PlanetXpo and The Science Fiction Hall of Fame and Museum have announced the addition of Jason Alexander and several other prestigious guests to the lineup for their 40th Anniversary Conference and Celebration of Star Trek taking place September 8-10 in Seattle.

Best known for his role as George Costanza on Seinfield, Alexander guest-starred as "Kurros" in the Voyager episode "Think Tank." He will appear on Sunday, Sept. 10, and participate in the grand finale.

Also new to the guest list is Garrett Wang ("Harry Kim"), joining Original Series stars Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig and Grace Lee Whitney, along with Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Tim Russ, John Billingsley and more.

Other special guests recently announced include Martin Cooper, inventor of the first portable cellular radiotelephone; Dr. Seth Shostak, astronomer and spokesman for the SETI Institute; Pat Hoar of Space Adventures Ltd.; NASA scientist Mark Rayman; authors Dave Marinaccio and Jeff Greenwald, and others.

The inventors, authors, entrepreneurs and scientists will participate in panels and be available for Q&A to coincide with the weekend's theme: "Star Trek, The Show That Changed the World."

Other events include a Friday night gala celebration, a Saturday night formal banquet, two separate Art Exhibitions, and a Sunday encore finale.

Seating is strictly limited. Visit www.planetxpo.com for further details.

Nimoy Brings Photo Presentation to Vegas

Leonard Nimoy is the latest prominent star to sign on to Creation Entertainment's fifth annual Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, August 17-20. Not only will he appear on stage — both solo and alongside William Shatner — but he will present a one-man show Saturday afternoon called "See What I See."

According to Creation, "See What I See" is a "journey through Leonard Nimoy's experiences in photography." Using works ranging from still life to landscapes to self-portraits, "Leonard leads us through the process of his self-discovery in the photos he has produced over the span of a lifetime... his images reveal the man behind the makeup."

The show is a separate ticketed event, not included in any pre-existing ticket packages. For more information, visit www.creationent.com (click on "Upcoming Events," find "Las Vegas, NV," then scroll about halfway down the page).

Nimoy joins an extensive list of Star Trek heavyweights that include Shatner, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Jolene Blalock, Brent Spiner and many others. Other names recently added to the guest lineup include Denise Crosby ("Tasha Yar"), Mariette Hartley ("Zarabeth") and William Campbell ("Koloth" and "Trelane").

Prominent Fan Sylvia Frier Remembered

On a sad note, we have learned that Sylvia (Colson) Frier, long-time Star Trek fan and Web site denizen, passed away on Sunday, April 30, at the age of 53 after an extended illness.

Sylvia and her husband Ben Frier became famous in the online Star Trek community when they were married in cyberspace in what was known at the time as the Starfleet Lounge. Ben died a year ago in February (related story).

Sylvia Colson, from Massachusetts, was one of the first dedicated fans to join the "Star Trek: Continuum" — the forerunner of STARTREK.COM — when it launched in July of 1996. She actively participated in the message boards and live chat rooms, and was engaged by Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) as a community moderator, or SysOp, to moderate the message boards and host discussions in the Starfleet Lounge chat room.

It was in the Lounge that she met Ben, a kindred fan from Oklahoma. Their on-line acquaintance turned into a courtship, which then blossomed into romance when Syl visited Ben in Oklahoma. A few months later — on the November 1996 premiere date for "Star Trek: First Contact" — they were married. In keeping with the online nature of their relationship, the wedding was held in the Starfleet Lounge with their cyber-friends from around the world in attendance.

The couple set up housekeeping in Ipswich, Mass. and continued working together in the online community. Syl and Ben (or "Lwaxana" and "Mr. Homn," as they were known online) each hosted a weekly chat on their favorite series. We fondly remember their visit to Hollywood and the Paramount lot in November 1998, and the spirit of friendship that they each brought to the online Star Trek community.

Sylvia is survived by her mother, an aunt, two brothers, three sisters, four children, one grandchild, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Her funeral will be held on Friday, May 5, at 11 a.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home in Plaistow, New Hampshire, with burial in Newburyport, Mass. Memorial donations may be made to The Melanoma Research Foundation, 24 Old Georgetown Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sylvia's extended family and her many friends.