We've Got Your Number

We connect for a living these days. IPhones, email, cell phones, we have it all.

What we are lacking is a way to pick up the house phone and connect to all of the businesses and friends in our immediate surrounding.

Twenty years ago the found a solution to that problem, and today they still send out over 8,000 Hopkinton phone books for free.

"The books are multi-purpose," President of the Women's Club Jane Anderson said. "It offers a quick easy way to find a local number, it offers a ton of information on different town organizations, and it's a great vehicle for local advertisers. Even in this economy our ad revenue was up this year."

Profiting nearly $20,000 the book is also a great money maker for the women's club, which equals more money for folks in town.

"We give away over $8500 in town scholarships each spring," Anderson said. "On top of that the women's club offers many more scholarships."

Last year the club helped 20 local organizations including but not limited to , The Hopkinton High School Drama Club, The Marine Mural and many more.

"All of the money we earn from the book goes back to the community," Anderson said.

Each year, the phone book's cover is graced with amazing artwork. This year's cover design was a photograph by the Hopkinton Patch photographer Vicki Francis.

"When I receive all of the submissions I put them all on a piece of paper and try to make them look as much alike as possible," Anderson said. "They are judged at the spring awards banquet and then Marie Smith makes sure it will work on the cover."

The artwork submitted can be anything from a photograph to a children's drawing as long as it represents Hopkinton and comes from a Hopkinton resident.

"I took the picture on a school day in February," Francis said. "Many of my friends noticed me in the snowbank setting up my tripod. My entry was hand delivered on the last day of the contest."

Francis thought the silo was the perfect shot noting that the artwork would be the only color in a black and white world.

"I thought of all of the pictures I've taken around town, the silo was worthy of the cover. Many in town were involved in the renovation, and the artwork that graced its' side was a little piece of history."

Phone books are mailed free to all town residents and businesses who chose to advertise. If you would like another copy, they can be purchased at the for $5.