young and dumb

put a case of beer on the front lawn with a sign saying saying "carpenters only"

you dont know anyone who had work done to their place? Ask your friends and family. Pulling one out of the yellow pages works but . . .

Get referrals from family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc. As suggested, the yellow pages does not work, you don't know what you are getting there. You may not always get good referrals, but you will usually get comments about ones to avoid.

Do not put an add on Graigs List.
You might try calling the local building inspection office and ask an inspector. Some of those guys will know someone (off the record of course)

Or if you know where a decent lumber yard is, you can always ask a salesman or rep and see if they can refer you. That's where I've gotten a lot of business from.

Every decent-sized lumber yard I've ever been in has had a bulletin board somewhere where contractors and tradesmen post their business cards.