Press Releases / News

Unified Bank and the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department Spread Much Needed Holiday Cheer

Monday, November 8, 2021

The Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department has been in the practice of protecting the lives and property of the citizens of the City of Martins Ferry for over 130 years. A volunteer organization, the MFVFD depends on the kindness and dedication of men and women from the area to fearlessly give of themselves daily in order to protect the citizenry of the community. These brave patriots not only give of themselves for our safety, but they also provide other emergency and community services including distribution of food and water when emergencies arise, the Betty Zane Days Festival, the High School Spirit Parade, and Bonfire and they will soon be conducting the Annual Martins Ferry Christmas Parade.

According to Jack Regis, Jr., MFVFD Parade Chairman, the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department has been hosting the Martins Ferry Christmas Parade for over 34 years. This year’s parade is scheduled for November 26th, 2021 at 6:30 PM with the lineup beginning at 4:30. “We are pleased to be hosting the parade again this year in order to provide much-needed holiday cheer during the 2021 Christmas season.” Said Regis. “We had to cancel the parade last year due to COVID 19 and everyone at the Martins Ferry VFD is extremely excited to be able to bring it back to the kids and families of Martins Ferry on the 26th,” Regis added.

MFVFD Fire Chief, Tom Kelly said’ “We operate four separate stations located strategically throughout the city to enable quick responses when the need arises. These stations are The Liberty (located on Center Street), The Alerts (located on North Zane Highway), The Hook and Ladder (located on South 4th Street), and The Vigilant (located on Pearl Street). Every year we look forward to relaxing a little bit and doing something just for fun, like the annual Christmas Parade. We would like to thank our parade sponsors including Unified Bank for helping make this annual event possible for the people of our community.”

Unified Bank President, Chairman, and CEO, Scott Everson said, “Unified has long been a proud member of the Martins Ferry community and is honored to be able to continue to sponsor events that better the communities we proudly serve.” Everson added, “We also respect and honor the commitment made by our first responders.”

Unified is also a major sponsor again this year of the Martins Ferry Winterfest. With ice skating, vendors, food and beer stalls, and musical entertainment, the Martins Ferry Winterfest plans to have something fun for everyone. Unified’s Community Development Executive, Don Feenerty said, “Having lived my entire adult life in Martins Ferry, nothing makes me happier than to be able to help bring family fun and quality entertainment to the people of our community through the generosity and continued community support of Unified Bank.”

Unified Bank is a full-service FDIC-insured, state-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Martins Ferry, OH and has nineteen locations that serve the Ohio counties of Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Harrison, Hocking, Jefferson and Tuscarawas and Marshall County in West Virginia. Unified Bank is the sole operating subsidiary of United Bancorp, Inc. (UBCP), a publicly-traded bank holding company, and has been serving the financial needs of the Ohio Valley since 1902 from its headquarters in Martins Ferry, Ohio.