The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (SHPC) invites all interested residents to two free events that celebrate Somerville’s rich heritage.

The official kick-off event for Somerville’s Preservation Month will be the 2015 Jane’s Walk this Sat., May 2. The event is part of a global movement of neighbor-led walking tours inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs. This year’s walk will explore some of the hidden assets of Union Sq. with a leisurely stroll through parts of the Prospect Hill neighborhood. Interested attendees should meet at 10 a.m on the Union Sq. Plaza, in front of the former police station. This event is sponsored by the SHPC and Union Square Main Streets. For more information about these annual walks, visit http://www.janeswalk.org.

On Sun., May 3, join the SHPC and East Somerville Main Streets (ESMS) for a free walking tour entitled “Columns, Cornices, & Corner Boards: Cherished Designs of East Somerville,” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Led by Edward Gordon, President of the New England Chapter of the Victorian Society of America, the tour will step off from the Mt. Vernon Restaurant at 14 Broadway and conclude with a reception of light refreshments at La Brasa Restaurant. In the event of heavy rain, the tour will be postponed to Sun., May 10.

For more information about these and other events related to May Preservation Month in Somerville, contact Brandon Wilson at BWilson@somervillema.gov, or 617-625-6600 ext. 2532.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Betsy Allen, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or BAllen@somervillema.gov.