Good News Sunday: Meet Norbert, the skateboard-riding pig who really may have trained his owner

This is Good News Sunday, a compilation of some of the more upbeat and inspiring stories published recently by the Daily Herald:

Vince Baran is living his dream, and his wife, Alicen, is along for the ride.

Fueling it, in part, is the Buffalo Grove couple's personable pet pig, Norbert, whose skateboarding prowess has made him something of a social media sensation.

Norbert's exploits have attracted the attention of local TV stations, wire services, TikTok viewers and Instagram users. The celebrity swine has more than 6,000 Instagram followers.

Everybody loves Norbert, a muscular, 150-pound spotted Juliana pig whose antics and intelligence put smiles on the faces of young and old alike. Neighbors bring him apples. Children from the local day care visit him on their walks. An elementary school invited him for a visit.

"At the end of the day I'm thrilled to talk about him, about what he can do, his intelligence and what he brings to our lives," said Vince Baran, a lifelong animal lover who had wanted a pig since he was a little boy. "It's unbelievable how smart this guy can be."

For the full story, click here.

Out and about: Why a 98-year-old Elgin woman walks 3 miles daily

Betty McKeown, 98, a lifelong resident of Elgin, has enjoyed walking all her life, and continues to rack up three miles a day on the indoor track at the Centre of Elgin.

In doing so, she is among an impressive, though likely relatively small, group of those in their late 90s nationwide who continue to thrive through daily exercise.

McKeown, who says she has "lots of grandchildren, including a great-great-great grandchild," is fueled by a simple desire beyond wanting to see her kids and grandkids: If she can move, she will do it. Plus, it gets her out among other people.

"I walk indoors at the rec center now, but I used to walk outside," McKeown said. "I would get in my car when I was done, then drive the route to determine how far I walked."

Betty's granddaughter Roxanne Baum lives with her, but McKeown gets around on her own. And she's been that way since retiring at age 65.

"You have to move a little and get out among people," McKeown said. "Even if you come to the track and walk just one lap, you are moving and seeing other people."

For the full story, click here.

Kids Above All is more than just a name for suburban nonprofit

Kids Above All does exactly what its name implies. It puts kids first.

Founded in 1894 as an orphanage in Lake Bluff, the nonprofit organization has seen a diverse expansion of its services and a variety of name changes. But through the years one thing has remained the same - its dedication to helping kids ages 24 and younger living in Cook, Kane, Lake and DuPage counties.

"Our mission to build better lives for young people facing poverty, violence and injustice ensures they have every opportunity to become independent adults who lead meaningful, productive lives," said Dan Kotowski, president and CEO.

To help in its mission, the organization recently opened its Better Life Distribution Center in Des Plaines. The facility will serve as the central hub for donations and the distribution of needed items to the children and families in its programs.

It offers a variety of programs, such as early learning, foster care and adoption services, housing support and career resources for young adults who are homeless, child care assistance, counseling for kids who have faced traumas, and Camp Sheilah, a three-day bereavement camp for youth who have lost a parent or sibling to homicide.

"At Kids Above All, we place the safety, well-being, and education of all kids above everything else because all children - no matter what they look like or where they come from - deserve the same opportunity to realize their full potential," Kotowski said.

For the full story, click here.

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