Coming on the heels of a triple overtime thriller, the Fitchburg State Falcons men’s hockey team will host the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Trailblazers in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference finals at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in the Wallace Civic Center at 1000 John Fitch Highway. The Falcons (14-12-1, 8-9-1 MASCAC) entered the playoffs as a fourth seed, and will take on the eighth-seeded Trailblazers in the finals. The Falcons punched their ticket to the championship last Saturday when they bested the Salem State Vikings in triple overtime during a game where junior goaltender Max Macchioni saved a team single game record 76 shots. “I cannot wait to cheer on our Fitchburg State Falcons this Saturday as they fight for the championship,” said University President Dr. Donna Hodge. “This team has shown unmatched determination, grit, and heart all season long, and now they have the chance to bring home the title in front of their entire Falcon community. This game is about more than just hockey—it’s about Fitchburg State pride, passion, and excellence on full display. I look forward to standing alongside our students, alumni, faculty, librarians, staff, and the greater community as we come together to celebrate not only our team’s success but the unstoppable spirit that defines who we are as a university.” “Getting to the MASCAC championship game is a remarkable achievement for our hockey team, and a credit to a long season’s worth of hard work and commitment,” University Athletic Director Matthew Burke said. “I am so proud of our student-athletes, who embody Fitchburg State’s highest ideals, and the dedicated coaching staff for helping them realize this goal.” The Falcons are led by legendary Coach Dean Fuller, who has guided the team to more than 600 wins during his 41 seasons at the university. The team has won seven conference championships in 11 appearances under his watch, last winning the MASCAC crown in 2018. This will mark the Falcons’ second consecutive year at the finals. “We’re very happy to be hosting the MASCAC Championship this Saturday,” said Coach Fuller. “Our team leadership has been great all season long, and the men have shown determination and grit, which paid off in our three overtime win against Salem. As a group, we are focused on Saturday and looking forward to the challenge.” Fitchburg State will host a tailgate party outside the Civic Center starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, where visitors can enjoy music, eat a grilled Fitchburger, and get hyped for the contest. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Admission is free for children under 12, senior citizens, and Fitchburg State students, faculty and staff with their OneCard. Tickets may also be purchased online. The game will also be shown live on Fitchburg Access Television at fatv.org. The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference provides a comprehensive program of athletics for all State Universities. The objective underlying this purpose is to create a healthy atmosphere of competition and rivalry between the Universities and their student bodies while fostering the values of cooperation, leadership, courage, self-discipline, sportsmanship, diversity and self-reliance among the participating student-athletes.

The Community Read of Sonia Purnell’s acclaimed book A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II (2020) will continue with a virtual discussion with the author at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25. The online talk is free and open to the public. In 1942, the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission: “She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her.” The target in their sights was Virginia Hall, a Baltimore socialite who talked her way into Special Operations Executive, the spy organization dubbed Winston Churchill’s “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” She became the first Allied woman deployed behind enemy lines and–despite her prosthetic leg–helped to light the flame of the French Resistance, revolutionizing secret warfare as we know it. Purnell’s acclaimed book explores the full, secret life of Virginia Hall–an astounding and inspiring story of heroism, spycraft, resistance, and personal triumph over shocking adversity. A Woman of No Importance is the breathtaking story of how one woman’s fierce persistence helped win the war. The virtual talk may be joined at https://meet.google.com/nzv-uocm-iez. Readers are also invited to a brunch talk book club discussion about the book at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17 in the Lunenburg Adult Activity Center at 25 Memorial Drive. Registrants are asked to reserve space by calling the center at 978.582.4166. Fitchburg State will also host a virtual alumni book club discussion at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 19. That session may be joined at https://meet.google.com/bbd-uwzd-kgd. The Community Read is a collaboration between Fitchburg State University, local libraries, and the surrounding communities. It is our mission to promote thought-provoking discussions of literature to all audiences. This program is the product of the community, for the community. Our goal is to facilitate a place for insightful discussion, giving members of the community a chance to share their opinions and be heard. Our events offer a comfortable space to exchange views and interact with others. Keep up with events at fitchburgcommuntyread.com. About Sonia Purnell Bestselling and prize-winning author Sonia Purnell is celebrated for her lively writing style and meticulous research with a growing readership across the world. Her work has been optioned by several leading film-makers, won fans from all walks of life from presidents to physicians and been translated into more than twenty languages. Readers write to her regularly on how they have drawn inspiration from her books, which have sold more than a million copies. Her first work - the unauthorised biography of Boris Johnson called Just Boris: A Tale of Blond Ambition - was long listed for the Orwell prize in 2011. As the first to challenge his track record and integrity, it changed the national debate and remains the definitive biography. Sonia has become the go-to commentator at home and abroad on his rise to power and his record in office. Her second book, First Lady in the UK and Clementine in the US, (a finalist for the Plutarch prize) revealed for the first time the vital role played in Winston Churchill's career by his wife Clementine. The book has subsequently shaped Clementine’s portrayal on screen, including in the Netflix series “The Crown” when she was played by Harriet Walter who has described Sonia’s writing as a “whirlwind of fresh air” that opens “a door…into a flood of sunlight”. Her third work, A Woman of No Importance, is the inspirational true-life tale of a female spy in WWII, Virginia Hall, a young American socialite with a wooden leg, who helped fan the flames of French Resistance. It became an instant New York Times Bestseller when published in 2019, remained on the list for many weeks, and won the prestigious Plutarch Prize for Best Biography in 2020. Her latest book Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman’s Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction & Intrigue came out in September 2024 to huge critical and reader acclaim. It has been hailed as a Book of the Year by no fewer than 15 media outlets from the Guardian to the Economist via the New Yorker. Kingmaker is hailed as an electrifying re-examination of one of the 20th century’s greatest unsung power players as well as an eye-popping tale of sex, money, politics and fabulous clothes. Previously written off as a courtesan and social climber, Pamela Harriman’s true legacy has been overshadowed by her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes to change the world has remained invisible and secret. That is, until now.

The Center for Italian Culture will present a series of book club events examining the recently-published (2022) biography of Edda Mussolini, Mussolini's Daughter: The Most Dangerous Woman in Europe, by Caroline Moorehead. A screening of the film Vincere directed by Marco Bellocchio enriches the topic of the private life of the Italian dictator, telling the tragic story of his first wife Ida Dalser and her child Benito. The sessions will be led by Professor Rala Diakite of the university's Humanities Department. The book club will meet at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in Hammond Hall, Room G-11. Use this form to RSVP for the discussion. The university will also host a screening of the film "Vincere" (2009) at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10 in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall. Participation in the book club and attendance at the film screening is free and open to the public.

The Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State University will host a public screening of It Ain’t Over (2022), a heartfelt and inspiring documentary about New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra. The film will screen at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Written and directed by Sean Mullin, the film delves into the remarkable life and career of one of baseball’s most beloved figures. This documentary chronicles the journey of Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra, the son of Italian immigrants who grew up in St. Louis on “The Hill,” an Italian-American neighborhood once derisively called “Dago Hill” by the press. From his humble beginnings, Berra rose to greatness as a Yankee legend, playing alongside icons like Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio between 1946 and 1963, and later served as a manager and coach with the Yankees, New York Mets, and Houston Astros. Featuring rare archival footage, insightful interviews with Berra and his family, and commentary from renowned figures such as Vin Scully, Bob Costas, Billy Crystal, Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Joe Madden, and Joe Girardi, It Ain’t Over paints an intimate portrait of Yogi Berra’s life, both on and off the field. Whether you're a lifelong baseball fan or simply curious about this great Italian-American, one of the sport’s greatest personalities, this film is a must-see.

Fitchburg State University’s police program, in association with its Criminal Justice Club, will host a panel discussion for Women in Law Enforcement at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 in Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission is free and open to the public. The panel was assembled with assistance from the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement. The audience for the talk will include students in the university’s criminal justice police concentration, who in five years complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees in addition to certification to serve in municipal police departments across Massachusetts and neighboring states. The program’s eighth cohort will begin a 17-week academy days after receiving their diplomas at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 17. Panelists for the talk on March 4 will include: Springfield Police Lt. Eleni Barbieri, with nearly 20 years experience on the force and 14 years in training and professional development. A seasoned instructor at the Police Academy and Training Division, she specializes in use of force, defensive tactics, firearms, and medical training. She holds an EMT certification and is committed to ensuring officers are well-prepared for high-pressure situations. Lt. Barbieri is also deeply passionate about officer wellness, advocating for physical, mental, and emotional well-being within law enforcement. She strives to equip officers with the skills and resilience needed for a long and healthy career through her work. Boston Police Sgt. Det. Amyleigh DeVito, in her 15th year with the department. She is assigned to the areas of Roxbury and Dorchester where she helps oversee 16 detectives who handle general crimes from missing persons and larcenies to shootings and robberies. Before that she was patrol supervisor and spent four years as a detective in Mattapan. In patrol she worked a variety of positions including uniform, plainclothes, bike patrol, co-response with a clinician, walking beats, and traffic cars. She is currently on the BPD Firearms Discharge Investigations Team. She is the Vice President of the MA Association of Women in Law Enforcement. Carver Police Officer Krista-Jean Forand holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Nichols College, with a double concentration in Criminal Justice Management and Psychology. Prior to her law enforcement career, she dedicated eight years to Elder Services, where she investigated and supervised elder abuse cases within the Protective Services unit. She also contributed to the fight against human trafficking as part of a street outreach team in the City of New Bedford. Tyngsborough Police Officer Olivia King has been a member of the Tyngsborough Police Department since 2021. She graduated as one of only three women in her class at the Reading Academy’s 32nd ROC, and the sole self-sponsored recruit. Since joining the Tyngsborough Police Department, she has been certified as a School Resource Officer (SRO), the department’s car seat technician, is a member of the Marine Unit, and serves as the current Patrol Union President. She has a B.S. in Early Childhood Studies from Plymouth State University. Officer King has a passion for working with children and the elderly, which extends beyond her professional duties and drives her involvement in community outreach programs. UMass Worcester Deputy Police Chief Nancy O’Loughlin began her law enforcement career in 1983 with the MBTA Transit Police Department, where her tenure included Patrol Officer, K-9 Officer (the first female K-9 handler at the MBTA Transit PD and among one of the first in the state), Anti-Crime Officer, Sergeant, Sergeant Detective, Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Detective. Deputy Chief O’Loughlin retired from the Transit PD in early 2013 but quickly returned to the field as Patrol Officer for Boston University Police Department and worked as a member of the Bicycle Unit. In 2020 Deputy Chief O’Loughlin took a position as a Sergeant with the University of Massachusetts at Worcester and was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief in 2022. She has been the recipient of many awards and commendations during her career, including the Massachusetts Hana Medal of Valor, Massachusetts Senate Citation for Bravery, Silias Award for K9 Handler, Massachusetts House Citation for Bravery and a Humanitarian Award. Waltham Police Lt. Kaitlyn (MacPherson) Mercurio is a lifelong Waltham resident, having graduated from Waltham High School in 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree as a double major in Criminal Justice and Theatre Arts from Stonehill College in 2005. She later received her master’s degree in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell. She was hired by the Waltham Police Department as a Student Clerk in 2002, became a Cadet in 2005 and started the 13th MPOC Academy in Reading later that year. As an Officer, she worked in the Patrol and Administration Divisions, assisting the Department through five successful Massachusetts Accreditation Commission assessments. She was a longtime member of the Homeless Task Force, as well as a Field Training Officer, until her promotion to Sergeant in October 2017. That same month, she responded to Puerto Rico to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Shortly after her promotion to Sergeant, she took over as the coordinator for the Homeless Task Force, Jail Diversion, and Crisis Intervention Training Programs. In 2019, she was assigned to the Administration Division as the Personnel and Assignments Officer. In that position, she served an integral role in developing, implementing and coordinating the Department’s COVID response plan. She is currently a certified instructor for the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC) and a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Women’s Leadership Institute.

Best-selling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, a 1983 alumnus of Fitchburg State University, will return to the campus this month for an artist residency with students, faculty and community members on Tuesday, March 4. Reynolds’ works, including The Dot, The Word Collector and Say Something!, have inspired children of all ages with their messages of authentic learning, creativity, bravery, empathy, and courageous self-expression. He is also the illustrator of the best-selling I Am series written by Susan Verde, as well the Judy Moody series written by Megan McDonald, which has now over 40 million copies in print worldwide. Reynolds, who studied communications media at Fitchburg State, will visit classrooms at the McKay Elementary School on the university campus before taking part in a public forum at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 in the main lounge of Hammond Hall. University President Donna Hodge will moderate the discussion. Reynolds recently observed the 15th anniversary of International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration that began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Reynolds’ book. The Dot is the story of a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”. What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe. Last year, Reynolds made an appearance on the lawn of the White House to perform as narrator of the TheaterWorksUSA production of DOT DOT DOT: A New Musical, an adaptation of three of his books about creativity, The Dot, Ish and Sky Color published by Candlewick Press/Walker Books, also known as the Creatrilogy. Performances of the show, featuring Reynolds and the musical’s talented young actors, were part of the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. In addition to his celebrated books, Reynolds is the founder of the Boston-based educational media development firm FableVision Studios, which creates animations, interactives, and game-based learning apps for organizations such as PBS Kids, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Nickelodeon, and Library of Congress. Reynolds also launched FableVision Learning, whose mission is to help educators inspire their students to develop and strengthen their skills in creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and compassion. With his twin brother, Paul, Reynolds also founded the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity, which just opened the doors on its new creativity recharge center in Dedham, Mass. called TLC Studios. And, because he didn’t have enough to keep him busy, Reynolds also launched a children’s book, toy and creativity store The Blue Bunny, which is celebrating 22 years this October.