5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 23

1. Reimagining Walnut Street. Residents, property owners and business owners in Newtonville are invited a meeting tonight at the New Art Center to discuss ideas and values as a design for street improvements of Walnut Street south of the Mass Pike are conceptualized.

2. U.S. Senate Candidate in Town. Gabriel Gomez, who is running on the Republican ticket to fill Massachusetts' vacant U.S. Senate seat, will address the Newton-Needham Chamber today at 8 a.m. If you're reading 5 Things early, the event is free and open to the public at the Newton Health Care Center at 2101 Washington St.

3. Prep School Open House. CATS Academy is holding an open house today from 10 a.m. to noon for prospective students and their families. The school offers merit scholarships and provides education for students in ninth through 12th grade.

4. History Book Club. The History Book Club will discuss Choosing War: The Lost Chance for Peace and the Escalation of War in Vietnam at tonight's meeting at the Jackson Homestead and Museum. It's perhaps too late to read the book, but new members are always welcome to join the group and learn what next month's selection will be. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

5. Solarize Mass Announcement. Mayor Setti Warren, along with the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Richard Sullivan, will today officially announce Newton's selection as a Solarize Mass town and kick off the city's Sustainability Month.