Seagull Says: Just another day in paradise... with traffic and opinions.

🌊 TODAY’S TIDE (Weather + Surf Report)

• 🌤️ Weather
  Sun’s kinda in, kinda out—just like your motivation.
  High of 69° with a light NE breeze at 10 mph. Humidity’s at 61%, so your hair might still act up. UV is a spicy 9 out of 11, so yes, you still need sunscreen. Tonight drops to 63° with clouds rolling in and winds shifting east. Basically: sweatshirt weather with a side of salt air.

• 🏄‍♂️ Surf Report
  Not much is happening out there today. We’ve got weak, knee-high (maybe thigh-high if you manifest it) surf off some sloppy wind chop and a trace SE swell. Sideshore northerly winds will lighten into a more variable onshore breeze later, so your best bet is mid-to-late afternoon on the outgoing tide. Set your expectations low and your leash tighter.

📰 HEADLINES + CHATTER

Because calm discourse is extinct, and someone’s aunt is furious again.

• 🎓 These Two COA Grads Put the Rest of Us to Shame (Lovingly)
  Robert Wernock, 50, and Alice Turley, 74, just graduated from COA—and did it with style, grit, and GPAs that make your college transcript sweat. Between full-time jobs, tech struggles, and late-night homework grinds, they proved it’s never too late to chase your goals (or completely annihilate them). Alice’s next move? Hosting a writing workshop. Robert’s? Mentoring others. Ours? Crying a little.

• ⚖️ Judge Reid Steps In, Robes On
  Governor Stein appointed Judge Eula Reid to take over the Superior Court bench for District 1. She’s been doing the work for years, so this is less “breaking news” and more “about time.” Good luck arguing anything shady in front of her.

• 🌉 New Bridge Alert: Slash Creek Opens Friday
  Hatteras folks: rejoice. The 68-year-old wooden bridge that creaked every time you crossed it? Gone. The new Slash Creek Bridge opens May 23. Some weekday lane closures are coming, but no weekend nonsense. Progress looks good on y’all.

• 📡 Cox + Charter = One Big Cable Beast
  In a $34.5 billion merger (yep, with a “B”), Cox and Charter are joining forces to become the largest cable company in the U.S. Spectrum branding stays—for now. Will your Wi-Fi improve? Unclear. Will customer service still put you on hold? Highly likely.

• 🐴 Baby Horse Pulled From Canal, Immediately Becomes Corolla Royalty
  A foal got stuck in a canal this weekend and was reunited with her mom, who was pacing like any panicked Outer Banks parent. She’s doing well, nursing, and being watched over by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Reminder: admire from a distance, don’t be that tourist, and for the love of oats—don’t feed the horses.⚠️ Man-o-Wars Are Back to Ruin Barefoot Vibes
  Cape Lookout issued a PSA: Portuguese Man-o-Wars are washing up, and yes, even the dead ones sting. It’s giving “do not touch” energy. Watch your feet—and maybe skip the dramatic barefoot beach walks for a few days.

📍TODAY’S TINY MISSIONS

You survived Monday. Reward yourself with mildly organized fun.

• 🧘‍♀️ Yoga on the Green
  📍Duck Town Park, Duck — 7:30–8:15 AM (spoiler alert, you’re going to be late)
  Salute the sun, breathe deep, and try not to judge anyone’s balance.

• 🐟 Breakfast With the Rays
  📍NC Aquarium, Roanoke Island — 8:30 AM
  Yes, actual stingrays. No, you can’t take one home.

• 🧼 Public Services Open House
  📍Town of Nags Head — 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
  Come see what makes the town tick. Spoiler: it’s not coffee, it’s stormwater.

• 🎨 Art Painting Night
  📍Goombays Grille & Raw Bar, Kill Devil Hills — 6:00–9:00 PM
  Paint. Sip. Try not to spill paint water in your wine.

• 🌊 Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga
  📍Ride The Wind Surf Shop, Ocracoke — 6:30 PM
  Because regular yoga wasn’t risky enough. Balance or bellyflop—your call.

• 🎶 Fixity (Live Music)
  📍Tap Shack, Duck — 7:00 PM
  Vibe, sip, and pretend you didn’t just Google “who is Fixity.”

• 🎬 A Minecraft Movie
  📍The Pioneer Theater, Manteo — 7:30 PM
  Pixelated drama on the big screen. Yes, your kid will explain the entire plot. Loudly.

• 🎤 Karaoke Night
  📍Jolly Roger Restaurant, KDH — 9:00 PM
  Sing like no one’s watching. (They are. And they’re recording.)

📍THE BEAK OF APPROVAL

🌭Hart’s Hot Dog Hut – Chaos? Yes. Worth it? Also yes.

Don’t let the name fool you—Hart’s Hot Dog Hut in Ocracoke is dishing out far more than hot dogs. Located inside Jerniman’s Campground, this no-frills local favorite serves up everything from cinnamon buns to spaghetti to chicken and dumplings... and oh yeah, there’s also a buffet.

But hold onto your plate—literally. There are rules. Want to sit and eat? It’s $12 for breakfast or $14 for lunch. Taking it to-go? You’ll weigh your plate at the window like it’s a TSA checkpoint. They’ve even got a grab-and-go section for biscuits and wraps if you’re not ready to commit to buffet logistics before coffee.

It’s a little confusing, a lot delicious, and clearly cooked with heart (and probably butter). Locals love it. Visitors keep coming back. And if you have a complaint? Don’t post—just walk it up to the counter like a civilized biscuit lover and they’ll make it right.

📍990 Irvin Garrish Hwy, Ocracoke | Inside Jerniman’s Campground

🚔 CRIME + SAFETY: BUCKLE UP, HANG UP, SOBER UP

Because some folks are out here living like the laws are just a suggestion.

• 💥 NC-12 Stop Ends in Drugs, a Gun, and a Court Date
  Late Saturday night, Dare County deputies pulled over a northbound vehicle on NC-12 and ended up finding cocaine, paraphernalia, and a loaded handgun. Salvo resident Cody Creech, 32, now has felony charges—and a secured bond that says “don’t do that again.” Oh, Cody. Do better.

• 🔗 Click It or Ticket Is Back—And They Mean It
  The sheriff’s office is officially in Memorial Day mode. Translation: seatbelt checks, more patrols, and zero patience for your excuses. Buckle up or budget for a fine. Easy.

• 📞 IRS Scams Are Circling Again
  Kitty Hawk PD is warning everyone to be on alert: fake IRS calls and emails are back. If someone threatens arrest over unpaid taxes, it’s a scam. Real IRS communication starts with snail mail, not keyboard warriors. Hang up, report it, and for the love of your identity—don’t give them your info.

• 🚘 Another Caratoke Crash, Another Facebook Comment Section Spiral
  A 3-car fender bender outside Tarheel Produce put one vehicle in a ditch and two on the road. No major injuries—unless you count the headache from reading the Facebook comments. WF (that’s the name, apparently) wants mandatory nap breaks. Scott says, “Just pay attention.” Oh, Scott. If life’s blunders could be avoided by simply focusing harder, we’d all be gliding through it on cruise control. Somewhere between his bumper sticker wisdom and WF’s required nap proposal is reality—and probably a group chat we’re not invited to.

⛱️ VACAY OR STAY

🏡 FOR SALE: OCEANFRONT, UNCLUTTERED, + UNAPOLOGETICALLY EXPENSIVE

This South Hatteras stunner isn’t playing around. Recently remodeled, beautifully minimalist, and ready for move-in (or showing off), this 3-bed, 3-bath retreat puts you right on the ocean—with views that say “we made it” and a layout that doesn’t scream for shiplap.

📍58234 Dunes Dr Lot 12, Hatteras | $1,150,000 | MLS #129008

Bonus: No fixer-upper drama. Just sleek lines, salty breezes, and that whole “we live at the beach now” energy.

🌊 VACAY: SWELLSHACK — A COZY OASIS WITH BIG MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY

Three beds, two baths, and a screened porch made for sipping something cold while judging passersby. Walk to the beach, walk to town, then walk back and pretend you live there.

📍Oceanside, Duck, NC | OBX Magic

Bonus: Comes with a porch swing, cornhole, and zero reason to go home.

🦜EAVESDROPPED & UNBOTHERED

• 🧂 A Corolla couple asked if you need a beach permit just to “vibe.” Jury’s out, but the ranger’s face said no.

• 🧃 Someone in Kill Devil Hills asked if local kombucha is “gluten-free and blessed.” The barista said it was fermented, not baptized.

• 🚘 A tourist pulled into a locals-only parking lot, claimed it was fine because “they follow the Instagram page.” A stickered Subaru blocked them in out of spite.

🔗 QUICK LINKS

• ⛴️Ferry Schedule – You can’t teleport to the Outer Banks (yet), so here’s how to float your way here the old-fashioned way.

• 🐾OBX SPCA Pet of the Week (more like every 10 days): Mitzi’s still waiting—and yes, she’d absolutely look better in your backseat than that beach towel.

• 🌊Live Surf Cams – For “checking the surf,” but really just spying on beach traffic and seeing who already claimed your favorite spot.

• 💬Submit a Tip or Event – Got a hot lead, weird sighting, or something the seagulls should be squawking about? Slide it our way.

🧂FINAL PEEP FROM THE PERCH

If you’re still here, you’re either loyal or lost. Either way, we respect it. Forward this to someone as nosy as you are—they deserve the tea too.

Sign up. Stay salty. Be nosy.