Fitness has always been the goal for Augustus “Gus” Harris, first for himself and then for the many others who pass his way.
Fitness and health in body, mind and spirit has driven Harris, the founder of downtown Kenosha’s Flex & Burn Fitness Center, 5711 Sixth Ave., to reach goals all through his life.
It took tremendous fortitude to overcome his first big challenges, one of which was coming to America.
Born in Liberia, Harris endured a civil war and living in a refugee camp in the Ivory Coast.
Harris said he was fortunate to come to America, being accepted into Carthage College in 1993. He received political asylum, then a green card and ultimately became a U.S. citizen.
After college, he worked for 10 years in the financial department at Case in Racine where he met his wife, Yolanda.
But he got the itch to start his own business, and other than finance, he knew fitness the best.
For nine years, as the owner of the downtown fitness center, he has helped people achieve their goals through his guidance as a personal trainer, coach and boot camp leader and most of all as a mentor helping young people to gain their inner strength.
Located in a two-story building, Flex & Burn, which opened in 2012, is more than the typical fitness center. Eighty percent of it is relating to people and having the ability to deal with people, being adaptable and a good listener, Harris said.
“Clients get personal attention,” he said. “I saw a need and developed a niche marketing plan to help clients. Workouts are sculpted in accordance to goals of the clients.”
He also works with athletes of all ages in sports, including baseball, football, hockey, soccer and cheerleading.
He said many of his clients have become like family. He said he doesn’t advertise, instead attracting clients through word-of-mouth referrals.
Harris describes Flex & Burn as a place where some people with fitness goals, can overcome their fears without criticism.
“It a good place where people come and not be afraid at being looked at. They can come here and have more privacy,” he said.
“Clients are typically middle-age working professionals who are looking for an experienced trainer to work with in a private workout studio away from the crowds in most franchise gyms.”
One of his clients, an 82-year-old woman, comes three times a week to work on strength and balance exercises.
While many of the clients come for fitness, others come to continue the type of rehabilitation program they had before their insurance ran out.
“I’m not a rehabilitation therapist, but when people come in wanting to continue their rehabilitation, I help them devise a plan at a price they can afford,” he said.
For more information, contact Flex & Burn on Facebook and at 262-515-9527.
WEATHER FEATURE

World Water Day is the perfect time to celebrate Lake Michigan, home to our iconic red lighthouse and the source for our clean, safe drinking water.
ambrose4

Above, the sun rises slowly over Lake Michigan’s dark, churning waters off the Kenosha lakeshore on a recent morning. At top, the tall ship the Red Witch sits at its moorings alongside the Kenosha Harbor.
ambrose4
kdisinwater

This image was taken by a Kenosha couple of local teens in swimming attire on the north pier who were seen jumping several times into Lake Michigan on Friday.
Feature photo

Shrouded by fog
Fog on Lake Michigan Wednesday partially obscures the Red Witch, a reproduction of an early 19th century Great Lakes schooner that regulary cruises the local coastline and is homeported in Kenosha.
1246627.jpg

1246627
The Thomas family enjoying an early evening walk down by the Kenosha pier on Lake Michigan (Jake, Camryn, Samantha and Darin)
Submitted by Taylor Thomas
fishing

Casting for a bite, Tyler Niemeyer of St. Charles, Minn., makes his way back to shore to change lures while fishing Lake Michigan off the Pike River. Fishing columnist Bill Kloster believes the bite around town from the shoreline at Lake Michigan, although presently bleak, has the potential of providing “extra angling excitement that keeps fishermen awake at night.”
fishing
Kiteboarding

Brian Erwin, of Kenosha, get his foil-equipped board out of the water while kiteboarding near the Pennoyer Park Sesquicentennial Band Shell on Lake Michigan.
Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding

Brian Erwin, of Kenosha, get his foil-equipped board out of the water while kiteboarding off of the Pennoyer Sesquicentennial Band Shell on Lake Michigan.
Behind the Lens - Kiteboarding

Brian Erwin, of Kenosha, get his foil-equipped board out of the water while kiteboarding off of the Pennoyer Sesquicentennial Band Shell on Lake Michigan. When I headed to the lakefront to take photos of him in actino, I packed our longest lens, a 400 mm and brought a converter as I was expecting him to be out on the lake. To my surprise, he stayed pretty close to the shore and I found myself with a little too much of a zoom. This photograph filled the entire frame of the camera.
Kiteboarding

Charles Matalonis Jr., of Kenosha, starts his kiteboard from the beach by the Pennoyer Park Sesquicentennial Band Shell on Lake Michigan.
Kiteboarding
WEATHER FEATURE

Some peace of mind
“I like open space. I don’t see the end of it, so that gives me peace of mind,” said John Kramarz as he fished at the Pike River outlet into Lake Michigan at Pennoyer Park on Sunday.
STANDALONE WEATHER FEATURE

A wild ride on the Lake Michigan waters
A kiteboarder plays in the waves along Simmons Island on Thursday. It won’t be much warmer today, despite mostly sunny skies in the forecast. Winds will be easterly from 10 to 20 mph today, and waves on the lake will be from 5 to 9 feet high. For more on the lake boating advisory and the AccuWeather forecast, see Page A12.
Red Witch

Andrew Sadock, owner/captain of the Red Witch, oversees the dry dock procedure from the bow last fall at Southport Marina. The 77-foot double-masted schooner served 3,232 customers over summer 2017 in Kenosha. It is back in Lake Michigan this year and the ship will lead the procession of the Tall Ships Festival back to Kenosha in 2019.
weather photos

Another home game postponement for Kingfish
Kenosha Kingfish grounds crew members Nathan Hansen, left, and Drew Dyer (grandson of Kingfish manager Duffy Dyer and son of hitting coach Brian Dyer) fill in a muddy infield patch at Simmons Field on Wednesday afternoon. Wet field conditions delayed the midday game against the Lakeshore Chinooks before it was eventually postponed. It will be made up July 3 at 4:05 p.m. as the first game of a doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning games. Wednesday was the second consecutive day the Kingfish had a home contest postponed after rain washed out Tuesday night’s tilt against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. That will be made up Aug. 2 at Simmons as part of a doubleheader starting at 4:30 p.m.