Rockin' the Rails is Back!!

Thursday, September 24th, 5:30pm

Peter Atkins Park

Led by New Orleans native Kevin Gullage, the band brings together soulful vocals, blues piano, and an all-star group of veteran musicians. Gullage has performed at major festivals and venues around the world and has appeared on American Idol, bringing his powerful voice and New Orleans musical roots to audiences everywhere … a Fall favorite at Peter Atkins Park every … Fall.

Playmakers Theatre

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is a Tony Award-winning comedy by Christopher Durang that blends Chekhovian themes with modern-day family dysfunction, following middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia as their quiet life in a Pennsylvania farmhouse is upended by the arrival of their glamorous movie-star sister Masha and her young boyfriend, Spike. The play explores themes of aging, longing for relevance, and family dynamics, featuring a clairvoyant housekeeper and a wannabe actress neighbor, all while riffing on classic Russian literature. Click Here for Tickets.

St. Tammany Parish Fair

Established 1910

Banner advertising the Fair stretches across Boston Street at Patecek's Store, corner of Boston Street and Columbia. Later, home of Haik's Department Store and today, law offices.

New Newsletter Available

The bi-monthly newsletter is FREE in green boxes around the city. Page 3 is a great way to keep track of Covington events. Inserted in the current issue is a wonderful handy calendar of events spanning this Fall through Spring 2027 … perfect for your fridge or coffee table : ).

Fall 2026 / Spring 2027 Calendar

Available Insert in Current Newsletters

Zumba w Mayor

At the Food Bank

Beth's outfits are courtesy of the Northshore Food Bank Resale Shop at 830 N. Columbia. This week she's repping ZwM which will be at the Food Bank warehouse this Sunday. If you're moving …. you're doing it right : )

Covington Business Association

Final Friday Block Party

Keep Covington Beautiful

River Sweep

Bayous and Bogues

Per below, in my last e-blast, I opined about the difference (or lack thereof) between a bogue and a bayou. One reader, Bob Tee, fact-checked me with A.I. This is what he found:

Mayor Mark, you are correct! From Google AI:

Q: Do bayou and bogue mean the same thing?

Yes, "bayou" and "bogue" mean essentially the same thing. They are linguistic "doublets"—two different English words that evolved from the exact same Native American root.

Both terms refer to a slow-moving river, creek, or waterway in the Gulf Coast region of the United States.

Both words come from the Choctaw language:

Bayou evolved from the Choctaw word bayuk, meaning "small stream" or "creek".
Bogue evolved from the Choctaw word bók (or bog), which also means "creek," "stream," or "river".

Well, that was nice : ).

We often think of bayou as a French word … but I can find no bayous in France. I've looked. The only place in the world bayous exist are where French explorers interacted with the Native American population (primarily Choctaw) in what today is south Louisiana and south Texas.

The same is true for Bogue: Bogue Falaya, Bogue Chitto and Bogalusa. The only "Bogues" are in the St. Ferdinand District (then Florida panhandle, today Washington and St. Tammany parishes).Bogue and bayou are the phonetically written words in French of the sound the Choctaw spoke for waterway.

Bogue Falaya … long waterway

Bogue Chitto ..… fast waterway

Bogalusa ……... black waterway

An examination of the two words, one over the other, shows a striking similarity in the shape of the lettering. I submit for your consideration that only a difference in penmanship between explorers separates the two words.

Of note, this theory that the words Bayou and Bogue are actually just penmanship differences by a French cartographer is purely hypothetical speculation by me … an original thought from a mind that wanders.

Stephen Stills

Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young attended Covington Grammar School (today, the C.J. Schoen School Board Admin building on Jefferson / 23rd Ave) in the 1950's. His eponymous album in 1970 had lyrics that specifically reference the Bogue Falaya River. Cool beans.

Replying to this e-mail goes directly to Mayor Mark.

Rooted in History, Focused on the Future