Sunset at the Landing is at the Covington Trailhead this Friday, July 16th from 6 to 9 p.m. This month features Magnetic Ear, Andrew McLean and Steel Mystique. In the event of inclement weather, the show will happen at the pavilion in Bogue Falaya Park.
Sponsored by the City of Covington, Heritage Bank of St. Tammany and the Covington Farmer’s Market. Bring your chairs and picnic dinners. For more information, call 985-892-1873.
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
Mark your calendars for the City of Covington’s annual Sparks in the Park on Saturday, July 3, 2021. This wonderful family event will celebrate America’s Day of Independence and will begin at 4:30 pm in Bogue Falaya Park, 213 Park Drive in downtown Covington. Attendees will enjoy patriotic music followed by an exciting fireworks display beginning at dusk (approximately 8:50 pm) presented by the City of Covington.
The show will be a fun, family event for the whole community. “With so many new elements added to this year’s event, it is sure to be an unforgettable celebration,” says Bridget Hatty, Cultural Arts and Events Coordinator for the City of Covington.
The City of Covington continues to host the “Hot Dog Eating Challenge” at 6:00 pm sponsored by Covington Business Association. At 6:30 pm, there will be a watermelon eating contest for the kids. Both contests are FREE to enter, and signup is at the beginning of each contest.
New to this event is the Covington Concert Band consisting of approximately 60 musicians. They will perform from
7 to 9 pm, including the last ten minutes of the fireworks show. This band is a community organization sponsored by the City of Covington and is comprised of local musicians from all corners of Southeastern Louisiana. Prior to Community Concert Band performing, we have two additional music stages called the Lacroix and Frederick Stages. Performing on the Lacroix stage at 5 pm will be the Dishonorable Johnsons, and at 6 pm will be Extraordinary Sessions; on the Frederick Stage, the Northshore Traditional Music Society from 5 to 7 pm.
There will be FREE face painting for the kids. Concessions will be available for purchase from the Kiwanians and, additionally, there will be a nice array of food trucks. Attendees are welcomed to bring their own chairs and picnic. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Please note that the kayak launch will be closed that day, and no golf carts will be allowed in the park.
For more information, contact:
Bridget Hatty
City of Covington, Office of Cultural Arts & Events
985-892-1873, bhatty@covla.com, or visit covla.com
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
The City of Covington held a groundbreaking ceremony at Gulf Coast Bank for the Boston Street Overlay Project Tuesday morning. Mayor Mark thanked Senator Patrick McMath and Representative Mark Wright for their help in bringing the project to fruition, explaining that the Overlay Project was a result of needed improvements to the roadway after addressing sewerage and drainage issues over the last year. Parish President Cooper made a few brief statements and the group took some pictures. Other city officials in attendance included City Councilmen Mark Verret, Joey Roberts, John Botsford, Peter Lewis and Larry Rolling; Chief of Police Stephen Culotta, Fire Chief Gary Blocker and Assistant Fire Chief Steven Michel; representatives of City administration and Gulf Coast Bank.
For more information about the City of Covington, call 985-892-1811 and visit them online at covla.com, where you can also sign up for Mayor Mark’s E-list Sign Up! Find the City of Covington on Facebook.
City of Covington Getting Ready For Its First Roundabout
Covington is preparing for its first roundabout that DOTD will build at the intersection of Jefferson and 21st. Roundabouts in the area, including Abita Springs and Highway 59, have received favorable response and keep traffic flowing.
Mayor Mark reports that:
“Although DOTD is responsible for design and construction of the road, we (the City) are responsible for the necessary utility line relocations.
We have completed moving the utility lines. DOTD is at 60% design completion.
The FAQ: Can’t we put a fountain, statue or plantings in the center?
The Answer: DOTD frowns upon anything which might obstruct the sight triangle within the circle.”
Sign up for Mayor Mark’s e-blast at covla.com
Follow these topics: City Updates, Local Events, Local News
The 50th Annual Tour De Louisiane Bike Race takes place this Sunday, June 6, 2021 from 7 a.m. til 1 p.m. in historic downtown Covington. Spectators are encouraged and welcomed! This year’s race benefits the Northshore Humane Society and features a Dog Parade starting at 11:45 a.m. The route is the standard race route shown on the map below.
The Northshore Humane Society will be stationed at the Covington Trailhead (419 New Hampshire). Tour De Louisiane 2021 Bike Race is sponsored by the City of Covington, Gray Cat Cycle Worx, Southern Hotel, Palmares Cycling, Bicycle World, Stevenson & Murray Attys at Law, Baldwin Subaru, Apolline and Bike Law USA. To enter, go to www.neworleansbicycleclub.org
For more information, call 985-892-1873 or visit the City of Covington online at covla.com
Follow these topics: Local Events, Local News, Non Profit Spotlight
St. Tammany Art Association, in partnership with the City of Covington, presents the Covington Art Market, a seasonal juried market of visual arts and crafts held on first Saturday of the month.
The Saturday markets are held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is now hosted on Lee Lane in downtown Covington. The event features a variety of work from local and regional artists, including jewelry, photography, paintings, woodworking, fiber art, pottery and more.
The purpose of the market is to provide exposure and a venue for our members to showcase and sell their work. While you’re here, we encourage you to visit other downtown locations, including exhibitions at the Art House, the nostalgic array of goods and the historic museum at H.J. Smith & Sons General Store and the Saturday Farmers Market, which takes place from 8 a.m. to noon at 609 N. Columbia Street, just a few blocks away.
Then enjoy a bite at one of downtown Covington’s many restaurants. It’s a great way to spend your Saturday!
Artists May Reserve A Booth Online
Covington Art Market is a juried market of STAA Artist Members. STAA Artist Membership is required to participate. Become an Artist Member here.
CAM is a great opportunity for fine artists seeking a venue to sell their artwork. Painters, photographers, mixed media artists, illustrators, potters, sculptors are all encouraged to participate. Held in partnership with the City of Covington, the Covington Art Market is held on the first Saturday of the month during our Spring and Fall seasons including a special holiday market held the first Sunday of December, noon to 5 pm, as part of Shop Local Artists Week. New opportunities this year include evening markets during special events, including Spring for Art, Fall for Art and during the Covington Business Association’s White Linen for Public Art festival.
Artists now have the option of submitting payment online. Registration forms should still be submitted and emailed to Info@StTammany.Art.
New artists, please do not remit payment until your application has been approved.
To remit payment, please select appropriate menu (individual artist or two artists sharing space) and select the month from the drop down menu at the registration screen.
A separate registration is required for each date. For two artists sharing a space, membership is required for each artist.
Please note that the Art Markets are open only to artists who have been approved through a juried process.
For more information contact St. Tammany Art Association at (985) 892-8650 or info@sttammany.art
Follow these topics: Art Event, Local Events, Shop Local
Would You Like To Spend Your Summer By The Pool? Lifeguards Wanted!
The City of Covington is looking for Lifeguards for Summer 2021. Applicants must be 16 years or older and lifeguard certified or willing to successfully complete the Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Program (Paid for by the City of Covington).
To apply online, go to covla.com/city-departments/human-resources to find a full job description and employment application.
Follow these topics: City Updates, Local News
Sunset at the Landing, rescheduled from last month, takes place this Friday at the Covington Trailhead from 6 to 9 p.m. Jerry Hess and Zac Maras perform from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the Redwine Jazz Band for the rest of the evening. This is a temporary change of location for the Sunset at the Landing series.
New Orleans based clarinetist Ben Redwine feels equally comfortable playing Brahms or Ellington. He is devoted to the performance of new classical music and old jazz, as well as to teaching the next generation of performers and teachers.
In addition to leading his popular traditional style jazz band, the Redwine Jazz Band, Ben is a Selmer Paris performing artist, a D’Addario performing artist and a Rovner Ambassador, presenting concerts and master classes internationally. He has recorded for Mapleshade, Naxos, Vin Rouge, Big Kahuna, Antidote Sounds and AmCam record labels.
Sunset at the Landing is a free concert series brought to you by The City of Covington, the Covington Farmer’s Market and Heritage Bank of St. Tammany.
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
A message from the City of Covington via Mayor Mark regarding Utility Bills:
Due to an error by the utility bill printing company, duplicates of the April utility bills stating “Final Bill” were mailed out to all customers.You may DISREGARD this second bill and pay the amount due indicated on the FIRST bill mailed out. If you have already paid your April utility bill, please DISREGARD this second notice.We apologize for any confusion and inconvenience this situation has caused.
The City of Covington sustained a cyber attack several weeks ago resulting in the utility billing issue. For more information, call the City of Covington at 985-892-1873. Visit the City of Covington online at covla.com, where you can also sign up for Mayor Mark’s email updates.
Follow these topics: City Updates, Local News
The City of Covington’s free concert series Chillin’ at the River concludes Thursday at Bogue Falaya Park with the return of Christian Serpas and Ghost Town, so put on your boots and go country! Special guests Mande Milkshakers will be there to get everyone dancing. If you get hungry, Yum Yum Gimme Sum Food Truck will be there serving it up. The CBA will provide wine and Carnival in Covington will provide beer for the event.
The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Bring your chairs, your refreshments and your smile! For information about this event or any of the City of Covington public events, call 985-892-1873. Visit the City of Covington online at covla.com, or email them at gottaluvcov@covla.com.
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
From Mayor Mark’s E-blast: “Residents may bring their old tires for disposal to the Polk Street side of Peter Atkins Park (near the pool) on Saturday, April 24th.
The Big Help: If you know of a tire or two on the road shoulder in your neighborhood, it would be a big help if you could drop it off. If you can’t handle it, reply to this e-mail with the location. I’ll try to get it. limit 4
Litter is a problem that has plagued out community for decades. As Mayor, I have discovered that we do not have the resources nor the manpower to pick up all the litter that gets tossed on to our roadways. No, jail trustees are not the answer. Fewer people littering is the answer.
Big thanks to those residents who have “adopted” their block, their ditches and their catch basins to keep clean. Bag it and put it out with your Wednesday trash for pick-up.
Leaves and grass clippings blown into our ditches are a detriment to our drainage system and considered a form of “litter”. They, too, should be bagged and placed curbside for Wednesday pick-up.
Violations: Ask the perpetrator nicely to stop OR report to Code Enforcement.” To sign up for Mayor Mark’s e-blast, visit covla.com
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Chillin’ at the River free concert series continues this Thursday, April 22nd at the Covington Trailhead (419 N. New Hampshire St.) from 5:30 – 8 p.m. featuring Fermin Ceballos and the Merengue4Four. Bring your lawn chairs, ice chests and blankets. Presented by the City of Covington.
Fermin Ceballos is a tri-lingual songwriter, musician, bandleader, actor and poet. Born and raised in Jamey, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Fermin is now creating and sharing his art in New Orleans. He studied music at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and was a professor of music for the Dominican Republic Secretary of State for Culture National School System. His primary musical instruments are the accordion, guitar, piano, and voice.
Food and beverage available for purchase. Bring your chairs and your smiles … dancing shoes required. For more information about this event, call 985-892-1873 or visit the City of Covington online!
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
Sunset at the Landing is cancelled for April due to expected inclement weather. The next concert is scheduled for May 21, see you there! This article was updated on Thursday, April 15, 2021.
For more information about this concert series, or any other city events, call 985-892-1873.
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
Mayor Mark Updates in his e-blast that the City of Covington is fully open, but not fully operational:
| Due to the recent hack of the City’s network, utility bills are being mailed out later than usual. The Utility Billing Department is working hard to have bills sent out as soon as possible. At this time, the due date and ACH payments for the current billing cycle are expected to stay on schedule despite the late mail-out. Should additional delays arise as the City continues to recover from the hack the schedule will be adjusted and customers will be notified. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we continue to rebuild City operations. To sign up for Mayor Mark’s e-mail blast, visit covla.com |
Follow these topics: City Updates, Local News
Join the St. Tammany Art Association in historic downtown Covington for new exhibitions at local galleries featuring artwork by local, regional, and national artists. The coordinated art openings will be held this Saturday, April 10 at 6:00PM – 9:00PM.
Mental Universes and the Obscurations of Light opens at the St Tammany Art Association, April 10, 2021 from 6-9 PM during Spring for Art. Paulo Dufour’s art reflects his perception of the world surrounding him.
His most recent work features the shadows of trees, plants, animals and objects merging into allegorical themes and explores the relationship of his shadow cast onto metaphysical landscapes.
The amorphous and sensuous work conjures up images ranging from the earthy colors of landscapes to primal skin vessels, suggesting the struggle of the human condition where real conflict and myth evolve.
The works give voice to the ongoing process of knowing oneself through exploring daily life, a process requiring each person to be open and aware of inner impressions that honor memories, dreams, and the synchronicity of life. “Mental Universes and the Obscurations of Light,” continues Dufour’s choice of materials which informs the work and includes blown and sculpted glass, torch worked patinated iron, and water media paintings.
COVID restrictions will limit many of the event’s historical activities but it will be a nice evening to visit our downtown galleries and support our local artists. Be sure to stop by one of Covington’s many fine dining and live music venues for great food and entertainment while you are out.
Follow these topics: Art Event, Local Events
The City of Covington’s free concert series for April 2021, Chillin’ at the River, continues tonight with Typically Booked at the Bogue Falaya Park. The concerts take place every Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Check the flyer for location. The City of Covington reminds concertgoers that social distancing and mask mandates required by the state will be observed. Chairs and refreshments are welcome.
For more information, contact the City of Covington at 985-892-1873 or email gottaluvcov@covla.com. Visit the City of Covington online at covla.com, and find them on facebook.
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
Chillin’ at the River Free Concert series begins tomorrow, April 1st (no foolin’!) at the Covington Trailhead with John Boutte. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Bring your chairs, your refreshments and your smile. Mask mandate/ social distancing in effect.
John Boutte will feature Nobumasa Ozaki on bass, Oscar Rossignoli on piano and Caleb Tokarska playing guitar. Chillin’ at the River at the Covington Trailhead Thursday, April 1, 2021. For more information about the Chillin’ at the River Series, contact the City of Covington at 985-892-1873, find them on facebook or visit www.covla.com
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
The City of Covington announces its Chillin’ at the River Concert Series for April 2021, following State guidelines for social distancing, etc. The concerts are free and open to the public, taking place every Thursday in April from 5:30 p.m. til 8 p.m.
April 1 features John Boutte at the Covington Trailhead. Typically Booked play April 8 at the Bogue Falaya Park. The “Soul Train Revue” is a Reverend Peter Atkins Park with Dat Band on April 15. We return to the Covington Trailhead on April 22 with Fermin Ceballos. Christian Serpas & Ghost Town close out the April series on the 29th at the Bogue Falaya Park.
Follow these topics: Live Music, Local Events
The following are updates from the City of Covington Facebook page about the recent cyber attack on the city’s server. Sign up to receive updates from the city at www.covla.com
The Louisiana National Guard Cyber Restoration Unit worked continuously over the weekend with City Information Technology (IT) personnel. There remains no timeline for system functionality. I am pleased to report that one member of the Guard shared that the City of Covington IT team is “one of top three we have ever worked with.” That’s nice … congratulations to IT Director Quenton Belanger, Police Chief Deputy Trey Mahon and IT-Man Aaron Hebert.
Police, Fire, Public Works, Cultural Arts and Events, Parks and Recreation and Facilities are all fully deployed and operational. Utility Billing and Finance (computer-based functions) remain severely hampered.
Continue to use 911 for all emergencies. Text CPDLA, space, then your message to 847411 for police non-emergencies. In a practical sense, this has permanently replaced calling 892-8500.
Last week’s hack was one of perhaps 30,000 that occurred. More details are available at CBS News Report “Microsoft Hack” https://www.cbsnews.com/…/microsoft-exchange-server…/
Importance of Two-Factor Authentication: Lately we see more and more businesses asking us (as individuals) for two-factor authentication i.e. “text a code to your phone.” Regardless of this particular breach of security, one may now presume the bad guys have your personal information. It is just a matter of time before they make a play on your assets. The two-factor authentication is an important way to prevent them from using your information. -MMJ
Yesterday morning around 7:00am we discovered a significant hack into the City of Covington’s computer systems. All systems were locked down including Police, Fire, Public Works, Utility Billing and Finance.
By 11:00am yesterday the State Cyber Security Alliance was on site investigating and securing our systems. The Alliance consists of experts from the State Department of Homeland Security, LA State Police Department and New Orleans Field Office of the Secret Service. They were at City Hall in less than 240 minutes. Pretty impressive.
This morning members of the LA National Guard Cyber Restoration Team began arriving. They are working to get the City back up and running.
The Team’s priorities are first responders, utility billing and then key administrative functions.Regarding retrieval of information, we are currently in the process of diagnostics. We cannot offer an opinion on what was taken or is recoverable until we have a proper diagnosis.
At this point we can speculate it will be a week or so before we have basic operational functions.
The cyber security team has shared we are one victim of tens of thousands in America in this current wave of breaches … the bad guys found a vulnerability in a Microsoft program. – MMJ
Sign up for updates from the City of Covington www.covla.com or follow them on Facebook.
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UPDATE: this concert has been postponed to Thursday March 18th due to weather predictions. Read more here:
Next Wednesday we will be Chillin’ at the River again, this time for a St. Paddy’s concert featuring Four Unplugged! The City of Covington invites you to this free concert at the Bogue Falaya Park on Wednesday, March 17th from 5:30 – 8 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and picnics, and don’t forget to wear green!
These concerts are put on to provide safe, family friendly entertainment with social distancing in mind. Enjoy the scenic sprawling landscape of our beautiful park while listening to local live music. Masks are required, sanitation and social distancing circles will be available.
Four Unplugged is a popular local 6 piece band covering a wide variety of New Orleans seasoned music. Their sampling includes old rock ‘n roll classics, funk, Motown, dance party favorites, sing-alongs, hits from today and the always delicious slow-dance staples. They even throw in some Mardi Gras classics. Learn more about Four Unplugged at their website, www.fourunplugged.com
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Covington Comprehensive Plan 2030 meetings continue with a Planning Commission meeting on Monday, March 15th, 2021. This meeting is open to the public, a live viewing option is available if you are unable to attend. You can see past presentations and meeting records from the Covington Comprehensive Plan here. Any meeting feedback, input, or questions are welcomed at info@covingtonplan2030.com.
Monday, March 15, 2021
6:30 PM 7:30 PM
City Council Chambers (map)
Meeting purpose:
Another meeting for the Covington Comprehensive Plan 2030 will be held Monday April 19, 2021. Learn more, review the plan and get involved at www.covingtonplan2030.com
Follow these topics: Public Meetings