U-TURN: A reporter meets her Star Trek hero
Editor’s note: Rising Tide reporter Jessi Hardy took a trip outside the shire this past week to meet one of her childhood heroes: William Shatner, best known as Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. It’s exceedingly rare for a reporter to be allowed by their editor to write in the first person. But for Jessi, and knowing what a Trekkie she is, we decided to let her have at it. Live long and prosper, Jessi!
July 1, 2026
By Jessi Hardy
“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.”
Those words spoken decades before I was born would change and shape the person I would become. The idea of space and the possibility that we may not be alone in this galaxy of stars gave me a sense of curiosity and hope.
Hardy with the iconic William Shatner in Toconderoga, New York. Photo courtesy of Jess Hardy.
At a young age, my mother introduced me to the world of Star Trek and the voyages of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, though she never imagined how much of an impact it would have on me. My first episode was “The Trouble with Tribbles,'”which featured fuzzy creatures and a conflict with the Klingons. That was where it all started, but my favorite episode is “The Doomsday Machine” in which a robotic weapon is killing planets for fuel.
Those 51-minute episodes changed my life. I am a Trekkie.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a sneak peek of the restored Shuttlecraft Galileo, a prop from the original series. To mark the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, Galileo has found a new home at the Star Trek Original Series Tour Set in Ticonderoga, NY. With the help of designers, backers, and fellow Trekkies, owner James Cawley, a lifelong fan, has brought this piece of TV history back to life.
Beyond seeing the restoration project, I was able to witness the reaction of the captain of the Enterprise himself, William Shatner. His visible astonishment as he examined the ship made the moment priceless.
The Star Trek Tour Set is built to the exact specifications of the show using original blueprints and set props. With so many original costumes and props on display, you truly feel as though you are stepping aboard the Starship Enterprise. Cawley has realized a dream for Trekkies with his museum. The small town of Ticonderoga allows Trekkies alike to come together and enjoy the fandom they love without judgement.
I stepped onto the humming bridge of the Enterprise. Lights and sounds emanated from the workstations. A view screen displayed a planet. I sat in the captain's chair, but knew it didn't belong to me. It belongs to Captain Kirk. Seeing Shatner, now 95, enter through the turbolift and make his way to the center of the bridge made it all the more memorable. That will always be his spot on the iconic bridge.
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