A familiar and trusted Tri-State Region television personality, whose trademark on-the-air gesture is a “thumb’s up” signal, is now the spokesman for Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative.
Popular landscape and gardening expert John Marra began appearing in a series of informational TV spots that aired on WSAZ-Channel 3 this fall. His messages about electric safety and energy conservation are aimed at BREC members but are beneficial for all consumers, no matter where they receive their power.
“I am delighted to be the official spokesman for Buckeye REC,” said Marra, an employee of the West Virginia Extension Service. Over the years, he has built an avid following among home gardeners and landscapers across Southeast Ohio.
John Marra, wearing a white safety helmet, films a Buckeye REC peak alert message to appear on WSAZ-TV 3. (photo by Steve Oden)
|
His 6:30 a.m. Saturday farm-and-garden show includes valuable information about Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia agricultural conditions, with tips on planting, pest control, and landscaping for farmers and rural homemakers. His program features the Extension services of all three states, and he is well known across the region for his accuracy and folksy, straight-forward advice.
Marra also appears on WSAZ news programs with his “Green Thumb” segment on Saturday morning and special reports on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
A popular feature on Channel 3 is Marra’s weekly call-in, question-and-answer segment on Wednesdays.
Efforts to associate Marra began almost one year ago, according to BREC’s Steve Oden.
“WSAZ’s market numbers were highest among radio and TV stations in our combined nine-county electric service territory. Marra, with whom viewers across the region identify, agreed to become the cooperative’s spokesman, setting the stage for a winter and spring safety and energy conservation campaign,” said Oden.
For example, Marra will explain peak alerts issued during winter and summer by BREC. These warnings will appear on WSAZ when necessary in order to reach the greatest number of cooperative members. (See related story about peak alerts.)
Marra will also write a regular landscaping and gardening column for the BREC local pages of “Country Living” magazine, in addition to being available for personal appearances on behalf of the cooperative.
“We are discussing his appearance at next year’s Annual Meeting,” revealed Oden.
Readers who would like Marra to respond to specific questions in his column can e-mail them to soden@buckeyerec.com or send them via U.S. Mail to Post Office Box 200, Rio Grande, OH, 45674.
Buckeye Rates