Last week, the city removed the red, green and white lines—representing the Italian flag and Nonantum’s large Italian-American community—from Adams Street in the middle of the night, setting off a firestorm of outrage in the village.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said the removal was due to state law requiring a yellow line in the middle of the street and that her people had spoken with people in Nonantum about replacing the Italian colors after the yellow traffic line was painted.

But this week, the St. Mary of Carmen Society, which has the lines painted every year, issued a statement pushing back on the mayor’s reasoning for the removal.

“These lines are not just paint, they are sacred symbols of Italian-American pride, religious tradition, and community identity,” the statement reads, noting that the painted lines are a tradition as old as Festa itself. “They have been faithfully re-painted each July since 1935 to honor the Blessed Mother and mark the path of the Saint Mary of Carmen procession to our church. This tradition is not new. It has existed in harmony with city traffic and public safety regulations for nearly a century. In fact, it has been formally permitted by the City of Newton for decades—long before the current administration.”

Making matters worse, the beloved colors were erased just a couple of weeks before the 90^th anniversary of Festa, a four-day festival hosted by the St. Mary of Carmen Society.

“This surprise removal of our sacred religious public art installation was done hastily and under the cover of darkness, mere weeks before the 90th Annual Festival,” the organization’s statement continues. “The sudden invocation of a decades-old law and the timing of this selective enforcement raise serious concerns about motive and priorities.”

The late-night paint scrubbing sparked headlines and emotions beyond Adams Street, as Newton debates change after change, as long-time residents complain that local identity is being washed away, and as the St. Mary of Carmen Society prepares to honor 90 years of tradition.

“This decision didn’t just disrupt logistics, it struck a blow to the heart of our community,” the statement reads. “To the generations of immigrant families who built Nonantum, and to the young immigrant families who are learning to carry their legacy forward, this was a painful reminder that our traditions can be erased without warning or respect. It was more than a breach of trust: it was a slap in the face.”

The St. Mary of Carmen Society statement can be read in its entirety below.

The St. Mary of Carma Festa will be held from July 16 to 20. The annual block party is in its 90th year and typically sees about 10,000 attendees.

Wondering why Nonantum is called The Lake? We have that story.

Statement by the St. Mary of Carmem Society after the removal of the Italian flag colors from Adams Street.