Howard graduated from Hawthorne High School in New Jersey and then the Ridgewood, New Jersey, School of Fine Arts. After she finished her schooling, she was chosen to study directly under master painter Helen Van Wyck at Van Wyck’s studio. Howard continued her love of painting and art creation from then on, but was offered a job at the Morristown (New Jersey) Daily Record where she began her writing career.

In 1969, Marie and her husband Edwin moved to Maine with their four children to live the “good life” that rural Maine offered. Howard found work at the Piscataquis Observer in Dover-Foxcroft and then at the Eastern Gazette in Dexter. In addition, she also spent three years reporting area news on radio station WDME at 7 a.m.

Then in 1981, Howard began working at the main office of the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, and was later promoted to Bureau Chief at their Skowhegan office.

While at the Sentinel, Howard was the recipient of five Maine Press Association awards as well as a New England Press award. The categories she won included investigative reporting, spot news reporting, and feature writing. Her New England Press award was garnered for an outstanding supplement she produced and wrote about Margaret Chase Smith, on the occasion of Smith’s 90th birthday.

In October of 1997, Howard came to work at the Moosehead Messenger to cover news in southern Piscataquis County. During her seven-year career at the Messenger, she continued to receive awards for her work, the most recent being a spot news story award in the Maine Press Association’s 2003 Better Newspaper Contest. She was recognized for her excellent coverage of the Braeburn Hotel fire, which happened in early March of 2003 in Guilford.

Retirement dosn’t mean that Howard will stop working. Quite the contrary, she has many projects that have been simmering on the back burner for some time, projects she will finally have the time to complete.

She has written an historical novel - The Valley People - which recounts how citizens of a farming community in a peaceful valley in New Jersey were impacted by the arrival of Alfred T. Ringling (of Ringling Brothers circus fame) in their midst. Ringling proceeded to build a huge mansion with numerous barns and outbuildings to house his circus animals. Howard was able to speak with many people who were alive at the time, including silent screen star Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and she kept accurate notes of what was said.

Ringling, in an effort to appease his neighbors, would stage his circus in the valley for their entertainment. Howard had written these notes about Ringling, his son, and the people of this rural valley, with the thought that someday she would write that story. And, now the book is available from Eastman Publishing at their Web address: eastmanpublishing.com

She also is actively painting and creating beautiful landscapes and wildlife art, not only on canvas but on slate and other surfaces. “I feel that this is a new time in my life,” Howard exclaimed. “I am able to do so many of the things that I had put off for years. I’ve never been busier,” she smiled.

We at the Moosehead Messenger are glad of that - and grateful for all that Marie Howard has contributed to the newspaper during her seven years as reporter. Thanks so much, Marie!
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."