On Sunday, August 6th, the Nonantum Neighborhood Association (NNA) hosted its annual Village Day — with a twist: an early evening event with something for everyone. Rained out on its usual day and time – from 11:30 – 3:00 on the first Sunday in June, this Village Day, an early evening event, from 5:00-8:00, offered perfect sunny, breezy weather, food, music, and a packed (Coletti-Magni) park full of activities. A steady flow of neighbors and Nonantum Village Day fans from all over tried out a variety of crafts, had their faces painted, bought toys and jewelry and food, watched the puppet show, and swayed to the lively music of the Studio Two Beatles Tribute Band. Nonantum’s “Mayor,” Teresa Gentile Sauro, President of the NNA, presided over the seamlessly coordinated event borne of many years’ experience. “Nonantum is like a family,” she explained, “and we have our traditions.” Those are traditions the community was happy to share!
Dr. Cornfish 
Melissa Brown, saving Newton trees 
NNA $1000 Scholarship winners, with Mayor Fuller, Supt. Nolin, Jimmy Pellegrine and Terry Sauro 
Patrick Devlin singing the Star Spangled Banner with Mayor Fuller and Terry Sauro 
Jimmy Pellegrine, Village Day Event Coordinator, with Hattie Kerwin Derrick, the Mayor’s Assistant 
Ward 1 City Councilor Maria Scibelli Greenberg and Ward 1 School Committee member Rajeev Parlikar 
Behind the scene of Rosalita’s Enchanted Castle 
Rosalita and the Enchanted Castle 
Terry Sauro introducing the Studio Two Beatles Tribute Band 
Greg Fulchino and Debbie Knapp at the Newton Free Library table
At 5:20, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard together with the Newton Police Department Honor Guard signaled the opening of event, marching in tight formation from Watertown Street past the park on Bridge Street. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller joined Terry Sauro and event coordinator, Jimmy Pellegrine, under the canopy, set up on Bridge Street for the band and for the presentation of the six scholarships to Newton high school graduates. Patrick Devlin, a rising Newton North junior, thrilled the crowd with his soaring acapella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Mr. Pellegrine called for a moment of silence in remembrance of recent homicide victims Lucia Arpino, Gilda and Bruno D’Amore, and Nancy Hanson. Mayor Fuller thanked Mrs. Sauro for bringing people together in “times of tragedy and happiness.” NNA members, Maria Scabelli Greenberg, Ward 1 City Councilor, and Rajeev Parlikar, Ward 1 School Committee member, joined the festivities. City Councilor Tarik Lucas, At-Large, from Ward 2, walked the few blocks from his house to join his Nonantum neighbors.
Every year, the NNA sponsors an essay contest on a specific theme. This year’s topic asked seniors to write about teachers who most inspired them. Newton’s new school superintendent, Dr. Anna Nolin, presented the scholarships. Michael Rogan was awarded the $1000 Nonantum Neighborhood Association Society Scholarship. Harold Purcell, received the $1000 Jay Ciccone Scholarship named for the late Ward 1 City Councilor. And Jenna Vincenzino was the recipient of the $1000 Francesca Cedrone Scholarship, named for the 22-year-old social work student who died in 2019. Mark Hamment, Hidaya Budenya, and Victor Caira were awarded $100 each for participation in the essay contest. Supt. Nolin thanked the community for its recognition, encouragement, and support of young scholars.
With the conclusion of the scholarship presentations, Rosalita (Charlotte Dore) — dressed as an angel — led the way to the puppet stage, followed by a large group of children. Her Enchanted Castle puppet cast featured a dragon threatening its inhabitants. Delighted children squealed and laughed in appreciation of Rosalita’s stories. Surrounded by swarms of children, Debbie Knapp, Greg Fulchino, and Marianne Connelly, from the Newton Free Library, were promoting library membership and transforming the children’s design drawings into large, wearable buttons. The Village Bank, sponsor of the annual event, was giving away something for every member of the family, including dog-poop bags, water bottles, stress-relief balls, sunglasses, wrist bands, colored pencils, and Village Bank bags. “Dr. Cornfish” was sketching caricatures of attendees, Melissa Brown was a walking sign, soliciting signatures for Newton’s proposed tree protection ordinance. Cabot’s was offering free scoops of ice cream, and people were lining up at Che! Empanada’s booth to buy some of Newtonville’s new Argentinian restaurant’s specials. The Wingz ’n Thingz food truck was another attraction, as was Joey’s Canollis truck offering a range of sweet options to eager patrons. And on a busman’s holiday, several members from three of the Newton’s four Neighborhood Area Councils, which host local village days, were on hand in support of Nonantum.
As some people were wandering through the Park, moving from activity to activity, others were setting up folding chairs along Bridge Street to listen to the Studio Two Beatles Tribute Band, in their fourth annual Village Day performance, playing to a multi-generational and wildly appreciative audience. Many were of the Beatles generation and were happily singing along to the music. They were joined by much younger people — in fact, many of the children – who were singing and swaying to the familiar Beatles classics. Clearly, people were enjoying the evening.
Surveying the happy crowd, Terry Sauro said, “Our community really needed to come together for a fun event.”
