Linda Stanton poses with a framed New Jersey Monthly magazine article focused on her attendance at the 2024 Lines on the Pines event.
More than 20 years ago, Linda Stanton and her husband Jim, along with several friends, formed the nonprofit It’s a Sign of the Pines, an organization that helps maintain the natural beauty of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens and celebrate its history.
“It’s a Sign of the Pines began as a conversation among friends sitting in a Piney bar,” Linda explained. “How could we bring like-minded people together to celebrate and maintain the cultural richness of the New Jersey Pine Barrens?”
“Over 20 years ago, our first weekend gathering, entitled Lines on the Pines, brought together authors, artists, and craftspeople whose work reflected or was influenced by the Pines,” she added.
While originally a one-time event, the gathering is now held on the second Sunday of March every year at Stockton University in Galloway to engage others passionate about the Pine Barrens. The original event had four established authors, an archeologist, a photographer and two other authors.
The 19th event, according to Stanton, had around 100 participants.
On top of bringing people together, the gathering also serves to showcase the talents of attending authors and artists, to educate people about the Pine Barrens and to raise awareness of its features and historical significance.
In 2012, It’s a Sign of the Pines would begin a second event, Lines on the Pines for KIDS Goes to College, a one-day gathering where kids 6 to 12 could attend classes on the Pine Barrens at Stockton’s Kramer Hall in Hammonton.
“My target group now is 4 to 98 (years old),” Stanton joked. “We added the KIDS event to the annual event and it was very successful. I have folks up to 98 who have shown a genuine interest in the program. R. Marilyn Schmidt, former owner of Buzby’s General Store in Chatsworth, was 88 when she was at the event.
“There is something of interest for everyone who likes the Jersey Pines.”
Stanton vows to focus on arts, humanities and literature when it comes to It’s a Sign of the Pines, but to avoid politics and political issues.
“Emphasis is on instilling a general respect for one another, and what we each can offer to the area known as the New Jersey Pine Barrens through the arts, and humanities and its history,” she noted. “From the sounds of things, folks want us to continue the program for many more years.
“Plans have begun for securing the longevity of the event and passing the responsibilities on to others when I am too tired to continue,” Stanton added. “I hope to lead the event I founded in 2005 – until I can’t.”
