A few Fremont Universe and My Ballard readers emailed us to ask about a procession of Okanogan Sheriff’s vehicles seen driving east on 46th St. near Fremont Ave. at 9:30 this morning. Turns out, it was a caravan escorting the body of 8-year-old Parker Brown — the son of an Okanogan Sheriff’s deputy — who died after a six-year struggle with cancer. The boy’s family along with deputies and police officers from several agencies spanning the state participated in the procession today to bring the boy home from Ballard to Okanogan. A very heartbreaking story.

We saw this Metro bus on Market headed towards “Freemont.”

At the risk of turning into the neighborhood spelling police, that’s not the first time the county has misspelled the neighborhood.

This was catching people’s attention in Fremont today.

A noose around Lenin’s neck holds a sign that says, “Size Matters. I’m Just a Capitalist Tool.” If you look closely, you’ll see who put it up there.

Taco del Mar, which is located right behind the statue. The restaurant recently re-opened after being closed for several months. So is putting Lenin to work to sell tacos smart advertising? Or a shameless publicity stunt that takes advantage of Fremont’s public art?

We’ve seen the bear adorned with a festive hat, but never like this:

That’s the the big bear statue in front of Brown Bear car wash on Leary, covered in plastic. “We are adding some additional design features to surround the bear statue,” explains George Hobson from Brown Bear. “It was covered to protect it from the concrete and paint work.” (Thanks Bill for the tip!)

“The Fremont Troll has been the subject of a seasonally-inspired guerrilla artist,” explains Rachel Blackman, who shot this photo.

She points out the that the “Just Married” chalk on the Troll was done by a wedding party a few nights ago. (Thanks Rachel! By the way, check out her cool photo of Lenin in the snow right here.)

18 members of the Seattle Mountaineers Club are completing an urban hike today between seven branches of the Seattle Public Library, including the Fremont branch. Here they are crossing the Fremont Bridge…

And posing in front of the Waiting for the Interurban…

The hikers are celebrating the end of the city’s campaign to build and remodel branches of the public library. As part of the campaign, you can get “library passports,” which the Mountaineers are getting stamped at each branch.

Here’s a unique way to celebrate Halloween. Two guys put pumpkins on their heads and streaked naked around Fremont on Saturday to honks and cheers.

(Thanks Michael for the tip and photos!)

Portage Bay Goods has those hard-to-find election knick-knacks.

In true Fremont style, most items are Obama gear.

Because you have to have the Barack Obama magnetic wardrobe. Or action figure. Or the pink “Baby Got Barack” onesie.

This afternoon, NYTimes.com splashed a travel story about Fremont and Ballard right smack in the middle of the home page.

“Ballard and Fremont, once cities in their own right, are now Seattle neighborhoods of a particularly independent-minded kind,” the story explains. “Each is undergoing a kind of 21st-century renaissance, with shops and restaurants moving in, and a new, often young crowd arriving to live or just to play. But in either one, you can still lose yourself so thoroughly that you will barely even remember you’re in the same town as the Space Needle.”

We all know that J.P. Patches is a big fan of buttons. So when his “Late for the Interurban” statue was unveiled a couple months ago, it featured several hooks on the front for people to add their own.

It now features several buttons, including (appropriately) the Seafair clowns. There’s also a “Keep Fremont Parking Free” button. And wait, what’s this?

It’s a campaign button for Alex Rion, a Republican running for the 32nd legislative seat. We don’t know if J.P. is a Republican, but you have to admit it does seem a little out of place for Fremont, of all places — especially when you consider the 32 District doesn’t even cover the neighborhood.

A different perspective of Fremont using a “tilt-shift” photography effect:

Great photo courtesy of Bernes, who also shot the Fremont Bridge.

Deb says she loves her brand new Zenn Nev electric car. “Yes, that’s me you see scooting around Fremont/Ballard, in the little green car,” she writes. “Being capped at 35 mph not a problem — I avoided Aurora and I-5 a lot anyway, before.” Beyond the obvious environmental benefits, the tiny Zenn seems to be a perfect fit for Fremont’s “parking crisis,” too.

The Nev is 100% electric, gets 40 miles per charge and costs around $20k.

A few photos from our walk around Fremont today.

Some folks out strolling with their pet goats at the Fremont Fair.

A seven-foot tall pile of rocks along 36th Ave. near Phinney, likely created by Benny “the rock balancer,” who has created such structures for years.

Yep, they’re precariously stacked, so don’t touch!

Seen at the corner of 45th and Evaston. Any guesses?

The old home that was moved Sunday morning across Fremont to Evanston St. is now waiting for a foundation and a basement.

In what’s becoming a common sight in the neighborhood, workers have torn down a home on 46th and Evanston to make room for townhomes.

The 3-bedroom townhomes will sell for $459,000 each.