Credit union donates Christmas tree to city

By DAVID L. DYE

Herald Staff Writer

HERMITAGE — Although Christmas is a couple months away, work crews were busy cutting down Hermitage’s Christmas tree Wednesday afternoon — courtesy of the Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union.

The blue spruce was one of a few located at 559 N. Hermitage Road, where construction of the MCCFCU’s new Hermitage office is underway.

Crews from T. Bruce Campbell worked next to the building’s construction to cut down the tree, then lower the tree onto a trailer using a crane.

Hermitage city Facilities Coordinator Neil Hosick said Wednesday the tree would be stored at the city Street Department for a couple days, then installed in the roundabout at the intersection of East State Street and the Shenango Valley Freeway.

The tree’s installation is expected to take place early Saturday morning, Hosick said.

Sandi Carangi, CEO of the the credit union, said credit union officials were “thrilled” to donate the tree to the city and said customers often commented over the years that the tree would be perfect for Christmas.

“People would go through the drivethrough or use the ATM and tell us, ‘you guys have the perfect Christmas tree,’ but we could never use it,” Carangi said. “Now the whole community can enjoy it.”

Once the tree is installed at the roundabout, Hosick said the tree will be decorated with Christmas lights.

Even though the credit union’s new Hermitage location won’t be completed until next year, Carangi said credit union officials plan to deck the construction site’s fences with decorations, such as lights and wreaths, for the holiday season.

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.

A tree is removed from the future site of the new Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union building on North Hermitage Road on Wednesday to be used as a Christmas tree at the roundabout that connects the Shenango Valley Freeway and East State Street in front of the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage.

TANNER MONDOK | Herald