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.

“We came to an understanding that State law requires that yellow center lines be on Adams Street for safety reasons due to its traffic volume and width,” Fuller said afterwards.

‘Slap in the face’

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 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.”

Village of traditions

Fuller called into Nightside with Dan Rea and said her office should have communicated things better. She also said the village could have the Italian flag colors painted back alongside the yellow traffic line.

“I think this is a win-win for the community, because we’re going to have our green, white and red and we’re going to have yellow. We’re going to have public safety and tradition,” she said.

City Councilor John Oliver also called into that show and said he was working to figure out what happened and how to correct it.

“I think that not including the neighborhood, not including their representatives in this conversation was more than an oversight,” Oliver said. “I think anyone who’s spent 10 minutes in Nonantum, or “The Lake,” would understand that this would be somewhat of a powder keg type of an issue, and I’m glad to hear her saying she should have included more people in the conversation. And, I’ll add, she probably should have done this six-plus months ago.”

City Councilor Alison Leary, who represents the ward Adams Street is in, said she was in Maine when she heard ab0out the removal of the red, white and green lines and was “very frustrated and upset” by it and has reached out to the mayor and the Division of Public Works.

“I was given no advanced notice that this re-painting was going to happen,” Leary said. “If I had known I would have been absolutely opposed for two reasons; it is disrespectful to the Village of Nonantum and its Italian culture. Nonantum is the village of traditions. The celebration of our community’s Italian heritage is cherished by all of us, Italian and non Italian alike. I also don’t think the re-painting of the yellow lines was necessary and I don’t think it makes Adams Street safer. I am advocating for a return to the Italian colors.”

She’s not alone. Oldies 103 FM, the radio station that brings music to Festa, chimed in online as well.

“As the official soundtrack to the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s annual Italian festival, we proudly stand with them and Nonantum to have Adams Street repainted with the Italian flag!” the station posted to its Facebook page.

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.