Italian Pride Restored To Newton Village: Report

After nearly one year of controversy, this Nonantum village symbol has returned to Adams Street.

By Benjamin Pierce, no role

May 5, 2026 5:19 pm EDT

Mayor Marc Laredo first made the announcement of the design's return back in March. (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

NEWTON, MA — A symbolic staple has finally returned to a Newton neighborhood after a controversial and tumultuous absence, according to a report from WCVB NewsCenter 5.

The red, green, and white Italian Flag-themed street lines on Adams Street in Nonantum Village were finally restored on Monday, May 4. They were first removed last June and replaced with standard yellow lane dividing lines. Former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said the lane dividers had to be replaced in order to follow state law ahead of the annual Festa event, and that the change was only temporary. However, the lines would be painted away from the center of the road and the yellow lines would remain. Upon hearing this announcement, one resident started a petition to have the lines reimplemented to their original position that garnered more than 1,000 signatures. In the period during its absence, one resident received a citation for attempting to spray paint the roadway himself. Fuller’s decision even drew criticism from Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca.

Newton’s Department of Public Works created parking spaces on both sides of the street by marking them with white lines. Laredo said this addition made it no longer necessary for the street to have a double yellow line in the center due to a narrowing of the roadway, and it was replaced with a white reflective strip. DPW crews gave a fresh coat of Italian-inspired paint to both sides of the strip. The design is expected to be permanent.