AMHERST — The chance for kids to touch a truck, car seat inspections and K-9 demonstrations will be part of the town’s third Community Safety Day on Saturday, one of a number of activities happening around Amherst over the course of the morning, afternoon and evening.

Community Safety Day is bringing together the town’s public safety departments, including police, fire and Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service, alongside Amherst Senior Services and the Amherst Health Department. Also on hand will be the University of Massachusetts Police, Amherst College Police, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Northwestern district attorney’s office, and representatives from Greenfield Savings Bank, who will talk about scam prevention.

Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road, the goal of the day is to highlight how police officers, firefighters and unarmed community responders work together with other departments to support community safety for all residents. They will show this though simulations, services and activities, such as children being able to touch and get inside public safety vehicles, showing off extrication equipment or the “Jaws of Life,” and a fire safety trailer.

There will also be a tick and mosquito bite lab, comfort dogs and horses and information booths, with the Holyoke Hummus food truck. Face-painting, balloon twisting and music will also be part of the event.

Two other events are happening downtown, both featuring music.

First, from 5 to 8 p.m at Kendrick Park, is the inaugural “With Love!” event, put together by Citizens for Race Amity Now and Original Ting Music.

Featuring music, food, face-painting and sidewalk chalk, organizers are aiming to bring the community together to be joyful on purpose and to dance. While the event is free, it will also serve as a benefit for the 80 Acres’ 413 Free Store, and school supplies will also be collected for local families.

Deejay Theory, a pioneering ambassador of global music culture, will be featured, with a performance by local musician Tem Blessed.

Other activities include a photo booth, a raffle with prizes from local businesses, local vendors, yard games and access to the playground. This is expected to be the first of many “With Love!” events.

Then, at 6:30 p.m. at Sweetser Park, the Amherst Community Band conducted by Timothy Todd Anderson closes out the summer series with music that commemorates important anniversaries in 2024. The Amherst Business Improvement District is sponsoring the concert.

Car show

Cars & Coffee, a free car show featuring domestic, imported, exotic and vintage cars, takes place in the Mill District, at 91 Cowls Road, Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The event is held every third Sunday of the month.

In addition to the cars, Michael Sjostedt will be showcasing and selling art, while food samples from 3 Amigos restaurant will be available.

Redevelopment of University Lodge

The Zoning Board of Appeals will continue a hearing on the potential change of the University Lodge to a social dormitory Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

While members at the initial hearing on Aug. 8 appeared favorable to the transition to 16 apartments, Chairman Steve Judge said some questions remain about the size of the rooms, how many people could be in each room at a time, the parking area, and how the change will impact the neighborhood.

“My goal is to keep it quite private, keeping it well maintained and manicured,” said Curt Shumway, who owns the motel at 345 North Pleasant St. Shumway said he wants to keep the property quaint and New England-looking and will manage it carefully.

Tom Reidy, an attorney with Bacon Wilson PC, said the site will be turning into people’s homes. “With that should come with a level of comfort about traffic patterns and traffic circulation,” Reidy said.

Tova Kamlarz, who lives nearby, though, said she worries about guests who will visit and will park alongside the road when visiting downtown bars.

“I think it should be examined with the traffic, with the transportation department, because it all affect the location of the roundabout,” Kamlarz said.

“We’re expecting it to be and hoping it to be very quiet, (but) it’s not going to be without an occasional issue, I’m not going to suggest that,” Shumway said.

Gold award for UMass Dining

UMass Dining Chef Jeffrey MacDonald earned an individual gold at the National Association of College & University Food Services Culinary Competition held in Louisville, Kentucky in July, as the UMass Dining team received the top prize in the Loyal E. Horton Dining Award’s Innovative Dining Program category.

The winning dish consisted of kombu-cured branzino with miso-matcha mousseline and shrimp gyoza dashi cream, wasabi pea puree, bulgur wheat stir fry, soy-glazed mushrooms and baby bok choy. He took home a trophy, a cash prize, and recognition during the national conference, and is mentioned in the association’s magazine, “Campus Dining Today.”

MacDonald praised his other competitors and was honored that everyone on the UMass team took home gold, and thanked his wife for her support and caring for their three children while he practiced on his days off, as well as his mentor Anthony Jung, executive chef at UMass, for his support, input and feedback.

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” MacDonald said.

Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises Ken Toong praised his workers. “This award is representative of all the hard work each and every UMass Dining employee gives every day to our program. In many ways, this is just the beginning for us to continue to make positive change in the higher education dining world.”