Jumbotron To Be Installed on Walpole Common

By Chuck Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            The Walpolean’s corporate parent, WorldwideMedia Inc. (WMI), announced today that it has acquired a giant screen Sony Jumbotron from the old Yankee Stadium now being demolished in New York City and will be installing it on the Common in Walpole this spring.

            Formerly used for showing replays and scores in “The House that Ruth Built”, the huge TV-like screen is 35 feet wide by 28 feet high and has its own massive speakers behind it.

            Walpole’s new Jumbotron will be placed on top of the bandstand at the north end of the Common facing south. 

            “This will be a tremendous gift to the town of Walpole!” said Alf Wheeler, spokesperson for WMI on Wednesday.  “This giant screen will serve the town’s insatiable needs for Walpolean news and other information and special events year around and bring us into the 21st century!”

            The Jumbotron will show The Walpolean postings the moment they appear on The Walpolean web site at www.thewalpolean.com, and each posting will remain on the giant screen—with appropriate music playing—for 30 minutes.  Then the posting will go into The Walpolean archive for future call up when people wish to conduct Walpolean research.

            When people wish to research past Walpolean postings on the Jumbotron, they will have the opportunity to turn on the big screen with a switch located at the base, something like the switch at the Walpole gas station where one can turn on the air compressor for filling tires.

            In addition to the Walpolean postings, the Jumbotron will bring Walpole events to the giant screen for everyone to conveniently see.  Initially, Walpole Selectmen meetings will be shown on the Jumbotron on the Common in a special summer series called “The Selectmen at Sunset.”  Chairs and tables will be set on the Common for people to watch the meetings on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to their conclusion. And the Women of Walpole have agreed to sell cold beer, popcorn and pretzels during the meetings.  For regular Sunday evening concerts in the summer, the Jumbotron will provide close-up videos of the musicians, crowd shots and feature those dancing in the streets to the music.

            “We understand that the Planning Board and the Zoning Board will have to do their usual review of the plans,” noted Wheeler on Wednesday, “but we are confident that they will see the tremendous advantages to the town in this new installation.  The timber frames supporting the Jumbotrons will be made locally and have a rustic look to fit in with their surroundings.”

            Wheeler added that WMI is encouraging Walpole residents to suggest additional uses for the Jumbotron.

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