A mixture of history and geography, this entertaining book provides anecdotes about some of the people whose names are memorialized on street signs in this Louisiana parish. The naming process and name changes are covered as well. Inspired by John Chase's classic book Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children . . . and Other Streets of New Orleans, this light and funny read both informs and amuses. Did you know that Stumpf Boulevard in Gretna was named after an insecticide salesman, Kismet Street in Marrero is Arabic for "fate," or that Vouvray Drive in Kenner is based on a famous wine from the Loire Valley? These facts, and many more, can be found in this wide-ranging historical guide to Jefferson Parish. By uncovering the origin of Jefferson Parish's street names, Earl Higgins tells the story of the region's rural beginnings to present day. The book delves into why each appellation was chosen and describes the process of assigning them. Quizzes are peppered throughout the text, with answers provided at the end of each chapter. An index is also included, allowing readers to locate a specific street. Full of Higgins's trademark wit and charm, Metairie, Ames, High is a fun and informative read. Earl J. Higgins is a ranger at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. He also writes a column for the Delta Sierran, a bimonthly publication of the Sierra Club. Higgins earned a B.A. in English and a J.D. from Tulane University. He retired from the United States Navy with the rank of commander and from the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, where he was the assistant director of staff attorneys. A resident of River Ridge, Louisiana, Higgins is the author of Pelican's The Joy of Y'at Catholicism. Much like royalty ascending a throne, Earl J. Higgins had the markings of a Y'at Catholic from the beginning. He began his physical and spiritual life in bastions of New Orleans' Catholic culture, having been born October 1941 in Hotel Dieu Hospital and christened in St. Stephen's Catholic Church. Graduating from Jesuit High School cinched the deal. He is an authentic Y'at, an affectionate term for a local New Orleanian. Armed with a B.A. in English and a juris doctorate from Tulane University, Higgins compiled an impressive resume of government service. He retired from the United States Navy in 1989 with the rank of commander, U.S. Naval Reserve, and from the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, in 2002 as the assistant director of staff attorneys. He is a ranger at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, and he writes a column for the Delta Sierran, a publication of the Sierra Club. Used Book in Good Condition