Welcome to the thirteenth annual edition of the Glastonbury Book. While the number of years we’ve been publishing this book pales in comparison with the lengthy history of this beautiful town, we are honored to have become a part of that history, if only more recently.

You see, it was nearly four hundred years ago that 30 Wethersfield families settled along a beautiful sweep of land on the eastern shore of the Connecticut River called Naubuc Farms. In the many centuries since, that settlement has grown into the Town of Glastonbury, where families continue to put down roots and businesses come to prosper, farmers still plant their crops and raise their stock, schools and the students who attend them continue to excel at both studies and sports, and the original beauty of the land remains prized and protected. And although The Glastonbury Book doesn’t have nearly the story to tell that its namesake does, we, too, have experienced impressive growth since first arriving in mailboxes all over town a dozen years ago.

For one thing, we’ve become what might well be the most comprehensive directory of all that is in and around Glastonbury. For another, we provide not only the big picture but the small one, because within the latter lie all the special things that make Glastonbury’s residents proud to call this exceptional town home. And we’re useful. Genuinely useful. Indeed, we’re constantly updating our information to provide you with the most accurate contact numbers, street and web addresses, and details for the businesses included to ensure you the most current content available. And this year’s edition contains some surprises, as well, including a number of full-length articles we hope you will find interesting.

Above all, we are proud to be able to call this book “a trusted, homegrown publication.” While others in the print media have survived by skimping to reduce costs, we have invested generously to feature the work of the area’s most accomplished professional artists, photographers, writers, designers, and staff members.

Photographer Al Ferreira’s exceptional images combine with Artist Bill Dougal’s delightfully airy illustrations to lighten and engage. Smart writing with a touch of whimsy by Judy Henderson aimed at both informing and amusing has always been a must. And it all comes together thanks to the vision of our art director, Mary Murphy — one of our original designers when we began Distinctive Directories over 20 years ago — who makes exploring these pages a pleasant experience with a graphic style both relaxed and elegant at once.

Behind the scenes, The Glastonbury Book, as well as all of our other Distinctive Directories, have become an authentic family enterprise, with the publisher handling sales and promotional opportunities personally. Our administrative staff — all consummate professionals — keeps everything moving, organized, and accurate. And we take that same penchant for excellence one step further by offering a user-friendly website expertly constructed and maintained.

So we hope you find the 2023-2024 Glastonbury Book as handy as it is enjoyable. Feel free to tap into our pages on your iPhone, iPad, or computer at theglastonburybook.com — but when you’ve had enough of the global world and its digital information, grab a coffee or a nice glass of wine, settle into a comfy chair, and explore our actual pages, just like people have always done with great books. Because this is a great book.

Use it for all your regular shopping, dining, recreational, and reference needs. Share us with everyone you can. And if you’re heading to other parts of the state, take time to check out Distinctive Directories’ other annual publications before you go: The Valley Book, including all of the Farmington Valley’s towns; The West Hartford Book, focusing on West Hartford but including regional information, as well; and The Shoreline Book, which highlights the towns of Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, and Essex. They’re equally worthwhile, just as engaging, and — along with The Glastonbury Book — always online for easy access.