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New Brick City, Rhode Island delegation is welcomed to Bricklyn, Vermont.

New Brick City Delegation Visits Bricklyn: Key Takeaways

Bricklyn Eagle masthead

August 10, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Politics & Law Correspondent

A delegation from New Brick City, Rhode Island, has just wrapped up its first visit to the Realm of Bricklyn, Vermont.

A group of LEGO figures stands in a formal setting, with vibrant decorations and a throne in the background. The characters are dressed in various outfits, suggesting a celebratory or ceremonial occasion.

From left to right in Bricklyn’s Historic Throne Room:
Bricklyn Welcome Committee: Bricklyn Eagle Editor Walt Brickman; Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Brickorti; Bricklyn Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick; and Bricklyn Federal Chancellor Malter Thurnbrick (wearing hat) // New Brick City Delegation: Mayor Clark Brickson (with Key to New Brick City); DR & Co. CEO Lisa Brickman; and New Brick City YouTube influencer BlitzBriks.

Northside residential development.
Bricklyn’s Northside Complex. All photos in this article unless otherwise noted are by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson.

During their visit to Bricklyn this week, members of the New Brick City delegation focused their attention on key issues that Bricklyn has faced.

Mayor Brickson and others in the New Brick City delegation expressed particular interest in Bricklyn’s transportation initiatives and its innovative bicycle and pedestrian network (the “red tile pathway”) that links all key locations within the Tripartite Realm of Bricklyn.

The visitors also saw the controversial Bricklyn Loop Monorail, and were briefed on the challenges in its construction.

Also discussed were issues related to housing affordability and economic development.

Broffman in front of his Ferrari 250 GTO
Dunk Them Donuts CEO David Tiler Broffman. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson with assistance of Dall E AI.

Delegates toured the Northside mixed-use complex, and also gained an in-depth look at the key role that Dunk Them Donuts has played in Bricklyn’s economy,

The delegation met with Dunk Them Donuts CEO, David Tiler Broffmans and visited several Dunk Them Donuts facilities, including its state of the art donut production plant. See photo below.

Dunk Them Donuts workers in Bricklyn Junction using the donut extruders to insert fillings.
Dunk Them Donuts workers in Bricklyn Junction using the donut extruders to insert fillings.
Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson with assistance of Dall E AI.
EMS crew tends to a head pop-off in Bricklyn. Photo by Walt Brickman.

The New Brick City delegation also witnessed — with some bafflement — an event apparently unique to Bricklyn: a “head pop-off.” This occurs when teenagers race in front of Brick Rail trains in order to be hit by the train engine, often resulting in their head popping off their body.

Medical crews are located nearby. But given the rigid plastic nature of LEGO minifigures, serious damage very rarely occurs, and the boy’s (or girl’s) head can be quickly popped back on — resulting in only a mild headache. Unfortunately, however, this teenage dare-you game can lead to delays in Brick Rail service, inconveniencing many Bricklynites.

Mayor Clarkson concluded the group’s visit by presenting Bricklyn Federal Council President Hilma with a ceremonial Key to the City, and inviting her and others from Bricklyn to visit New Brick City this Fall.

Key to New Brick City
New Brick City Mayor Clark Brickson gives hefty Key to New Brick City to Bricklyn Federal Council President Hilma Plater-Zybrick. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson taken in the wood-paneled Tom Swiftbrick meeting room inside the Bricklyn Federal Office Building.

Before the New Brick City delegation headed back to Rhode Island, the Bricklyn Eagle spoke with three of the New Brick City visitors.

The Bricklyn Eagle (Mark Tiler Richmond): Mayor Brickson, you were recently elected on a “smart growth” platform. What does that mean for New Brick City’s future?

Mayor Brickson: The previous City administration, unfortunately, ignored smart growth principles. We were headed in the wrong direction by lowering taxes too much.

While this was popular with a number of residents it had unfortunate consequences for the city. It harmed our ability to construct desperately needed affordable housing. It also prevented the city from implementing needed transit upgrades, negatively impacting New Brick City’s economic development and future growth. When voters elected me as mayor last November, they showed their support for a dynamic, smart growth agenda.

Our aim is to provide more housing, and allow for higher density development. Two new skyscrapers, which will also have include retail uses on the ground floor, are already on the drawing board.

Better transit options are also essential to not only support new housing, but also to help our local businesses grow.

A LEGO figurine of a businesswoman holding a briefcase and an umbrella, wearing a blue suit and smiling.
Lisa Brickman, CEO of DR & Company in New Brick City.

Lisa Brickman (CEO of DR & Company): Let me add my agreement with what the Mayor just said. Our company develops a wide range of high-tech products. We want to grow our business.

In fact, we are grateful that our visit to Bricklyn has resulted in an invitation to become a member of the League of Inland Cities, an organization founded by Bricklyn that focuses on fostering commerce and the flow of goods between LEGO cities and realms.

Mayor Brickson: To add a note to what Lisa just said, we’re pleased to announce that Dunk Them Donuts will be opening a deluxe donut shop in New Brick City. We hope this is one modest indicator of the benefits New Brick City will receive through its inclusion in the League of Inland Cities. I’m looking forward to signing a resolution from our governing body in the coming weeks authorizing us to join the League.

The Bricklyn Eagle: We’ve heard that New Brick City fosters ethnic diversity, and that you, BlitzBriks, as a young LEGO influencer have been at the forefront of this effort.

BlitzBriks (LEGO influencer): Yes, we’re proud that we’re an inclusive, ethnically diverse city. One area that has taken off is the variety of ethnic food offerings now found in New Brick City.

Inside the new Dunk Them Donuts shop.
A Deluxe Dunk Them Donuts shop may soon open in New Brick City. Photo provided by Dunk Them Donuts, with assistance from Dall E AI.

Most recently that has included a new sushi shop; a fantastic pizzeria; and a a Middle Eastern kebab restaurant.

That’s all in addition to a beautiful burger bar; a delightful deli; and a powerfully potent pub.

We’re also looking forward to Dunk Them Donuts opening up and providing their mouth-watering treats to New Brick City residents.

Donuts being loaded onto plane for shipment to more distant Inland cities.
Dunk Them Donuts has the capacity to quickly ship donuts from its Bricklyn Junction facility to LEGO cities throughout North America. Photo provided by Dunk Them Donuts, with assistance from Dall E AI.
A LEGO representation of TJ's diner with a sign overhead. Two figures are standing in front, one holding a burger, while a third figure is seen at the counter inside. The scene features a vibrant LEGO city backdrop.
BlitzBriks on right holding a New Brick City king-sized burger.

I also had the opportunity to have lunch at TJ’s trolley car diner while in Bricklyn, and learned how Chef TJ and his crew converted a vintage Bricklyn trolley into a busy take out location.

As you can see, I also brought along samples of some tasty New Brick City burgers which Chef TJ defrosted and grilled to perfection!

Finally, I do need to mention the wild head pop-off we witnessed yesterday along Brick Rail’s main line, close to TJ’s diner.

Photos of two head pop-offs by Ann Tiler Anderson of The Bricklyn Eagle.

While it was kind of exciting to see, I’m not going to recommend it to my followers since it can really have a big negative impact on train service, when EMS workers need to take the time to go onto the track to scoop up the head and body, and then reconnect them.

The Bricklyn Eagle: Thank you all for speaking with us — and for those Bricklyn Eagle readers who would like to follow New Brick City influencer BlitzBriks, you can find him on his YouTube channel. ✥

A colorful LEGO-style graphic featuring a stylized eagle head against a blue background, with various circular colored pieces in the foreground.

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

To the Editor: So glad to see the forward thinking of New Brick City’s Mayor Brickson. Good planning is essential to having a healthy, vibrant city or town!

As my Realm (Brickover, New Hampshire) is a member of the League of Inland Cities (LIC), I look forward to New Brick City’s entry into the LIC. By the way, the LIC through its Inland Sports League (ISL), sponsors an active program of friendly inter-city competition. I heard that New Brick City influencer BlitzBriks is also an active youth league soccer player. Every year the ISL runs exciting tournaments among its member cities in soccer, baseball, basketball, and even pickleball. — Jonathan Bricklegs, Brickover, NH.

To the Editor: To follow up on your reporting, the League of Inland Cities has formally added New Brick City, RI, as its newest member! We look forward to NBC’s participation in LIC activities. — Respectfully yours, Lars Brickmussen, Presiding Official, League of Inland Cities.

To the Editor: The Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française is delighted to hear that New Brick City values diverse cultures and foods. New Brick City residents who visit Bricklyn will delight in the joie de vivre and fine cuisine represented in Bricklyn by both the highly rated Étoile du Nord restaurant in South Bricklyn overlooking the Great Bricklyn Chasm and Pastries by Patsy in downtown Bricklyn. While Bricklyn is best known for its donuts, don’t lose sight of our French dining locales — which will only be enhanced now that Bricklyn has become part of the French Republic! — Bill Tiler French, South Bricklyn, VT.

Members of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française inside Pastries by Patsy.
Pastries By Patsy
Chef Christophe with his special take on Bouillabaisse à la Marseillaise.
Kitchen of the Étoile du Nord

Photos above by Bricklyn Eagle’s Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance of Dall E AI.

Two LEGO figures outside a police station: a police officer holding a baton and a handcuffed man who is Homer Simpson who stole some donuts.
Homer Simpson arrested for stealing donuts from Bricklyn Police Station. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson. August 3, 2025.

To the Editor: Why are you writing about Bricklyn and this New Brick City? Why don’t you tell your readers instead, Mr. Editor, about the terrible thing that happened here in Bricklyn to my son Homer! I know he’s a bit of a rabble rouser. But why for Pete’s sake was he arrested for taking a few donuts from the police station? I hear those hard-to-resist treats were just sitting there on the counter!

Why are we talking about shipping thousands of donuts to this New Brick City? Never even heard of that place before. We need to keep our donuts here in Bricklyn, or us Simpsons will be moving back to Springfield! — Abraham Jebediah “Abe” Simpson II, aka Grandpa Simpson, Bricklyn, VT.

Opening in The Great Wall of Bricklyn for use by bicyclists and pedestrians.

Understanding the Great Wall of Bricklyn

Revised & Updated; Dec. 15. 2024 / Originally Published: June 17, 2021

by Bricklyn Eagle Editor Walt Brickman

One of the most puzzling aspects of Bricklyn to Outlanders (i.e.,humans) is the fact that only about one-quarter of the Realm of Bricklyn can be seen by them when they visit Bricklyn. The remainder is blocked from view by the Great Wall of Bricklyn.

What the Great Wall Means for Outlanders

Photo of historic Hotel Stansbury
The historic Stansbury Hotel, once threatend with demolition by Dunk Them Donuts, is at the heart of downtown Bricklyn Jct. While the Great Wall prevents Outland visitors from seeing any of Bricklyn Jct., Outlanders can view photos provided by Bricklynites of these otherwise off-limits parts of The Realm. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson. for The Bricklyn Eagle, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

What is hidden by the Great Wall?

Most significantly, most of South Bricklyn (including the airport; the regional high school; and the medical center) and all of Bricklyn Junction, including its historic downtown.

A substantial portion of the city of Bricklyn itself — including most residential districts — is also shielded by the Wall from the view of Outland visitors.

What is NOT hidden by the Great Wall and visible to Outlanders?

Bricklyn harbor and lighthouse, along with part of downtown.
Bricklyn Harbor, and part of downtown. Also visible is the Brick Rail bridge connecting Bricklyn to South Bricklyn and beyond. Photo by Ann Tiler Anderson for The Bricklyn Eagle, taken from NewsChopper5.
  • Downtown Bricklyn (including government offices; the courthouse; city hall; the theater; the natural history museum; the arboretum; and the central railroad station);
  • Bricklyn Harbor and its ferry docks;
  • Lake Bricklyn;
  • The Excchange Building, home to the Realm of Bricklyn public library;
  • The South Bricklyn railyards;
  • Le Bricklyn Hotel and L’Étoile du Nord restaurant;
  • South Bricklyn’s rapidly developing North Street district;
  • The Bricklyn Loop monorail;
  • Swiftbrick Ball Field;
  • Bricklyn’s Eastside and Northside neighborhoods.

The Great Wall of Bricklyn & Other Walled Cities

Segment of the Great Wall of Bricklyn
Photo by Walt Brickman (with assistance from Dall E-3) of a portion of the south side of The Great Wall of Bricklyn with its strange patterns. Different sections of the Wall have different patterns on the face of the Wall.

Portions of the Great Wall of Bricklyn have strange, intricate patterns and designs.

The Great Wall’s Origins

No one in Bricklyn, including historians and scientists, can fully explain the origins of these patterns and designs, or how the Great Wall acts to block Outlanders’ view of those portions of the Realm outside the Great Wall.

According to Bricklyn’s Chief Historian, Winifred Tiler Jackson:

“The Great Wall was constructed, according to plastic residue dating, in the first half of the fifth century BCE by some ancient people, perhaps castaways in the ‘New World,’ but with remarkable skills that we are only now beginning to understand.

Rendering of ancient Bricklyites
Illustration of possible ancient peoples living at the site of present-day Bricklyn. Image prepared by Dall E-3 AI, with input from historian W.T. Jackson.

“Hidden in a corner of present day Vermont, The Great Wall ‘s presence kept the area now known as Bricklyn unseen by humans — undoubtedly a protective blessing. These ancient peoples, for reasons not yet known to historians, disappeared from the area by the second century BCE.

“It was not until the early 18th century that a shipload of LEGO people voyaged to colonial America in search of the remarkable wall that they had heard about from long-time legends.

Visualization of Colonial-era Bricklynites prepared by Dall E-3 AI. based on prompts from Bricklyn Chief Historian W.T. Jackson.
Visualization of Colonial-era Bricklynites alongside a section of The Great Wall. Prepared by Dall E-3 AI. based on informational prompts from Bricklyn Chief Historian W.T. Jackson.

“At least a dozen of these Bricklynites (then called ‘Little Vermonters’) served with distinction as spies with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. The Bricklynites’ extremely small size — and their courage — proved to be invaluable assets to the American cause.

“Remarkably, within two years of arriving they had found The Great Wall, and began building the settlement they called Bricklyn, largely within the protective confines of the Wall. This was, of course, three centuries before the great emigration of LEGO peoples from Denmark in the 1970s and ’80s, including a wave of migrants who sought a new home in the cities of Bricklyn, South Bricklyn, and Bricklyn, Junction, Vermont.”

Walled Villages & Cities in Medieval Times

Historian Jackson has also researched walled villages in other Inland realms, and considers it likely that ancestors of many Bricklyn families would have lived in walled realms like those shown in the renderings below during Europe’s “Middle Ages.”

Visualizations above of walled cities ancestors of today’s LEGO people might have looked like.Images generated by Dall E-3 AI, based on data inputs from Bricklyn Historian W.T. Jackson.

Historian Jackson also asked us to link to the following two videos. The first briefly explores Europe’s heritage of defensive city walls, and how they helped define the shape of cities. The second video provides quite fascinating aerial views of 15 walled cities — though Jackson recommends watching the second video with the sound off, as she found the narrator’s “voice” quite irritating!

Tunnels through the Great Wall of Bricklyn

Even though the Great Wall of Bricklyn remains hidden from Outlanders, Bricklynites easily navigate through the Wall using any of eighteen short tunnels. Eleven are solely for pedestrians and cyclists, while three serve Brick Rail freight and passenger trains. and the final four are for cars, buses, and trucks..

Most of the these passages connect areas in downtown Bricklyn and its near downtown neighborhoods with adjoining parts of South Bricklyn or Bricklyn Junction. Two of the bike/ped tunnels and one of the rail tunnels are shown below. Photos by Bricklyn Eagle staff photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

Opening in The Great Wall of Bricklyn for use by bicyclists and pedestrians.
BrickRail train exiting tunnel through The Great Wall of Bricklyn

Drawing Inspiration from The Great Wall to Help Meet Bricklyn’s Housing Needs

Bricklyn’s Great Wall Street — which runs along portions of the Great Wall — is the focus of new zoning provisions which will allow for dense new high-rise buildings on a number of lots facing the Great Wall.

Bricklyn Planning Director reviewing Bricklyn's Zoning Code.

The Bricklyn Planning Commission felt that allowing taller buildings along the east side of Great Wall Street would better match the height and scale of the Great Wall (which parallels the west side of the street) while also helping address housing shortages within the Realm.

Bricklyn Planning Director Tim Brickedy and his staff drafted the necessary zoning changes and then shepherded them through the Federal Council, which adopted them just this past September.

Portions of the Great Wall of Bricklyn (on left) bordering Great Wall Street. On the right, facing the Great Wall, would be new housing.

Two residential projects are already on the drawing board, once again teaming Dunk Them Donuts CEO Dave Broffman with Bricklyn architect Moshi Saftbrick.

See several of Saftbrick’s initial renderings.

“The new buildings,” Saftbrick told The Bricklyn Eagle, “would respond to the chiseled, layered look of the ancient Great Wall, while bringing to Bricklyn a cleaner, contemporary design.”

Historian W.T. Jackson adds this historical footnote: “In the above photo rendering, note the ‘Star of David’ motif on the section of the ancient Wall located at the corner of Lower North Street and Great Wall Street. I’m not alone in wondering whether this could reflect the presence in ancient Bricklyn of one of the ‘lost tribes’ of Israel. Plastic residue dating of this part of the Wall has proven inconclusive.” Illustrations by Dall E-3 AI based on prompts by Moshi Saftbrick and his team.

Edited in Prisma app with Tokyo
Edited in Prisma app with Tokyo

Renderings by Dall E-3 AI based on prompts provided by architect Moshi Saftbrick and his team.

Additional Resources for Understanding The Great Wall

For a closer look at the history of The Great Wall, see these remarks by Bricklyn Chief Historian Winifred Tiler Jackson.

For an interview with Bricklyn meteorologist Tiler Brickoski on climate differences between parts of Bricklyn inside and outside The Great Wall.

Below: nighttime view of portion of Bricklyn Jct., on a snowy, Winter night. The fact that there’s snow on the ground makes clear that the we are OUTSIDE the Great Wall of Bricklyn. Portions of the Realm of Bricklyn OUTSIDE the Wall are subject to the same weather as in Burlington, Vermont.

In contrast, those areas INSIDE the Wall are located in the basement of an Outlander, where it never snows or rains! For more on weather phenomena in Bricklyn, see the interview with meteorologist Tiler Brickoski linked to above. — Photo by Bricklyn Eagle photographer Ann Tiler Anderson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

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

Bioswales Helping to Manage Stormwater

March 9, 2024

by David Plater Blue, Bricklyn Metro Reporter

Bricklynites have noticed a number of “bioswales” being installed along roadways throughout the Realm over the past year.

The installation of these swales has been funded by a $20 million green bond issue passed by Bricklyn voters in November 2022, to help support both “green infrastructure” and “active living” projects.

Just what are bioswales, and why are they being installed?

What’s a Bioswale: “Bioswales are linear, vegetated depressions where runoff is slowed and managed through infiltration and uptake by native plants, including grasses, shrubs, and trees. Bioswales typically use amended soils and bio-retention media underground so that these landscape features function beyond simple conveyance by infiltrating, retaining, and treating stormwater runoff. Swales can be used to reduce the impervious surfaces in parking lots or along the edge of streets, sidewalks, and residential or commercial lots. — From “Managing Stormwater Runoff: A Green Infrastructure Approach,” by Lynn Richards, Planning Commissioners Journal (Winter 2009).


Acting (and former) DPW Director Chulpin Spancer giving a hand on a swale installation in South Bricklyn. When time permits, Spancer loves to get out of the office and help out on DPW projects. All photos in this post by David Tiler Blue, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.

To learn more, we interviewed former (and now Acting) Department of Public Works Director Chulpin Spancer about the pros and cons of installing bioswales along Bricklyn roadways. Spancer, in his earlier tenure as DPW Director played a key role in advocating for the Realm’s successful green bond issue, which included funding for bioswales.

➤ A bit of history. Chulpin Spancer had served as DPW director until June 2022, when he took the job of Environmental Coordinator in the Office of the Federal Chancellor. After DPW Director Alan Tiler Alman’s recent resignation (following allegations of malfeasance in his oversight of inspections of the historic Hotel Stansbury) Chancellor Thurnbrick named Spancer Acting DPW Director, on top of his other responsibilities as the Realm’s Environmental Coordinator.  

The Bricklyn Eagle: Thanks for your time, Mr. Spancer. Can you start out by telling us why the Public Works Department has been installing so many bioswales along city roads?

Chulpin Spancer: I’d say the single most important reason we’re installing bioswales is so we can more effectively manage stormwater runoff by slowing it down and allowing it to infiltrate the soil. This reduces the risk of flooding and erosion, benefiting both the environment and infrastructure.

One of the largest swale installations also involved removing two lanes of this roadway. This not only supported the Realm’s traffic reduction objectives, but allowed for adequate width in the ROW for the green swale. Permeable gravel pedestrian crossings will be installed at several spots along the 1200 foot length of the swale.

Also right near the top of my list is the fact that the vegetation in bioswales helps filter out pollutants — such as sediments, heavy metals, and nutrients –from stormwater. This improves the overall water quality and helps protect nearby Bricklyn Bay and the Brickooski River, a key environment objective of the green bond issue — and of the Realm’s comprehensive plan.

The Bricklyn Eagle: What sort of reaction do nearby homeowners have about bioswales when they’re installed?

Chulpin Spancer: Great question. Almost every homeowner I’ve spoken with has told me that the bioswales have enhanced the visual appeal of the roadways by adding more greenery. This, in turn, supports their own property’s value. I’ll also add that our bioswales, which use LEGO-based native vegetation, create habitats for various plant and animal species, contributing to biodiversity.

DPW stormwater specialist Jenny B. Green, at a neighborhood meeting.

It’s also important to note that we hold neighborhood meetings with nearby homeowners and businesses before we install a swale. This gives us the opportunity to educate Bricklynites on why we’re planning to put in a swale, and what the construction timeline will look like.

DPW staff also benefit from these meetings, since we hear about any specific concerns folks have, and can address them before construction of the swale begins. I can tell you that Bricklynites are not shy about asking questions!

A block in Bricklyn’s Westside neighborhood.

The Bricklyn Eagle: Are there any concerns about installing bioswales?

Chulpin Spancer: Not all locations are suitable for bioswales. They require adequate space along roadways, which is not always available, especially in the more densely populated portions of the Realm. Certainly, balancing the need for stormwater management with other land uses can be challenging.

While the bioswales can be thought of as natural systems, they can face issues such as clogging due to the accumulation of debris, sediment, or trash.

We also need to acknowledge that the installation of green bioswales may involve higher initial costs compared to conventional stormwater management systems.

Native LEGO-based plants complement this swale / green garden in downtown South Bricklyn.

Regular maintenance is required to ensure their effectiveness, and to ensure that their aesthetic benefits are not lost. So that’s an ongoing expense, but I’d say bioswales are less costly to maintain than hardened infrastructure.

In some Outland communities which are prone to extremely intense storms, bioswales may have limitations in handling large volumes of water quickly. But, fortunately, in our temperate climate that’s not been a problem.

More built up areas still often require hard infrastructure buried under the roadway.

The Bricklyn Eagle: Do you encounter any problems from the roadways that run parallel to many of the bioswales DPW installs?

Chulpin Spancer: As I mentioned, before building any bioswale we carefully assess whether there’s enough space next to the roadway for the bioswale to fit. We have design standards related to the gradient, size, and shape of the bioswale to make sure it’s properly sized and designed to deal with major stormwater events.

Careful site evaluations by our engineers ensure that a planned bioswale will not create an unacceptable safety hazard to any vehicles that might run off the side of the roadway.

The Bricklyn Eagle: Thanks so much for your time, Director Spancer.

Chulpin Spancer: No problem, and if I can add, it’s nice to be back with my colleagues at DPW. ✥

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