By Nancy K. Crevier

R. Scudder Smith, editor of The Newtown Bee for 35 years, announced Tuesday, July 24, the immediate appointment of Curtiss Clark to the position of editor at The Newtown Bee. The appointment of Mr Clark heralds the first time since 1881 that a name other than Smith follows the title of editor in The Bee's masthead.

Mr Clark has been an employee of The Bee for more than 34 years, beginning in 1973 as a reporter and photographer, shortly after receiving his BA degree as an English major at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. A native of the Newtown area, Mr Clark was familiar with The Newtown Bee and pleased to begin his career in the newspaper business with the widely respected weekly.

From 1974 to 1992 he coordinated The Bee's news coverage in the Woodbury/Southbury area, taking on supervisory responsibilities in Newtown as well in 1982, when he was named managing editor of The Bee. In 1985, he was appointed editor of The Weekly Star, a Bee Publishing Company publication serving eight towns in Litchfield and New Haven Counties, supervising the news departments at both papers until The Weekly Star was sold in 1992. Mr Clark has written about 1,500 editorials in the past 25 years.

"He has brought to our pages many interesting features, including in recent years, the popular 'Field Notes' and 'Gleanings' columns," said Mr Smith. "[The selection of Curtiss as editor] was a family decision. I'm ready to shed a few responsibilities. Curtiss has basically been doing the job, so it was time to switch titles around. I think my dad [Paul S. Smith, Newtown Bee editor, 1934 to 1972] would approve," said Mr Smith.

"This transition is minor compared to what other papers have to deal with in today's world," said Mr Clark. "Scudder will remain deeply involved. The voice of the newspaper will sound the same."

Mr Clark said that he is proud to follow in the line of Smiths that have headed The Newtown Bee. "I am honored and humbled to have been selected. Delivering the news to the people of Newtown the way they want it, is one of the charges Scudder has given me. I hope the paper will only get better, and we expect to add many new media options for telling the continuing story of this town. I respect Scudder, I respected his dad, and I respect this paper and the many talented and skilled people who produce it," said Mr Clark.

The Smith name will not retire from the masthead, where R. Scudder Smith will remain listed as Publisher and Executive Editor, nor will the Smith influence retire from the paper. Mr Smith will continue to offer direction, advice, and counsel, as well as play an important part in the day-to-day operations of The Newtown Bee. He also retains his duties as editor and publisher of Antiques and The Arts Weekly, a Bee Publishing Company publication for the antiques industry with international circulation.

Additional Promotions

Other behind-the-scenes changes announced Tuesday by Mr Smith included the promotion of David Smith from associate editor of Antiques and The Arts Weekly to managing editor of that publication. Sherri Smith Baggett was appointed business manager at The Newtown Bee, a position formerly held by Helen Smith.

An NHS graduate, Class of 1977, Ms Baggett is a 1981 graduate of Hood College in Frederick, Md. She began work at The Newtown Bee in 1984, first on the business side and then quickly delving into her ten-year career as a sports writer for the paper. She continued with her business duties on the side under the tutelage of her mother, Helen Smith, and acquired the title of assistant business manager three years ago.

"My father and mother have always been a positive influence on me. My mom has given me a sense of the business and I continue to learn," said Ms Baggett. "I enjoy the duties I have currently, which includes working with our advertisers, and by working in the front office I keep in contact with the public, which always is a joy and an adventure."

Ms Baggett looks forward to her continued relationship with the new editor. "Curtiss Clark has been a mentor to me throughout the 20-some years we have been together [at The Bee]. He cares dearly about the town he continues to write about. Our newspaper world has changed drastically due to the Internet and the World Wide Web, yet Curtiss stays abreast of the changes and keeps us current in the 21st Century," commented Ms Baggett.

In 1974, David Smith found himself, at the urgings of his father, "in a damp and musty darkroom processing film and making prints for the entire Bee." He followed up his darkroom experience as head of the circulation department and mailroom for the next ten years. All along, David Smith had covered antique and arts shows.

His first foray into the antiques world began as a child in the 1960s when he accompanied his father to antiques shows. By the time David Smith was 10 years old, he had a substantial collection of early American glass and stoneware pottery.

David Smith became assistant editor of Antiques and The Arts Weekly in the early 1990s, and associate editor in 2001.

"I have always been extremely proud of my father's vast knowledge of antiques, his accomplishments, work ethic, sense of community pride, his philanthropy, and the caring attitude that he displays not only toward our immediate family, but also to our employees and friends. I am honored that he has the confidence in me to make this appointment," said David Smith.

The selection of Curtiss Clark as editor at The Newtown Bee is "a natural choice," said David Smith. "Curtiss has his finger firmly on the pulse of Newtown and not only paints an accurate portrait of the ongoings of our community each week in 'Editorial Inkdrops,' but he is also there to guide our editorial staff and point them in a direction so as to retain our small-town flavor."

"Speaking for the officers of The Bee Publishing Co, we feel that the editor's shoes have been well filled," said Scudder Smith.