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Colonials,

Over the holidays, the XO of Battlestar Raven-BFC 002, suffered a tremendous lost in his life when his son Tyler passed away. We kept it of the public’s eyes to give the family some privacy and time to deal with their lost. But as a parent, you can never really fully deal with the loss of a child. Even as time passes by, the hurt will still be there. Just not as fresh. All you can do is keep the memory of that child close to you.

Steve Tweed is my XO on Battlestar Raven and a friend. I do not call people a friend just like that. Many of my staff on Battlestar Raven, has been with me through thick and hard times since the group’s inception. That is how close and tight knit we are of a group. You do not have to be blood related to be a family. You just choose to do it because you feel it and act on it.

The reason for this post is that I would like for this community to come together for one of our very own and open their hearts into donating whatever you could spare, towards the memorial fund established in Tyler Tweed’s memory. Tyler was a diesel mechanic, and his scholarship will be for people who are interested in mechanics at Madison College. Tyler was a graduate of that program and loved working in the mechanical field. Tyler passed away on December 14th, 2022, at the age of 24 from complications from diabetes. All funds donated will be used to fund this scholarship.

He is a wonderful young man taken too soon from his parents and friend’s lives. Tyler maybe gone, but he will never be forgotten. Not by his immediate family and second family.

So Say We All!

V/R

DragonLady

Battlestar Galactica Fanclub President

CO- Battlestar Raven-BFC 002

It was a great pleasure to sit down with Mark Goddard (The original Major Don West) from Lost in Space.

Mark got his start on television with a role in the 1959  series Johnny Ringo.

Aside from his recurring role in Lost in Space Mark also appeared (among many other roles) on Perry Mason, The Mod Squad & The Fall Guy.

He also appeared in the rebooted film version of Lost in Space.

Shawn: What was your first Con experience?

Mark: In Georgia around 1985.

Billy Mumy couldn't make it so he recommended me to go in his place.

Shawn: How did it go?

Mark: Very well...as most cons do.

Shawn: How about the best Con you've been to?

Mark: I have always loved Chiller in New Jersey.

Shawn; How about the worst Con?

Mark: Never had a bad one as long as the fans are happy.

Shawn:: How about the strangest or most unusual fan you've encountered at a Con?

Mark: I guess the fan who wanted to cut a lock of my hair and I let him do it!

Shawn: Any actual bad experiences?

Mark: At Chiller one year, I was in a circus type tent when a mini tornado hit.

Pictures flying everywhere as artists got the heck out.
Shawn: What would you do differently if you were running a Con?

Mark: Just make sure the fans are well taken care of, and are treated with respect.

Shawn: Ever want to get an autograph?

Mark: I used to get some for my students when I taught school.

Shawn: What projects are you current!ly working on?

Mark: I am currently working on my second book.

The first was To Space and Back which has been very well received by my fans at MGAS on Facebook.

Shawn: What future projects do you have in mind?

Mark: Only to continue writing, as ideas come up!

Bill has appeared in more than 400 television shows as well as 20 films, but one of those roles in particular that
really put him on the sci-fi radar was his part in the original Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life" (a role which he reprised on the second of two Twilight Zone revival's "It's Still a Good Life".

Of course he firmly solidified himself in the science fiction firmament with his iconic role as Will Robinson on the classic series "Lost in Space".
Bill has also played the role of "alien", appearing as the Minbari Lennier on Babylon 5.
He continues to act (including voice over) as well a being a working musician!

Bill has produced a number of albums (with a new one coming out soon) and is also a part of the comedy-rock duo "Barnes & Barnes" known for the novelty song "Fish Heads"!

Shawn: What was your first Con experience?

Bill: As a guest? Hmmmm... It was in the late 70's.
Probably '78 or '79.
I THINK the very first one was for a Creation Convention.
I did a bunch of those, for Adam Malin and Gary Berman.

Shawn: How did it go?

Bill: Great.
In the beginning of my convention experiences, I would be paid an appearance fee by the promoters and then sign autographs for free, which was very natural and comfortable for me.
This of course was like 35 years ago and things changed quickly in that arena... I felt uncomfortable charging people for my autograph for a long time.
I kept seeing Jimmy Stewart in my head, knowing he would never do that.

Shawn: Best Con you've been to?

Bill: Different cons for different reasons... Early San Diego Cons for hanging with people like Jack Kirby and Stan Lee... playing gigs with Seduction of the Innocent to legendary comic book creators... For sci-fi, I'd probably say the Shore Leave in Baltimore about twelve years ago was a great con.
Big enough to be profitable, yet small enough to be comfortable... my whole family went to that con and we had a great time.
I think Babylon 5 was still on the air.
Went to a few lovely cons with the cast of B5 in Blackpool,England that were really great... Jamming at Chiller in New Jersey was always a lot of fun... Very early WonderCon's up in Oakland were cool and I have some funny memories from those... And when the Lost in Space cast got together for the very first time to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 1990 in Boston, that was a really great time.
I've been to so many... the memories get blurred.
I enjoy them, it's flattering getting your ego stroked and seeing old friends... but they are definitely work... I always want people to feel they've had a positive experience when they meet me... But I am not comfortable flying on airplanes anymore though.
I do not enjoy going to airports and flying on planes.
That's the singular reason why I don't do many cons these days.

Shawn: Worst Con?

Bill: I went to a small toy type show on the east coast in the 90's and there was a blizzard and tons of snow and the event was pretty poorly attended and quite slow, and I spent the weekend sitting next to Pete Best, the original drummer in the Beatles.

He was super nice and fab, a true gentleman, but people just came up to him all weekend and talked to him like he was the greatest loser in the history of pop culture and it was uncomfortable to witness.
He was very generous and nice about it all, though.
But, that ranks up there in the worst.

Shawn: Strangest or most unusual fan you've encountered at a Con?

Bill: Ha! Countless... Right now at this moment, my mind goes to some creep in an elevator at DragonCon who insisted that I wish him into the cornfield... He wanted me to "act" for him and do the whole bit, and I was tired, it was the end of a long day and I was just trying to head up to my room, and this guy wouldn't stop, and he put his hands around my neck, like he was gonna strangle me... and I almost went Kung Fu on him.
Peter David was there at the time, we had just created "Space Cases" for Nickelodeon, and he couldn't believe the nerve of this guy, putting his hands on my neck!
I really did come close to hurting him.
I've also had a few people ask me to autograph parts of their body that they were going to have tattooed... I advised them against it, but I did do it... and so did they.

Shawn: Any actual bad experiences?

Bill: Well, The idiot in the elevator was not a good one... I also went to a con in New York once, after receiving death threats traced by the police to New York.
This was before I had kids.
My wonderful wife Eileen wanted me to cancel, but I refused to be run by fear at the time.
I went. But I wore a bullet proof vest the whole time!
Shaun Cassidy took me to a police gear store to get it.
It was winter, so... whatever.
No one shot me, but I was slightly uncomfortable the entire time.
Especially during the Q&A's.

Shawn: What would you do differently if you were running a Con?

Bill: I'd fly me first class and pay me more.

Shawn: Ever want to get an autograph?

Bill: Sure.
I have a lot of autographs. I can totally relate to the fan mentality.

I'm thrilled by some of my personal autographs.
"To Billy, Best wishes, George Harrison" or "To Bill Mumy, Lost in Space! Best Wishes, Bob Dylan"...
It makes me happy to know I was in their consciousness for a few seconds at least.
I get it.
When I was a kid, I always got autographs at the end of the tv shows and movies I did.
I have a ton of classics.

Shawn: What are you currently working on?

Bill: My new album, "Ten Days" is coming out in the next couple weeks on the GRA label... I've been working hard co-producing bonus material for the Lost in Space 50th anniversary Blu Ray box set as well... (Some REALLY cool stuff there!)...
I'm doing voice over work right now for the History Channel 4 part special; "The Civil War: In Color" and I'm honored to be voicing Abraham Lincoln's speeches...I've been gigging musically,  in a band & doing an album with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill while the late Rick Rosas played bass on our tracks.

Hope to finish that up this year... and Angela Cartwright and I are putting the final tweakage on our fantasy novel,
"On Purpose"....It's a busy time for me.

 Shawn: Future projects?

Bill: Yes.

More.

Please.

Thank you!

All will remember her portrayal of Ellen Tigh on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica...not only as the mysteriously "found" wife of Colonel Saul Tigh but to also be revealed as number Five of the Final Five.

Kate took the part and gave Ellen her own unique path and imprinted herself upon the role, which made it so memorable.

Kate is the daughter of well known actor John Vernon, known among other roles and famous for his part at Dean Vernon Wormer in Animal House.

Kate has also appeared as Lorraine Prescott in Falcon Crest & Benny Hanson in Pretty in Pink.

Television roles also include parts on Who's the Boss?, L.A. Law, Nash Bridges, Star Trek: Voyager as well as Spike Lee's film Malcolm X.

She is also starring it the upcoming Star Trek: Axanar.

Shawn: Kate, what was your first Convention experience?

Kate: My very first Convention experience was DragonCon with the minority of the BSG cast. It was completely overwhelming as you can imagine. The show was at its peak and we were like rock stars!

We all had such a blast together, especially at the panels. Standing room only!

2000 people in the room, I've never experienced anything like that. There's nothing better than fan love!

Shawn: So it sounds like it went well?

Kate: Like I said, it was a blast!

Shawn: Would you say that was your best Con?

Kate: Yes, for all that...

Shawn: How about the worst Con?

Kate: That was a Star Trek event in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Unfortunately I only sold 1 photo. When it's not your audience it's not your audience. Hopefully that will change with Axanar.

Shawn: How about the strangest, most unusual fan you've encountered?

Kate: Well, this one amazed me. I met this sweet young couple who had just had a baby girl and they named her Ellen after my character!

Shawn: Ever had a bad experience at a Con?

Kate: Nope, never had a bad experience.

Shawn: If you were running a Convention, what would you do differently?

Kate: Sure people can party and drink, but I would also provide fresh juice bars, oxygen bars and spa treatments. Raise the vibrational frequency. Serve only organic food!

photograph courtesy of Chris Loomis at Chris Loomis Photography

Shawn: Have you ever wanted an autograph?

Kate: Angie Dickinson. My Dad did his first Hollywood movie with her...Point Blank which also starred Steve McQueen.

Shawn: What are you currently working on?

Kate: Well, just finished up filming Star Trek: Prelude to Axanar...

Shawn: So that is in  your future plans then?

Kate: Yes, hope to  start filming Axanar itself starting in October or November...

Hey folks,

I posted this in the forum's for you to dissect, inspect & retrospect...even introspect!

On this coming Saturday the 18th,"Young and beautiful in a hurry" will be having a release party at Molly Malone's in Los Angeles.

Who is..or what is.."Young and beautiful in a hurry"?

You are asking...I'm sure!

It's Brendan McCreary's band...brother of Bear! (Say that five times fast!).

Bear will be in attendance, Richard Hatch will be there and who knows who from the alumni of BSG...I'm going along with notable BSG Fan Club alumni's Herb Brunner, Cliff Gardner & Chris Loomis.

Ok, kids this is gonna rock...word to the wise, this shindig kicks off at 8pm...BUT sez Bear & sez Richard the place fills up in a hurry.

Be there or be a...Cylon?...anyway if you are in range of the Los Angeles area...you will know where to go!

Check out Molly Malone's at their website:

http://www.mollymalonesla.com/

We will be looking for you at the party...we are gonna rock!

Check out "Young and beautiful in a hurry"...just...google them!

So say we all!