Milwaukee celebrates its 161st birthday at the end of January 2007 with a Milwaukee Press Club party. This year's theme is "Legends of Milwaukee: The People Who Made Milwaukee Famous."
The party's hosts are letting the public chime in with who they believe is Milwaukee's greatest legend with a vote. The current list of famous Milwaukeeans -- which includes people that were born in Milwaukee or made an impression in Milwaukee -- is up on at legendsofmilwaukee.org.
The ballot lets the public vote on several categories, like other illustrious award ceremonies, which include: media people, community people, business people, entertainment people, icons, sports people, government people and founding people. And if you don't find a person you think really fits the category, there's the option for a write in.
Voting is open until midnight on Jan. 26. Milwaukee Historian John Gurda will announce the winners at the City's Birthday Party on Jan. 31 at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
