Category Archives: People in the News

Where the focus is on individual Bricklynites, including Gloria Vanderbrick’s “People in the News” articles and interviews.

The Realm of Bricklyn's new ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Bricklyn Names Vermont Outlander as Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

June 20, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Politics & Law Correspondent & Duane Sandville, Outland Affairs Correspondent

Meet the New Ambassador

A LEGO figure in formal attire standing in front of a sign that says 'WELCOME TO THE UNITED KINGDOM', with a British flag in the background.
Bricklyn Ambassador David Brownbrick presenting his credential as the new Bricklyn Ambassador to the United Kingdom in the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace.  
Photo taken with assistance of Dall E AI.
An artistic portrait of an older man with a serious expression, featuring vibrant colors and abstract patterns in the background.
Vermont Outlander David Brown named Ambassador (along with his LEGO avatar, David Brownbrick) from Bricklyn to the United Kingdom. Photo altered by Prisma app (with Sunflower filter), as required by Bricklyn law.

At a press conference yesterday in the Bricklyn’s Federal Council chambers, Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick told reporters that “after an exhaustive search, we are pleased to announce a special choice as Ambassador to Britain: Mr. David Brown, a longtime Vermont friend of Bricklyn. As required by Bricklyn’s Avatar law, Thurnbrick added, Mr. Brown, being a human Outlander, will be represented by a Bricklyn avatar, Mr. David Brownbrick.”

The Bricklyn Eagle has obtained from an anonymous source in the Bricklyn Chancellor’s office a copy of Mr. Brown’s application papers for the ambassadorship, which we are sharing with our readers below.

A handwritten letter addressed to Chancellor Thurnbrick, outlining the proposed actions of David Brown as Bricklyn's ambassador to the United Kingdom, including promoting cultural ties and a restaurant.

Chancellor Thurnbrick declined to either confirm or deny the authenticity of Mr. Brown’s application for the post of ambassador, other than to note that “Bricklyn would certainly welcome having a Nando’s restaurant, given its international reputation for deliciously spicy chicken dishes.”

Mr. Brown was unavailable for comment, though he was reportedly spotted last night at a Nando’s in Ottawa, Canada, apparently a stop enroute to Scotland on one of his peripatetic “professional tourist” trips.

Presentation of Credentials at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace. credit: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Buckingham Palace. credit: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A decorative certificate titled 'Letter of Credence' for David Brownbrick as the Ambassador from Bricklyn, VT to the United Kingdom, featuring gold accents and a presentation ribbon.

In a ceremony held in Buckingham Palace earlier today, Ambassador-designee Brownbrick presented his “letter of credence” to His Majesty King Charles and to David Lammy, Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, both of whom graciously welcomed Brownbrick to the United Kingdom.

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, attending a formal event, both dressed in elegant attire with the King wearing a ceremonial suit and the Queen adorned with a tiara and sash.
Charles and Camilla at ceremony,
White House photo in public domain. Wikipedia.

As King Charles noted, “It is a great privilege and honor to receive you as the new ambassador from the Realm of Bricklyn. We value the strong and longstanding ties between our two realms. While Providence led your Realm to join, at least for the next four years, the French Republic, we appreciate your insisting on retaining autonomy in your historic relations with the United Kingdom.”

“We will also work with you to ensure that a Nando’s restaurant soon finds a place in Bricklyn, and, on a personal note, I can tell you that Camilla and I also love Nando’s flavorful Chicken peri-peri, as well their highly caloric Sweet Potato & Halloumi Wrap.”

“Finally, Mr. Ambassador, in your honor, we will play this justifiably famous song, for you are truly the real Ambassador. ✥


Bricklyn’s Diplomatic Corps & the “Carve Out” to the Franco/Bricklyn Accord

A little noticed provision of the agreement which incorporated Bricklyn, on a four year “trial” basis, into the French Republic as an Overseas Collectivity, carved out for Bricklyn the right to maintain independent diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom; the Realm of Denmark; and the State (and formerly Republic) of Vermont.

A LEGO figure dressed in a red outfit with a gold collar and a large white hat, standing in a room with gray walls and decorative elements.
Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick in 2022 photo taken by The Bricklyn Eagle.

Questioned on this during yesterday’s press conference, Bricklyn Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick noted that member nations of France Overseas, such as Bricklyn, often have agreements with France specific to their nation, which provide varying levels of autonomy in domestic or foreign affairs.

As Thurnbrick explained, “In our negotiations with France, we stressed the importance of maintaining our historically close relationships with Denmark; the United Kingdom; and, of course, the State of Vermont.”

“The French delegation understood this, and agreed to incorporate into the Franco/Bricklyn agreement Bricklyn’s right to maintain its own diplomatic relations with these three governments, while consulting with France’s prefect in Bricklyn on any significant foreign policy matters.”

A colorful LEGO-style illustration of an eagle with distinct features, surrounded by vibrant circular bricks in various colors.

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

A stylized airplane labeled 'Brick Air' flying over a colorful Lego landscape featuring houses, fields, and a pond.
Rendering provided by Brick Air, with assistance from Dall E AI.

To the Editor: As a world traveler, our new Ambassador to the United Kingdom is ideally suited to strengthen both the economic and cultural ties between the two realms. The Bricklyn business community looks forward to strengthening our relations with the British people, including those in the four LEGO realms located in the U.K.

Once our new Brick Air super fast jets are in service, hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll be able to fly from Bricklyn not just to Paris, but to London, and perhaps Glasgow or Edinburgh as well. — Tom Brickorti, CEO, Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce.


To the Editor: Mazel tov to our new Ambassador and his avatar. It will be a blessing for the Jewish LEGO citizens of Bricklyn to have a member of our tribe in such an important position. We are pleased that Mr. Brown and his wife want to strengthen relations between Jewish communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

A LEGO-style depiction of a synagogue interior featuring colorful stained glass windows, an altar adorned with candles, and minifigures seated in wooden benches.
Photo by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with help from Dall E AI.

We offer Temple Beth-Shalom as a place where visitors from the British Isles, whatever their beliefs, will be welcome.

Visitors to our synagogue will be especially fascinated by the remarkable stained glass windows designed in 1981 by the great LEGO artist Marc Brickall which grace our main sanctuary.
— Rabbi Rachel B. Weinstein, Temple Beth-Shalom, Bricklyn Jct., Vermont.


To the Editor: No offense to Nando’s chicken peri-peri, but why should a top Bricklyn official (albeit an Outlander) advocate for bringing a large chain restaurant to Bricklyn? We should, instead, be supporting and cultivating our own locally owned and operated businesses. If Mr. Brown/Brownbrick is into chicken, why not try The Bricklyn Diner‘s zesty barbecued chicken wings, or the amazing coq au vin served at L’Étoile du Nord. We welcome you to visit our Bricklyn establishments and will raise a glass to toast your appointment then. — Dougie Truebrick, Owner/Chef, The Bricklyn Diner, and Christophe Plater Poulin, Executive Chef, L’Étoile du Nord.


To the Editor: Congrats to David Brown/Brownbrick!  Such a wonderful choice for the job!  I’m impressed with the governing body of Bricklyn and the civic participation of its citizens. — Pat D., Vermont


Bricklyn Eagle Reporters Take Home 2025 Brickitzer Prize!

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

May 10, 2025

Mark Tiler Richmond on left; Paul B. Macro on right holding Brickitzer award inside The Bricklyn Eagle offices. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

by Gloria Vanderbrick, People in the News Correspondent

Bricklyn Eagle reporters Paul B. Macro and Mark Tiler Richmond were just named winners of the 2025 Brickitzer prize for local reporting for their coverage of the attempt by Dunk Them Donuts to build a high-rise donut-topped skyscraper that would have required demolition of the historic Stansbury Hotel Building in the heart of downtown Bricklyn Junction.

Macro and Richmond thanked their newsroom colleagues for supporting their time-intensive reporting by taking on some of the assignments they would otherwise have had to handle.

Walt Brickman
Walt Brickman

Bricklyn Eagle Editor Walt Brickman praised the pair for “focusing on the facts of the story, and aggressively following up on leads,” adding that “Paul and Mark also shared their talents, with Paul’s background with business issues and Mark’s with politics. Their combined skills were essential to covering this complex, multi-faceted story.” ✥

For readers new to The Bricklyn Eagle, here are links to Macro and Richmond’s award-winning series of articles on the proposed “Donut Tower,” from oldest to most recent.


We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor:

  • Congrats! Well deserved!! — Barbara M., Shelburne, VT
  • 😂😂  — Michael S., South Burlington, VT
  • Congratulations to Paul and Mark! — Richard F., South Burlington, VT
  • Very Impressive! — David B., St. Albans, VT
Lowering flag of Denmark

Denmark Withdraws From Bricklyn Integration Talks Amidst Tariff & Greenland Concerns

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

April 5, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Bricklyn Eagle Politics & Law Correspondent and Duane Sandville, Outland Affairs Correspondent

Other related posts from The Bricklyn Eagle with most recent listed first:


Mette Frederiksen
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
© News Øresund – Sofie Paisley (CC BY 3.0).

Word leaked yesterday that Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, would be withdrawing Denmark from a draft agreement with Bricklyn and France to integrate half of the Realm of Bricklyn into the Danish Kingdom and half into the French Republic.

According to an unnamed source within the Danish government, Frederiksen and others in leadership positions had grown increasingly concerned that the draft agreement for Bricklyn to associate with Denmark (as well as with France) might trigger action by U.S. President Donald Trump to further escalate tariffs placed on Denmark and “raise the temperature” over control of Greenland, currently a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen; leader of the Moderaterne centrist party; and former Prime Minister. News Oresund, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In response to requests from The Bricklyn Eagle and other media outlets for comment, Victor Berger, spokesperson for the Danish Foreign Ministry, this morning acknowledged that Denmark would, in fact, be withdrawing from the proposed trilateral agreement.

As Berger explained, “It was determined there was not sufficient support in the Folketing [Danish Parliament] to approve the agreement with Bricklyn. After conferring with our colleagues in France and in Bricklyn, it was concluded that we would withdraw from the proposed agreement, while France would move forward with offering to integrate all of the Realm of Bricklyn into the French Republic.”

Navigating its way with the new American administration has proven tricky for Denmark, especially given U.S. President Trump’s repeated statements about acquiring Greenland and his tariff threats.

According to reporting from the BBC, “Faced with what many in Denmark are calling Trump’s ‘provocation,’ [Prime Minister] Frederiksen has broadly attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, repeatedly referring to the U.S. as ‘Denmark’s closest partner’. … Frederiksen’s comments also speak to the Danish resolve not to meddle in the internal affairs of Greenland -– an autonomous territory with its own parliament and whose population is increasingly leaning towards independence.”

Just two days ago Frederiksen, visiting Greenland, pleaded with the Trump administration to not seek to annex Greenland:

Yet Greenland has also had, at times, a rocky relationship with Denmark, aggravated by revelations about past “colonial abuses” in Denmark’s dealing with Greenlanders.

Lowering flag of Denmark
The flag of Denmark will not fly over the Realm of Bricklyn. Rendering provided with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

Danish foreign policy analyst Rolf Jorgensen told us that “Incorporating Bricklyn– albeit a sliver of America less than 0.25 acres in size — into Denmark likely came to be viewed by Frederiksen and others as unnecessarily provocative to the United Sates, like waving a red flag at an angry bull.”

“What’s more,” explained Jorgensen, “Danish concerns about the fate of Bricklynites concerned about being deported from their homeland have been assuaged by the fact that France, a much larger and more powerful nation than Denmark, has indicated its willingness to incorporate the entire Realm of Bricklyn into the French Republic. This has offered a face-saving way for Denmark to exit from the draft trilateral agreement.”

The Bricklyn Eagle has also confirmed from sources within the French Ministry of the Overseas that France remains committed to having Bricklyn join France as an overseas territory, allowing Bricklyn to retain autonomy over its domestic affairs, while providing the Vermont-based LEGO realm the security and economic benefits of being integrated into the French Republic.

The Bricklyn Eagle has reached out to Bricklyn’s Department of Outland Affairs for comment on this latest twist. We have been told that Secretary Guillaume de Bricklain  will issue a statement later in the day, which we will publish as soon as it is available. ✥


Update: April 5, 2025, 8 pm EDT

Guillaume de Bricklain, Secretary of the Bricklyn Dept. of Outland Affairs
Bricklyn Secretary of Outland Affairs Guillaume de Bricklain. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

Statement by Department of Outland Affairs Secretary Guillaume de Bricklain

The Bricklyn Department of Outland Affairs was informed this morning by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Denmark will not be participating in an agreement that would have associated half of the Realm of Bricklyn with the Kingdom of Denmark, and half with the Republic of France.

Manuel Valls
French Minister of the Overseas Manuel Valls. Kommunikation BMW Stiftung Photographer: Lorenz Böck, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en, via Wikimedia Commons

While we regret this decision, we are heartened that the French government has reaffirmed its commitment to Bricklyn, and has agreed to the incorporation of the entire Realm of Bricklyn into the French Republic as an overseas territory. This will provide Bricklyn, during these turbulent times, with important security guarantees, as well as economic benefits. As previously negotiated, the agreement with France will run for a term of four years, with the possibility of it subsequently being made permanent.

The Realm of Bricklyn, in turn, will promote the membership of the five French Lego realms in the League of Inland Cities, the powerful LEGO-based trading block headquartered here in Bricklyn.

I also want to note that we have kept key officials in the Vermont Governor’s Office; the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office; and the Vermont Legislature informed of our negotiations. I am happy to report that Vermont’s leaders have been fully supportive of our arrangement with France, which will not in any way adversely affect Vermont.

Brick Air advertisement

In fact, the enhanced tourism expected from citizens of France and other EU countries coming to Bricklyn as a result of this agreement will also benefit Vermont, especially the state’s Outerlands area close to the Bricklyn / Vermont border.

I can also announce today that Brick Air has agreed to start daily nonstop flights between Bricklyn and Paris, France, within two months of the adoption of this agreement. This will be welcome news for the LEGO realms of both France and Bricklyn.

Finally, I want to make special mention of the invaluable help provided during this process by members of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française. We look forward to their continued active engagement with the upcoming referendum.

Membres de l'Alliance Française de Bricklyn.
Members of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française in front of their headquarters, which also houses the Bricklyn Innovation Center. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of Dall E-3 AI.

What remains to be done, of course, is for the Bricklyn / France agreement to be ratified, first by the French parliament — with a vote expected on Tuesday, April 22nd — and then by the citizens of Bricklyn through a referendum, now scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th.

The Bricklyn Department of Outland Affairs will continue to provide updates as necessary.

Thank you. Merci.

Guillaume de Bricklain, Secretary Bricklyn Department of Outland Affairs 


We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: As a former member of the Folketing, I want to raise another issue that I am certain played into the concerns of at least some members of our parliament when reviewing the proposed Bricklyn-Denmark-France agreement. What I’m talking about may well be, as you may call it, the “elephant in the room.” It is about memories of the departure 45 years ago of thousands of our LEGO peoples from Denmark to a new home in the American state of Vermont. In emigrating, they blamed Danes — among the most tolerant people in the world — for intolerance of their (ironically called) “human rights.”

Rendering prepared by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

Let’s not sweep under the rug the raw feelings many Danes still have when considering the ingratitude of thousands of LEGO people leaving their Danish homeland, the country that gave birth to them, so to speak — though more accurately these so-called people are simply plastic “minifigures” designed and manufactured here.

While we admire what Bricklynites have made of their American enclave, and understand their concerns about the new American president, it is still hard for some of us to let go of grievances about their emigration from Denmark to Bricklyn, though that singular event happened many years ago. — H. Christian Andersen, Bilund, Denmark.


To the Editor: I’m not going to say “I told you so,” but … . The bottom line is that Denmark for a variety of reasons has now made the right decision in withdrawing from an agreement that initially was to be just between Bricklyn and France. There will be no need for a border splitting the Realm of Bricklyn in half. Instead all of Bricklyn will become a part of the French Republic as an honored overseas territory. Of course, we Bricklynites will retain full autonomy in all our internal affairs, and the role of our Federal Council will change only in terms of dealing with the Outland world. Now we have a referendum to pass in three weeks! — Bill Tiler French, Bricklyn Jct., VT.


To the Editor: As a proud Vermonter, but these days an embarrassed American, I’m glad that Bricklyn officials have apparently worked out a security arrangement with France. The people of France , Vermont, and Bricklyn share the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. We welcomed the heroic Marquis de Lafayette to Vermont in 1825 , and look forward to Bricklynites being able to welcome their new French compatriots soon. — M.L, South Burlington, VT.


To the Editor: I must take exception to the comments to the editor left by Mr. H. Christian Anderson, as well as the failure of the Folketing to allow half of Bricklyn to associate with Denmark as a semi-autonomous territory in the Danish Realm. If the Folketing’s inaction was due, as Anderson suggests, to long-held grievances against the LEGO people who emigrated to Bricklyn in the early 1980s, we should look at ourselves in the mirror and recall that we denied the LEGO people of Denmark the human rights expressly set out in our Constitution. Unfortunately, the broader language in the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), was not incorporated into Danish law until 1992.

📍 Article 10 of the ECHR provides that “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.”

Photo from the archives of Danish Committee for LEGO rights, taken by an unidentified photographer in 1975, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

The Supreme Court of Denmark should never have so narrowly construed the rights set out in our Constitution so as not to apply to our own LEGO people, people who have brought so many economic benefits to our country.

It should not be surprising that thousands of LEGO people chose to emigrate in the late 1970s and early ’80s instead of tolerating second-class status where they were denied the freedom to hold opinions critical of Danish government policies and workplace conditions — and during which time several LEGO individuals were even imprisoned. — Oliver Hansen, Advokat, Lund & Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark.