books. The parade route begins at Coastal Carolina Community College and ends at Brynn Marr Shopping Center.

WHEN: Sat Nov 22, 2025 - 9 AM - 12 Noon

WHERE: The parade route begins at Coastal Carolina Community                          College and ends at Brynn Marr Shopping Center.

Festival of Lights Hayride

Join us November 13th - December 23rd, 26th-28th for our famous Festival of Lights Hayride!

Our Festival of Lights Hayride is a 30 minute ride that will take you through 1.5 miles of Christmas lights and holiday scenes accompanied by Christmas music classics.

Held nightly from 6:00-9:00 (weather permitting).

Cost is $15 for ages 5 and older.

No reservations are needed for the hayride only and tickets may be purchased upon arrival! 

WHERE: 1600 Haw Branch Rd, Beulaville, NC

WHEN: See Image Below 👇 

Photos with Santa

Family Pet Photos With Santa

Christmas House Tour

Christmas Town

Christmas Town is an annual Christmas light show trail experience the entire family is sure to enjoy! We are located on the Gum Branch - Halfmoon side of Jacksonville, NC and we are a Christmas time favorite in the area. Enjoy the one of the area's largest Christmas light show, wagon rides, food trucks, market vendors, Santa, Santa pictures and so much more! You can enjoy the light show trail by either driving through with your own car or by wagon ride. Closed on Christmas Day. Complete info here

Tree Lighting Ceremonies In The Area

We will have more tree lighting ceremonies for you as soon as we get them!

Comedy Show at Playhouse Nightclub

Comedy show at Playhouse Nightclub with an open mic after the show.
8pm to 10pm. 18+ with valid ID. Full bar.
$15 tickets online at www.playhousejax.com/
$20 tickets at the door.
Doors open at 7pm. Bar is open till 2am

WHEN: Fri, Nov 21, 2025

WHERE: 531 Richlands Hwy, Jacksonville, NC

CLASSIFIEDS

For Sale:

For Rent:

Jobs:

Services:

Will Be Handy LLC - Remodels (kitchens, baths, flooring, drywall), custom decks, fence installs/repairs, interior/exterior painting. Local & reliable. Free, no-pressure estimate.

Call/Text 910-284-4272.  Will Be Handy, LLC

LuxeBabe Boudoir & Portrait Studio 

Luxury photography studio offers luxury boudoir sessions with hair and makeup included, along with maternity, branding, birthday portraits, family sessions, and outdoor portrait experiences.

Website:  Veronica Contreras Photography

Contractors, (roofers, painters, welders, landscapers, door/window, flooring, realtors): Do you know your cash balance 90 days from now?

$350/mo flat (tax-deductible) includes:
200 transactions
up to 3 bank/cc accts
Monthly P&L + Balance Sheet, reconciliations
 Remote Bookkeeping
No long-term contracts.
Flat Fees
Tax Deductible
Stop money leaks • Never miss payroll • Kill cash-flow surprises
shipleybookkeeping.com • 252-369-8380

Yard Sales:

NEW HOLIDAY DECOR TRENDS 2025 | CHRISTMAS DECORATING IDEAS

THE WEEK AHEAD IN WEATHER

💼 Tax Season Is Coming . .

Be Ready Before It Hits!

At Shipley Bookkeeping Solutions, we make tax season simple.

Whether you’re a contractor, small business owner, or service professional, our virtual tax prep and advisory services help you:

✅ Avoid surprises and missed deductions
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Our secure, confidential services include:
• Complete tax prep & filing (individual + business)
• Advisory planning to lower next year’s tax bill
• QuickBooks cleanup & year-end reports

📅 Now accepting new clients for the 2025 tax season!
We only take a limited number of clients each month - 3 to 4 spots are open now.

💻 Visit shipleybookkeeping.com
📧 Email: office@shipleybookkeeping.com
📞 Call/Text: 252-369-8380

Flat-rate fees. Tax-deductible. 100% secure and confidential.

💛 Thank You for Reading The Onslow Insider

We’re proud to bring you stories, news, and resources that matter right here in Onslow County - every week, for free. And we're proud to have you as a member of our community.

If you enjoyed this edition, please share it with your friends, family, and co-workers. Every share helps more neighbors stay informed and keeps local voices strong.

📢 Classifieds are FREE through December 31 - perfect for promoting your holiday sale, side hustle, or community event.

💼 Business sponsorships are now open for 2025/2026 - get your brand in front of thousands of local readers every week.

🧭 Stay connected. Stay local. Stay In the Know with the Insider.