Residents of Chester look forward each year to summertime fun on the banks of Cedar Lake, which consistently welcomes visitors with its 50,000 square foot swimming area, seasonal lifeguards, picnic tables, and pavilion grills. What has often changed at the beach is the Snack Shack, though this year shack will once again run by concessionaire Michael LaChance.

LaChance requested of the Chester Board of Selectman (BOS) that the lease on the building be reduced to $500 for the summer season, which runs May 18 through Oct. 13. During the 2014 season, LaChance did well and reportedly left the facility very clean and in good condition, so the BOS authorized the rent reduction for this year, with a security deposit of $750.

In addition to regular recreational fun at the lake, this year once again, the Cedar Lake Tri Series events will take place every other Thursday evening (June 25, July 9, July 23 and Aug. 20). The events feature a lake swim, a road bike ride, and flat and fast 5K run. The routes have not changed from prior years and traffic and parking concerns will be coordinated with the state troopers.

The Tri Series provides its own water safety protection, it pays a fee to use the area for each event, and it provides the town with a certificate of liability insurance for each event, which begins on the schedule dates at 6:15 p.m.

“We have chosen Cedar Lake and the town of Chester as the home base for our series because it is a quaint, picturesque, hidden gem. The water of Cedar Lake is beautiful and pristine, and the area is just a wonderful backdrop for our event,” said Tri Series co-race director Jonathan Ingalls.

Co-race director Garrett Ingalls said the goal of the Tri Series is to promote a healthy lifestyle through personal fitness and athletic goals.

“Each season we get more and more participants at the Chester events and we are extremely happy to be part of creating a stronger community in the area,” said Garrett.