A crane operator of Diamond Steel Construction Co. lifts the 30-foot-tall evergreen tree into place in the middle of downtown Youngstown Friday. The tree was donated by Poland resident Bill West, who owns Heck Ya! Chill Dogs, a drive-thru hot dog shop on McCartney Road in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — An emphasis on togetherness and trying to improve the city in the wake of an explosion at the Realty Tower May 28 that shook the downtown area played into a Poland resident and local business owner’s decision to donate this year’s Christmas tree.

“I’m not actually from Youngstown, but if you leave the area, you go to Florida or you go to California, you tell them you’re from Poland — no one knows where that is,” Bill West, owner of Heck Ya! Chill Dogs said. “I thought it would be good to help build up the area.”

The 30-foot tree was cut Friday at one of his business’s properties by city park and recreation employees, with the assistance of Diamond Steel Construction Co. of North Lima around 9:30 a.m. The company then transported it onto a flatbed truck and set it up in Central Square without a hitch, nearly an hour later.

Marty Martin, an employee of Diamond Steel Construction Co., has been involved with the tree’s cutting and transportation for the past 42 years, donning a Santa cap every time.

“The city gets a hold of Diamond and someone in Youngstown then donates a tree; then we go, pick it up, bring it downtown, set it in the ground and Merry Christmas,” Martin said. “Our boss, Dave Collins, he’s been doing this for quite a few years, and I’ve always been the one that’s been driving it.”

Martin said the size of the tree affects how effectively they can do their job, attributing breakage in 2018 and 2019 to the tree simply being too big.

Clemate Franklin took over as the city’s parks and recreation coordinator two years ago, and he was elated when the tree was secured to its spot in the square.

“This tree is going to bring so much holiday spirit, joy — this tree is homegrown, we got this tree over on the East Side of Youngstown right there on Center Street Bridge,” Franklin said. “So it’s homegrown and it’s going to reflect the resiliency and the grit of Youngstown. It’s strong, like Youngstown’s people.”

This year’s tree cutting and placement went off without a hitch, Franklin said, also recalling the problems of years past. Franklin explained there’s not really a selection process for the tree, as they normally put out an ad asking if anyone wants to donate.

In the wake of the explosion, which killed Chase Bank employee Akil Drake,Franklin said togetherness is what’s going to bring the community together.

“Togetherness is what keeps us warm, you know? That’s the one thing I want the community to know. Unity is what keeps us warm,” Franklin said. “This tree will bring that unity, especially everything that we went through over the (past) year. It’s been a heck of a year.”