[Gmail-Users] Filtering my Address Book

There really IS more to Gmail than meets the eye - does it include a
way for me to filter into a special directory, or at least STAR or
sump'n, any mail I get from those in my ever changing address book?

I have a web-based business, so I get in the order of 1500 - 2000
messages a day, mostly spam, and my MailWasher handled it on the POP
server I am trying to switch from, so my need for this basic filter is
dire.

TIA for any help.
Frank