The streets of Nonantum in Newton, Massachusetts were filled with Italian flags, music, and celebration this weekend as the community marked the 90th annual "Festa" amid a controversy about painted lines in the street. The beloved event, a cornerstone of the neighborhood's Italian-American culture, drew large crowds with its street parade, carnival and public displays of heritage.
"It's a tradition," said Newton resident Paul Camilli. "It brings the neighborhood together." The festival took on added significance this year following controversy surrounding Adams Street, where the city recently painted over the iconic red, white and green stripes traditionally displayed in the center of the road leading up to the event.
