RUMFORD — Seventy years ago, Rotary founder and Chicagoan Paul Harris visited Rumford and planted an oak tree at the rotary.

On Monday, the local Rotary Club will honor all Paul Harris fellows from the Rumford, Bethel and Rangeley rotary clubs by planting a new tree, and recognizing the local fellows for their important financial commitments to the club’s causes.

Rich Allen, president of the Rumford Rotary, said the original oak tree was taken down this summer for safety reasons. The club decided to replace it with a flowering crab apple tree to balance the other flowering crab that had been planted by local veterans’ groups. The rotary is also the site of a veterans’ monument.

Rumford Town Manager Carlo Puiia, Mexico Town Manager John Madigan, and Dixfield Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky will speak, as will state Rep. Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, and Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield.

Any Paul Harris fellow may also offer his or her thoughts on the day.

The ceremony begins at noon. A light lunch will be served at the River Valley Technology Center immediately after for speakers and Paul Harris fellows.

Although the local Rotary supports a variety of causes, Allen said the primary recipient of fundraising is to eradicate polio.

He said the Rumford Parks Department acquired the flowering crab tree for the ceremony.

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