Batavia’s Flores keeps fighting the good fight

Rich Flores knew there was something wrong when he fainted while giving a young golfer a lesson late last fall.

Things got worse when, just before the holidays, he felt terrible one morning and could hardly breathe.

“I told my wife I thought I was dying,” said Flores, a teaching golf professional who has his own facility at his home in Batavia, as well as providing lessons at the Pheasant Run driving range.

A trip to the hospital emergency room started a sequence of tests and, ultimately, a regimen of chemotherapy treatments. But Flores remains uncertain as to what he’s up against.

“The doctors still are not sure,” Flores said. “One of the doctors said the cause of the illness ‘is not showing its full face.’”

Flores said until his problem is totally pinpointed, he is being treated for symptoms generally associated with plasma cell cancer. While he retains the usual optimistic persona, which is his strongest trait, Flores admits he’d be even more determined and focused “if I knew what I was fighting.”

He receives a chemotherapy treatment every Monday, saying that so far it has not been too bad.

“It makes me really tired that day, but after sleeping for a few hours I feel better, so it’s been OK so far.”

Flores was scheduled to undergo a heart tissue biopsy this week, a procedure that understandably had him concerned.

“The doctors said I have been through tougher biopsies than this one already, and not to worry,” Flores said. “So, I’m like saying, ‘OK, doc, let’s get this fixed.’”

The illness isn’t slowing Flores down on his golf lesson schedule and he’s ready to get things rolling Tuesday, as the first round of ladies lessons at Pheasant Run begins. The junior lessons follow later in the spring. He’s taking signups now for all lessons.

“I’ll have to be more careful about protecting myself from the sun,” Flores admitted. “But I’m looking forward to getting outside with my students.”

Those interested in learning more about Flores and his lesson offerings can check out his website at richfloresgolf.com.

Retail shuffle in Batavia: Batavia city officials may have been surprised when the folks from Grant’s Appliances recently announced they’d be closing the Batavia store on Randall Road.But hopefully filling that vacancy in the Shoppes at Windmill Place won#146;t be as mysterious as the Golden Corral saga or, better put, #147;the restaurant that would not open.#148;That tale has had so many twists, it is probably best left alone at this point #8212; because none of the previous conversations with the franchise owner about opening soon has panned out. Basically, he was trying to iron out problems with the bank regarding a short-sale on the property, thus freeing up the money needed to continue the project.Don#146;t hold your breath on that one. It is plain to see nothing has happened to the restaurant shell on Randall Road in more than a year now.Things in Batavia that hopefully won#146;t be quite as mysterious include the fact that work is taking place on the former Fox Grill restaurant downtown. Mayor Jeff Schielke has hinted that a new eatery with an outdoors theme will be revealed soon. In another makeover for a restaurant, it was also no surprise that the McDonald#146;s in downtown Batavia is indicating plans to #147;modernize,#148; which basically means Mac officials have gone to plan B in light of the failure of the recreation center referendum that would have included moving the McDonald#146;s to a different location.Fighting diabetes: Enjoying a concert on May 6 at Real Time Sports will do plenty of good for those who suffer from Type 1 diabetes.In an event titled, #147;Freedom Free Insulin 2011,#148; a Chicago band called Ovrevolt will host the event to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.Gary Kouba, the drummer for Ovrevolt, is credited with coming up with the idea for a few bands to donate their time so that proceeds from the event could be donated to JDRF.Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children, plus donations will be taken at the door. Those who cannot attend are encouraged to make a donation with a check payable to JDRF and send it to Gary Kouba, 255 Heritage Drive, Roselle, Ill., 60172.Election oddity No. 1: At the risk of sounding like a lazy buffoon, I have a nagging question regarding last week#146;s consolidated elections.I live a lot closer to the Western Avenue School polling place in Geneva, than I do to the Coultrap building polling place. But, of course, I had to go to Coultrap to vote in what was a switch from my previous voting at the Sunset Recreation Center, which was super convenient. This is not a big deal, of course, unless someone wants to consider the ridiculous cost of gasoline in the voting process.Election oddity No. 2: Speaking of lazy buffoons, that pretty much describes anyone who doesn#146;t bother to vote. Based on statistics from Tuesday night, there are a lot of them out there.Election oddity No. 3: A reader sent a note wondering why a company from Seattle with a 206 area code, was apparently being used to deliver automated phone messages to remind people to vote in Kane County.#147;With unemployment being what it is in Illinois, can#146;t we at least hire an Illinois company to do this?#148; the reader asked.dheun@sbcglobal.net