Welcome to Rising Stars, educational book and software publishers. On this site you can browse our range of products for teachers, children and parents all of which support the National Curriculum. Best selling titles include Download for improving readers, Brain Academy for the more able and our acclaimed Achieve range for successful revision and practice.

Rising Stars has produced Implications for Teaching and Learning reports for English, Mathematics and Science. Click for more.

The Rising Star Economic Development, Rising Star Museum and The Chamber of Commerce are included in this magazine along with coverage of more County Museums, Historical Markers and more.

The 2007 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) for the City of Rising Star has been released. Copies were mailed to City Water Customers on June 7, 2008. Additional copies are available at Rising Star City Hall.

The City of Rising Star is proud to announce the funding of a Grant from Texas Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $250,000.00 for Water System Improvements. Grant Funds will be used to replace approximately 6,000 linear feet of deteriorated water lines within the community. The water lines that have been targeted for replacement are over 50 years old.

Rising Star, Texas, is located at the intersection of two major highways, those being highway 36 and highway 183. We are approximately 24 miles south of Interstate 20 between the cities of Dallas/Ft. Worth and Abilene. With a population of 860, we continue to strive towards home and family values.

In 1874 seven families moving westward in search of their dreams found this area ideal for raising their children. With fertile land and water for livestock and crops, Rising Star became their home. The unique name of the town came much later as the population grew and a mail route was being established. The Settlers convened to find a suitable name. After deliberation throughout the night without success, they became aware of the morning star twinkling in the sky. This revelation lead to the decision to adopt the name of RISING STAR.

Rising Star offers small town living in a beautiful valley. Huge oak, pecan, cottonwood, and mesquite trees hint of the diversification of the soil and climate. Our farming community produces peanuts, wheat, oats, watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, pecans, and beautiful hay fields.

We welcome hunters annually where they find abundant deer, turkey, quail, dove and wild hogs. The Rising Star eighteen hole golf course is in a beautiful setting of oak trees and lush green grass is complemented by the nine hole course at Lakewood Recreation Center. The elementary and high school facilities anchor the youth programs ranging from Little League

Strong churches are a welcome heritage passed down from our early settlers. They are rounded out by the Senior Citizens Club, Star Pride, American Legion, Chamber of Commerce Agriculture, Rising Star Foundation, Rising Star Historical Museum, Saturday Club and Masonic Lodge. The Saturday Club, organized in 1920, federated in 1921, began the City Library which was built in 1926. Donations and sales from The Saturday Club activities funded the construction. Today our Library is still run by Saturday Club Volunteers.

During the Spring and Summer months, Rising Star Trade Days opens the fourth Friday. Saturday and Sunday of each month. Antique and Collectible Auctions are held weekly and monthly by Rising Star Auction. Co. On Saturday nights Bingo is played at the American Legion. Rising Star is proud to have one of the largest green houses in Texas, Hardwick Nursery-which is open year round for all your planting needs.. Annual events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce include the 4th of July Freedom Festival, one of the largest fire work displays in the area, citywide garage sales, Octoberfest and brisket cookoff, dove hunter's lunch, Hometown Christmas and the Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by Star Pride.

We are well known for our Cap Factory, Gate Company, Greenhouse, Trade Days-Flea Market, Rising Star Vineyard and weekly/monthly Antique Auctions. Homecooking abounds in the local food facilities. Banking, grocery stores, Post Office, feed and farm supplies, plumbing and hardware stores provide basic services. Our medical clinic, nursing homes, in-home health care, and pharmacy provide sound medical care. There are two large dairies south of town. Prize-winning animals are common on the ranches and farms of our area.

Rising Stars is a 24-issue comic book limited series by J. Michael Straczynski about 113 people (called "Specials"), as they are born with special abilities following the appearance of a mysterious light in the sky. The comic explores how a society may react to the introduction of superpowers, and how those Specials may react towards society and each other. Rising Stars was one of the first comics produced under Straczynski's own Joe's Comics imprint for Top Cow Productions.

The comic was published in August 1999, monthly at first by Top Cow/Image Comics, and then under the Joe's Comics imprint. Within a few months, however, there were unscheduled artist changes and unexplained delays by Top Cow in shipping the comics -- sometimes lasting months. The comic itself came to an unexpected halt after issue 21 due to internal arguments between Straczynski and Top Cow. Straczynski claimed he was cut out of the loop on the potential Rising Stars movie. After communication broke down between them, he held back the scripts for the last three issues, and the entire comic was put on hold. In addition to an apology for the way Straczynski was treated in regard to the possible film, Top Cow relented by giving him the full rights to an anthology comic he had written for them, Dream Police (later published by Marvel Comics), as well as the rights to the name and logo for the Joe's Comics imprint. The last issue of Rising Stars was published in March 2005. During the intervening time, Straczynski had gone on to write a revamp of Marvel's Squadron Supreme, Supreme Power.

The first Rising Stars spin-off, a three-issue miniseries, written by Fiona Avery, penciled by Dan Jurgens and published in Feb-Apr 2003, is about Matthew Bright's rookie years as a police officer in the NYPD under the name Brendan Miller, after he left Pederson.

The six-issue miniseries Rising Stars. Voices of the Dead features Lionel Zerb, a Special who can see dead people, and was published in Apr-Dec 2005. It was again written by Fiona Avery, with pencils by Staz Johnson and Al Rio. It concentrates on various mysteries Lionel uncovers because of his ability.

The five-issue miniseries Rising Stars. Untouchable features Laurel Darkhaven, a Special who worked for the CIA as an assassin. Written by Fiona Avery with pencils by Brent Anderson. Published February 2006 - June 2006.

Between 2002 and 2005, a novelization of Rising Stars by Arthur Byron Cover was published in a three-volume series.

Rising Stars Book 1. Born in Fire (ISBN us. ) follows the storyline of the trade paperback of the same title.

Rising Stars Book 3. Change the World (ISBN us. ) concludes the trilogy and follows the storyline of Fire and Ash.

Parallels have been drawn between Rising Stars and the USA Network's The 4400 where 4400 missing people have been returned by a ball of light similar to that in the beginning of Rising stars, with newly discovered supernatural powers. Parallels have also been drawn between Rising Stars and the television series Heroes. The show revolves around people around the world who exhibit special abilities.

In July 2006, JMS' website reported that "Sam Raimi's production company is currently developing Rising Stars as a series."

The General SurveyLawyers are asked to nominate the best attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. They are instructed to nominate lawyers they have personally observed in action — whether as opposing counsel or co-counsel, or through other firsthand courtroom observation. The Research ProcessIn addition to the general survey, the attorney-led research team reviews the credentials of potential candidates and assigns points based on a set of defined evaluation criteria. The research staff also confirms that nominees are properly licensed, in good standing with the state licensing agency, and, when possible, that they have no history of disciplinary action that would warrant removal from the list. The Final Selection ProcessThe point totals from the general survey and research process are then added to arrive at a final tally. The lawyers are ranked by point totals and those with the highest point totals are named to the Rising Stars list. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the list. To ensure a diverse and well-balanced list, the research staff considers factors such as firm size, practice area and geographic location. The Rising Stars list includes both private practice attorneys and attorneys in non-private practice areas such as prosecutors, in-house counsel, judges and public service lawyers. Where to Find Rising StarsRising Stars is published in California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law Politics. Rising Stars names the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. Super Lawyers magazine is published in all 50 states and reaches more than 13 million readers.

The DCCCD Foundation believes everyone should have a chance to realize the American Dream. We also believe that a college education through the Dallas County Community College District is an excellent first step toward achieving that goal. Recognizing that there are those who truly lack the personal finances needed for college - even the affordable rates offered by the DCCCD - the Foundation has established the new Rising Star Scholars Program.

The new scholarship initiative essentially eliminates financial need as a barrier to higher education in Dallas County. The Rising Star program promises the youth of Dallas County that if they stay in high school, graduate, demonstrate a modest level of academic potential, and have specific financial need, the Foundation will guarantee them the opportunity to earn a two-year college education from any one of the seven Dallas County Community Colleges or the El Centro College Bill J. Priest Campus.

Rising Star provides academic support services and up to $4,000 for tuition and books throughout your education in the DCCCD.

The DCCCD Foundation believes everyone should have a chance to realize the American Dream. We also believe that a college education through the Dallas County Community College District is an excellent first step toward achieving that goal. Recognizing that there are those who truly lack the personal finances needed for college - even the affordable rates offered by the DCCCD - the Foundation has established the new Rising Star Scholars Program.

The new scholarship initiative essentially eliminates financial need as a barrier to higher education in Dallas County. The Rising Star program promises the youth of Dallas County that if they stay in high school, graduate, demonstrate a modest level of academic potential, and have specific financial need, the Foundation will guarantee them the opportunity to earn a two-year college education from any one of the seven Dallas County Community Colleges or the El Centro College Bill J. Priest Campus.

Rising Star provides academic support services and up to $4,000 for tuition and books throughout your education in the DCCCD.

Rising Star is back, bigger and better than ever for 2009. Come join the staff and your fellow fans as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. Rising Star will have all the events you've come to enjoy (the art show, dealers' room, costume contest, and video programming) as well as some new items like the Friday night dance and the retro gaming room with Doom 2 and Diablo LAN parties.

Rising Stars looks forward to many exciting and productive 2009 Softball Tournaments, Showcases, Camps, and Recruiting Experiences for players of all levels. We will continue the Tradition of providing you with the BEST RECRUITING OPPORTUNITIES for players and college coaches.

Rising Stars Summer Showcase (16U, 18U, 18U Gold), July 17-19, 2009, will FEATURE an EXCLUSIVE round of games for

ALSO, during July event, Rising Stars will be HOSTING ANOTHER MARLINS/RISING STARS NIGHT. The Marlins will be hosting THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS THE PHILLIES.

We are proud to announce Rising Stars and Triple Crown Sports will TEAM UP to create even more opportunities for your players to maximize their exposure.

Marty Cyd Cooper are The Founders of Rising Stars Showcases with 15 Years of Tradition and Gold Coast Hurricanes. David Annette King are the Founders of Triple Crown Sports. In 23 years of existence, with 60 full time employees, they have built and run some of the largest Softball, Baseball, Basketball events. Together WE plan to enhance the events you love to attend.

Rising Stars will continue to host its 3 Showcase Tournaments, Summer, Fall, Winter, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Triple Crown Sports will continue hosting its major events - Colorado Sparkler, CO. Fastpitch World Series in Park City, UT. and all other tournaments events.

At Rising Star Border Collies, our dogs train and compete in agility, conformation, flyball, herding and obedience -- displaying the true versatility of the Border Collie.

The Community Affairs team is looking for outstanding undergraduates, postgraduates, post-docs and early career academics for a course in public engagement and educational outreach. We are looking for participants from all academic disciplines and are particularly keen on receiving applications from those thinking of pursuing a career in academia. Participants attend five half day sessions and will be responsible for planning, organising and delivering a real outreach activity to the public (in addition to the five sessions). Completion of the Rising Stars course will count as transferrable skills training. Sessions will cover

Application deadline. Friday 17th April To apply for the Rising Stars course, please complete our online application form. Please note applications must be completed and submitted in one session. You may wish to print off the application form in advance of filling it in order to pre-prepare your answers. If you experience any problems with this online booking process or wish to change an answer please email us

Find all the latest NAB AFL Rising Star Program news here, and keep yourself up to date with all the stories and events from the program..more

The AFL Rising Star Award was instituted in 1993 to recognise and encourage talented young players in the AFL..more

Rising Star Soccer, located at the Lebanon Area Fairgrounds Rising Star information requestclick here Information submission for website click here

Welcome to Rising Star Shilohs. Located in the northwest corner of the smallest state of the union, N. Scituate, Rhode Island, we make our home in a rural area on 5 acres of woodlands shared by deer and other wildlife.

We acquired our first shiloh, Star, in 2000 and couldn't wait to get our second, Kiora, in 2001. We have decided to keep lemon girl from our fabulous Samson/Kiora litter that arrived December 2004. keep watching for more pictures and stories of Rising Star's Armand's Joy

Our shilohs are home raised as part of the family. Rising Star Shilohs is devoted to breeding for health, intelligence, sound temperaments great size. Our Shilohs are registered with the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry (ISSR).

I would like to dedicate the Rising Star Shiloh website to the memory of Armand, my husband, my soulmate (5/04/42 - 11/08/02)

Oted by the public, the Orange Rising Star Award recognises an exceptional acting talent and a star in the making.

The public have voted Noel Clark this year's Orange Rising Star. The Adulthood star was presented with the prestigious Award by last year's winner Shia Labeouf at the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 8 February. The Orange Rising Star Award recognises five international actors and actresses who have demonstrated exceptional talent and have begun to capture the imagination of the public as a star in the making. The Orange Rising Star Award is unique as it is the only Award presented at the Orange British Academy Film Awards to be voted for by the British public. Voting took place via text and on the Orange website . Click on a nominee name to find out more.

Launched at the Film Awards in 2006 the first Orange Rising Star Award was won by James McAvoy, who has since enjoyed exceptional success. In 2007 the British public voted for Eva Green as the star most likely to light up our screens and last year, the prestigious Award was won by Shia Labeouf.

The Orange Rising Star Award was launched at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2006 to honour the year’s brightest young actor or actress. Find out more

The Orange Rising Star Award celebrates an exceptional acting talent and a star in the making. This year's nominees are Michael Cera, Noel Clarke, Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Hall, Toby Kebbel. Find Out who won.

Sign up here for a free membership to Catch a Rising Star's LOL Club. You'll receive regular bulletins about our upcoming shows and discounts to experience some great comedy.

Catch A Rising Star is pleased to welcome New England’s Premiere Comic Hypnotist, Frank Santos!! Join the hilarious Frank Santos and your host Frank O’Donnell each and every Friday night starting September 12 at 10.15pm!! Frank Santos, New Englands Premiere Hypnotist and innovative comedian has been mesmerizing audiences for over 21 years. His spectacular display of mind bending antics can turn any skeptic into a fan. His act is always fresh, racy, and like the swirls of a fingerprint, no two shows are the same. The audience becomes the show. When Frank performs, you are not merely an idle bystander vicariously absorbing an out-of-date comedy routine. This is the only show where you can fall asleep, fall in love, or become a stud, and then awake feeling well rested and completely refreshed. Frank has a show for every occasion. He can read his audience and adjust the tone of his performance to please every appetite. Frank Santos will make a believer out of you!

Catch A Rising Star Comedy Clubs have been a tradition since 1972 when it opened its first club in New York City. Catch has an impressive roster of alumni. among them, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Rosie O’Donnell, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Richard Belzer, Ray Romano, Jon Lovitz, Chris Rock, Bob Saget and Robert Wuhl. Our commitment to tomorrows comedy stars has remained the same over our history, and continues today from four locations in Reno, Princeton, Providence and Monticello.

Catch A Rising Star is a nationally known trademark and forum, recognized for over thirty-five years for launching the careers of some of America’s most popular and beloved television and film stars, top comedians, comic actors, musicians, directors, producers and writers. There are only a few brand names that are so synonymous with comedy that when you hear them you immediately think of quality entertainment, talented artists, and funny star makers, i. e., Second City, National Lampoon, Saturday Night Live and Catch A Rising Star. “Catch” as it is affectionately called in the entertainment industry, first opened its comedy club doors in New York City in 1972. “Catch” is the only comedy club that has ever had two major network television specials produced about it. “Catch A Rising Star’s 10th Anniversary” on HBO and “Catch A Rising Star’s 25th Anniversary” on CBS. Both shows were commercial successes, packed with illustrious alumni of talent. Catch A Rising Star has a well-established reputation, long-term relationships with talent, managers, agents, producers and network executives. The inherent synergy of these business initiatives help to create the finest comedy shows at “Catch.” Catch A Rising Star’s reputation and commitment to excellence has made us a leader in the industry. The managing partners of Catch A Rising Star are each recognized for their extensive experience in entertainment and finance and are individuals considered to be the finest professionals in the industry. With this team’s emphasis on the development of the Catch A Rising Star trademark, nationally and internationally, Catch A Rising Star will continue to celebrate the esteem title of “the premier comedy music club in the nation”.

If you are planning an event for 2009 - wedding, reception, private party, reunion or other special event - it's not too early to get it on our calendar. Call us at us. or email us at risingstarvineyards. com

About Us Rising Star Vineyards operates two vineyards in Central Texas. We began as growers with the planting of a small vineyard just north of the Hill Country AVA in 1999. The vineyard in Rising Star is more than 20 years old and has been supplying wineries across the state with high-quality fruit for many years, a practice that we continue today. The winery began operation in 2005 and we opened the tasting room in Rising Star in July of 2006. Our wine production is very small and we focus on small lots of hand-crafted wines. All of our wines are made from fruit we grow. We love our land, we love our vineyards and we think you'll love our wines.

That is the exact goal of Rising Star Stocks. I invite you to join Rising Star Stocks and reap the benefits of ourproprietary in-depth research on micro-cap stocksthat will propel your portfolio to new heights in the coming months and years.

It is our goal at Rising Star Stocks to uncover potential investments in companies that are poised to revolutionize their industries. We have a proven track recordof discovering emerging companiesthat provide investors with substantial gains unattainable in other sectors of the stock market.

I have built my business on my track record. I have delivered market outperforming gains year after year in growth stocks since launching Rising Star Stocks in 2004.

Using our experience from investing in profitable growth companies, wefocus on severalfundamental indicators thatcan accuratelyassess future success for micro cap stocks. This experience coupled with arefundamentals-based research can be yours with a membership to Rising Star Stocks.

Our monthly Rising Star Stocks newsletter is mailed toyour homeor office. Each issue includes several new stocks hand picked by our research team, plus updates on our existing holdings and a comprehensive performance review.

Updates on companies in the portfolio to help you keep track ofchanges in theinvestment opportunities presented by the research staff of Rising Star Stocks.

Rising Star Stocks maintains an archive of all previously published editions of the monthly newsletter, plus all alertsreleased between issues.

In-depth and timely special reports are posted on the Rising Star Stocks web site. These reports can include details on a specific sector of the stock market, or may profile several micro-cap companies thatwe believe are deserving of your attention. Members have full access to all special reports released during the subscription term.

Is the Editor-in-Chief of Rising Star Stocks, an investment newsletter advisory based in Washington DC. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Growth Report, where he delivered market outperforming gains investing in high growth stocks. Ian’s unique investment strategy focuses on discovering undervalued growth stocks ahead of Wall Street and Main Street. Ian scours the market looking for fundamentally strong growth companies with significant prospects for long-term appreciation.

Rising Star Press publishes trade non-fiction books that contribute to the quality of life of our readers. Topics range from the individual, to the community, to the global. They deal with such issues as.

The mission of Rising Star Productions is to provide wholesome, uplifting entertainment while allowing members of the community to discover and develop their talents.

ScienceWatch. com - Tracking Trends & Performance In Basic Research. Data & Rankings. Rising Stars

Is updated every two months, it is possible to identify entities that are most improved from one update to the next. i. e., those scientists, institutions, countries, and journals that show the largest percentage increase in total citations. The information found in the links below provides a listing of the Rising Star entities in each of

ScienceWatch. com - Tracking Trends & Performance In Basic Research. Data & Rankings. Rising Stars

Rising Star Vacation Homes offers oceanfront vacation homes and cottages in and around Sooke, BC, on the west coast of scenic Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Rising Star Vacation Homes | Vancouver Island Vacation Homes Phone. us. | Fax. us. | Toll Free. us. Email. us

Rising Star Montessori School provides a high quality educational program for children based on the philosophy and methods developed by Maria Montessori. In addition to our concern for the health and safety of the children, we emphasize a total education program. Our academic excellence thrives in a warm, nurturing environment that promotes the self-esteem of each individual child. We advocate global diversity by studying many cultures, embracing and respecting the people in our modern world. We have two locations!

About Us Our Mission and History Our Community Contact Info & Communication Directions and Map Employment Opportunities Links Upcoming Events Rising Star Montessori School Main Office Phone. us. Fax. us. 1421 High St. Alameda, CA 94501

Our Names are Glenn and Michelle. We are the Owners of Rising Star Karaoke. We focused oncreatingthe best Karaoke Show in the United States.

The challenging five-week Rising Star program awards college credit to rising high school seniors who are ready for a summer college experience. Students may enroll in two college-level classes and have the opportunity to build or enhance their visual arts portfolios. Outside class, students complete assignments, take field trips, socialize, and enjoy area parks and other attractions. College housing and meals are provided Students who successfully complete the Rising Star program earn college credit, which may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree at SCAD or at other colleges or universities. (Course credits are applied to degree requirements at the discretion of the accepting institution.)

Rising Star Gymnastics offers developmental, recreational, and competitive programs for girls and boys. Students at Rising Star are instructed by caring and knowledgeable coaches who are dedicated to the safety and enjoyment of each gymnast. Our gymnasts are encouraged to dream and are valued as individuals. Welcome to the Rising Star family!

Welcome to the Rising Star Baseball Camp located in New Rochelle, NY. This New York based baseball camp draws athletes (ages 7-15)

Tom Koehler who attended the Rising Star Baseball Camp during summers us. was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 18th Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. Tom also came back to coach at the camp for a couple of summers during college. Congratulations Tommy and Good Luck! Pictured below. as camper (1999) pitching for Stonybrook U. (2008)

Coach Chris Lopez, who has worked at the Rising Star Baseball Camp for the past five years, signed a professional contract with the

Steve Gilman who coached at the Rising Star Baseball Camp during the summer of 2006 was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2008 MLB Draft. Congratulations Coach Gilman!

For comments, questions, and to contribute additional content, contact Barb Bellemore, Rising Star District Webmaster.

This page is not an official electronic publication of the Boy Scouts of America. It is maintained as a service to the Scouts and Scouters of the Rising Star District of Sam Houston Area Council, and its creation has been approved by the District Committee.

Hey Rupert, I saw a story in The Sun about rising star Masal Bugduv . How come he isn't mentioned here?

Texas Rising Star Provider certification is a process for improving the quality of child care services provided in Texas. A Texas Rising Star Provider is a child care provider that has an agreement with a Board's Child Care Contractor to serve Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) subsidized children and that voluntarily meets requirements that exceed the State's Minimum Licensing Standards for child care facilities. The Texas Rising Star Provider certification system provides graduated levels of certification as providers meet progressively higher certification requirements. Certification as a Texas Rising Star Provider is available to Licensed Center, Licensed Child Care Home, and Registered Child Care Home providers who meet the certification criteria. The process improves the quality of child care provided, not only to TWC subsidized children, but to all children enrolled in certified facilities. The link below will take you to the Texas Rising Star Provider Certification Guidelines document. It is a technical document used primarily by Board and child care contractor staff who conduct the assessments of, and provide technical assistance to, providers pursuing Texas Rising Star Provider certification. It includes the procedures, criteria, measures, scoring instruments, and definitions of technical terms used in the certification process. It also includes useful tips for providers who are seeking Texas Rising Star Provider certification and for Board and child care contractor staff who conduct the assessment/certification process.

From Thomson Scientific provides citation rankings of scientists, institutions, countries, and journals broken out by broad fields of science. A citation threshold is applied to each field ranking. scientists and institutions are selected if they are in the top 1% by total citations in a given field, and countries and journals must be in the top 50%. A total of 10 years of Thomson Scientific citation data, plus some number of consecutive bimonthly periods during the current year, are used to determine the rankings. Since Essential Science Indicators is updated every two months, it is possible to identify entities that are most improved from one update to the next. i. e., those scientists, institutions, countries, and journals that show the largest percentage increase in total citations. The information found in the links below provides a listing of the Rising Star entities in each of Essential Science Indicators 22 fields, for the most recent bimonthly update, and for earlier updates as well.

R. N.C. Chair Michael Steele is touting Govs. Bobby Jindal (La.), Mark Sanford (S. C.), Tim Pawlenty (Minn.), and Sarah Palin (Alaska) as rising stars.

Newly elected GOP chair Michael Steele is touting four Republicans under the age of 50 as rising stars in the party. I'd say certainly Bobby Jindal, Governor Sanford, Pawlenty, Palin, Steele said Sunday. We have a whole host of folks out there who are beginning to emerge on the scene and will over the next couple of years I think redefine this party in a way that will be very good for us long term. Steele, who was elected chair of the Republican National Committee on Friday, heaped praise on the governors of Louisiana, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Alaska during a Sunday interview with Fox's Chris Wallace. The RNC chair was specifically asked to name three Republian leaders under the age of 50 whom he sees as new faces. He ended up providing four names, all of them governors. Jindal, 37, is the youngest Republican on Steele's list. The Louisiana governor, who is up for re-election in 2011, has signaled that he will not run for president in 2012. But he continues to be a big draw for his party. In March, he is scheduled to headline the National Republican Congressional Committee's fundraising dinner. Shortly after last year's election, he popped up in Iowa, prompting pundits to ask if he is the GOP's version of Barack Obama. A former Rhodes scholar, Jindal is well versed in health care. Before being elected to Congress in 2004, he served as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and later served as executive director of a 17-member panel charged with devising plans to reform Medicare. In 2001, he was appointed Assistant Secretary for the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grover Norquist, the president of the conservative Americans for Tax Reform, lauds Jindal's work on lowering taxes and government transparency and confidently predicts that the Roman Catholic son of Indian immigrants will one day be president. Sanford, 48, is a low-tax, low-spending conservative who is not afraid to clash with his own party. In the wake of the GOP's drubbing at the polls last year, Sanford has been arguing that America didn't turn away from conservatism, they turned away from many who faked it. He is an outspoken opponent of the economic stimulus package. Borrowing from Medicare, Social Security, our grandkids and the Chinese to remedy a problem created by too much borrowing strikes me as odd, and hardly the 'change' Americans really want, wrote Sanford in a post-election op-ed for CNN. com. He is using his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association to increase his visibility around the country. Later this month, he is slated to address California's Republican Party convention in Sacramento. Pawlenty, 48, identifies himself as hailing from the Sam's Club wing of the Republican Party. We want to be the party of Sam's Club, not jut the country club, Pawlenty is fond of saying. On economics, the son-of-a-truck-driver wraps his proposals under the theme of delivering better value for middle-class families. During last year's campaign, he voiced support for the bailout of the financial industry. He now is taking a more populist tack. In Washington, Pawlenty said during last month's State of the State address, they're sending billions of dollars to Wall Street. Here in Minnesota, I want us committed to helping Main Street. Pawlenty used his annual speech to urge state lawmakers to cut Minnesota's corporate tax rate in half. Palin, 44, is by far the best known on Steele's list. During her vice presidential run last year, the Alaska governor consistently drew much larger crowds than Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. She recently launched a federal Political Action Committee, SarahPAC, that she can use to dole out money to candidates around the country. The organization's mission statement highlights her work on energy independence, an issue she has focused on in Alaska. As the mother of a baby with special needs, she has a strong reservoir of support among abortion rights opponents. The downside of the exposure that Palin received last year is that 60 percent of voters did not believe she was qualified to be president on Election Day 2008, according to the exit poll conducted by a consortium of news organizations.

The fact that the national GOP still touts Palin as a "rising star" says all that there needs to be said about the party. They exalt in mediocrity.

If Palin is a rising star and the "best and brightest" the Republicans have to offer, Democrats will be in power for a long time. Apparently, Republicans still don't get it. When the extremist, lunatic fringe like Rush Limbaugh controls the Republican Party, clearly neo-cons are out of step with America. Why do Republicans hate America so much? When are they going to learn to put the interests of the Nation first.over their petty, partisan, parochial and provincial interests?

Lib-tard writes. "Only one of these 4 governor's may give an appearance that the Republic party is the 21st century party with diversity that represents the modern USA and that is Bobby Jindal." Wow what a shallow and small minded thing for someone to say. To act as though diversity is the only thing that matters really shows the depth of your intellect. I guess I should expect nothing less from a lib. As for me, I'm happy to have Lt. Gov Steele as the party chairman. He's a great conservative that happens to be black. What I like is the conservative part, the color of his skin doesnt matter squat to me. As for the 4 rising stars, give me Sanford any day! As a resident of SC, I can personally vouch for this guy. He is a rock-hard conservative that stands up for his principles and will fight for them against anyone no matter what party the opponent is from. Unlike the past 8 years (especially the last 2), Sanford will not tolerate any kind of wasteful spending. He even told the Feds they can keep their money that they were trying to send to our state so they could gain more influence. Sanford knows that state autonomy is FAR more preferable over dirty fed money ANY DAY!!! America is looking for the next great conservative President and Mark Sanford is it!

On the face of it, winning Bafta's Rising Star award is just about the best thing a struggling young actor can do if he or she wants to set themselves on the gilded path towards Hollywood fame and fortune. Just look at the past recipients. James McAvoy, now a bona fide Hollywood star thanks to the success of Wanted and Atonement, won in 2006, while 2007's winner was Eva Green of Casino Royale and The Golden Compass. Shia LaBeouf, who won last year, has been one of 2008's biggest box office draws with a headlining role in the thriller Eagle Eye and a supporting turn in the latest Indiana Jones adventure. Did winning the gong do anything to help the careers of the above? Of course not. the award, which is the only Bafta voted for by members of the public (via text message), is simply a convenient rubber stamp which can be handed out to anyone vaguely young and modish who looks like they might be doing rather well for themselves. Vital sponsorship cash is sourced, and crucially the award doesn't clash with any of the established Bafta categories. Everybody wins. Yesterday it was announced that three Brits and an Irishman who has been one of homegrown cinema's most compelling recent performers are up for this year's award. Toby Kebbell, so memorable as Joy Division manager Rob Gretton in Control, Adulthood's Noel Clarke, and Frost/Nixon's Rebecca Hall join Michael Fassbender, who appeared as the Hunger striker Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's Hunger. The token north American is Canadian Michael Cera, the Superbad star who's become Hollywood's go-to guy for geeky teen cool. To be fair, while the Rising Star award itself may be a little opportunistic, this year's list of nominees is a pretty classy bunch. One suspects that Cera is the frontrunner, provided the great British textarati can work out how to spell his name. Those in the know might plump for Fassbender, whose emaciated turn in Hunger has been sending judders through critical cerebral cortexes since its Cannes debut, and who was also excellent as a gas-guzzler-driving suitor menaced by 'orrible chavs in the widely-praised Brit horror Eden Lake. Kebbell, whose Pete Doherty aping turn as a crack-addicted singer in Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla was probably seen by enough of the target voting audience to give him a fair stab at the gong, was on hand to accept his nomination at Bafta's Piccadilly HQ. No, he protests, he doesn't especially fancy a career like LaBeouf's."I'm quite happy playing sideline, character parts at the moment, because I'm learning. I think that when my face matures I'll actually be able to take the roles I want to take."Clarke, the former Doctor Who sidekick who has been nominated for writing, directing and starring in Adulthood, the follow up to his 2006 tale of urban disaffection, Kidulthood, has also turned up to meet and greet the assembled press corps. Isn't he, at 33, a bit on the elderly side to be in the running?"I think I was just in the age bracket," he says. "But I do feel that these other actors are already pretty established and doing great and amazing work, and I think I'm probably still 'rising', so maybe that's why I'm in."Was he surprised at the success of Adulthood, which last year battled it out for several weeks with the likes of Sex and the City, Indiana Jones and The Incredible Hulk at the top of the British box office chart."I was. It convinced a lot of people that we weren't just glamourising that life. we were showing that even if you come from these areas you can do something creative with your life. You don't just have to give up and do things you shouldn't be doing. Hard work and dedication is something that can actually get you somewhere."There's a tenacity and pleasantness about Clarke that means despite his advanced age, you wouldn't bet against him defying the odds and rising even further up the movie ladder. But what's your take? Have Bafta winnowed wisely? Or is the whole business just a joke?

Rising Star. Jayma Mays From Heroes to Paul Blart. Mall Cop, check out these hot shots of AccessHollywood. com Rising Star Jayma Mays!

Rising Star. Shenae GrimesSee all photos of Access Hollywoods newest Rising Star, 90210 actress Shenae Grimes!

Access Search Engine. Gwyneth Says She And Chris Martin Not A Public Couple (Feb. 3, 2009) Gwyneth Paltrow finally opens up about rumors that her marriage with Coldplays Chris Martin is on the rocks! Plus, meet rising star Jayma Mays from Paul Blart. Mall Cop.

Rising Star. Jayma Mays Talks Glee Get to know the star of Foxs upcoming comedy Glee and Paul Blart. Mall Cop.

Golden Globe Rising Star. Sally Hawkins Get to know the British star of the movie Happy-Go-Lucky, AccessHollywood. coms inaugural Golden Globe Rising Star.

Rising Star. Joel Moss Levinsons Little Penguin Pick-Up Lines Check out this clip of new AccessHollywood. com Rising Star and perennial online contest winner Joel Levinson.

Rising Star. Little Britain USA Get to know the cast of HBOs new show, Little Britain, and AccessHollywood. coms newest Rising Stars!

Rising Star. Shenae Grimes Get to know the star of The CWs new 90210, and AccessHollywood. coms newest Rising Star.

Rising Star. Agyness Deyn Struts Down The Catwalk British model Agyness Deyn has been proclaimed the face of the decade by appearing on fashion magazine covers and catwalks everywhere. Check out this video of Access Hollywoods Rising Star, Agyness Deyn, during New Yorks f

Ben Barnes Reacts To Being Named AccessHollywood. coms Rising Star The star of The Chronicles Of Narnia. Prince Caspian, Ben Barnes, is told that he has been named the Rising Star for AccessHollywood. com. So how did he react to the news?

Rising Star. Soarise Ronan Goes Shopping At Kitson Boutique Atonement star Soarise Ronan is on the hunt at Kitson Boutique in Beverly Hills to find the hottest and newest womens clothing trends in this exclusive interview.

Heroes. Rising Star Dana Davis Get your first look at up-and-coming Heroes star Dana Davis in this exclusive interview and clip footage.

Rising Star. Russell Brand Access hits the red carpet with rising star Russell Brand during the Forgetting Sarah Marshall premiere in Hollywood.

Elcome to Rising Star Hydraulics, your general tube fabricator! We service customers with quality tube bending services and other metal forming solutions, delivered on time at competitive prices. Rising Star Hydraulics has 50 years of combined tube bending experience. If you don't have a print available to send to us, just ship us a sample and our qualified personnel will be able to use that information to quote and produce the part for your company. Our parts are quality checked to the highest degree before we send them to our customers. At Rising Star Hydraulics, we have state of the art CNC tube bending and fabricating machines that are used to produce a quality product in any quantity. Our capabilities include.

Rising Star Farm is dedicated to the production of Sport Horses suitable for Hunters, Jumpers, Eventers and Dressage

Rising Star Gymnastics, established in 1982, is a fully equipped gymnastics club offering classes for both boys and girls, tots through young adults. Our outstanding, fun-filled program is designed to teach the young student poise, character, and self-discipline, all while developing a physically fit and responsible individual. It is our mission to provide gymnastics instruction to all students enrolled in our program in both a fun and safe environment. Every child, regardless of ability, deserves the best instruction possible. We at Rising Star Gymnastics provide each child with a rewarding experience by developing a POSITIVE SELF IMAGE that is based on confidence and self-worth as learned through the experience of accomplishing skills and tasks. We utilize the United States Association of Gymnastics ten-level achievement program as a guideline for teaching gymnastics skills and routines to our students. Its objective is to provide a motivational series of progressively difficult gymnastics skills for the student to work on and master. Our structured program challenges and rewards all of our students, from those just beginning gymnastics up through our advanced competitive athletes.

Rebecca Hall is someone I really only took notice of when I recently watched the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Filmstalker review), and while I didn't enjoy the film, her performance was very good. Her career as an actress has been very short, and yet she's been racing forward in recognition and appearing in some superb films. So as part of the coverage on Filmstalker for The Orange British Academy Film Awards, aka the BAFTA's, and specifically the coverage of the only award where you can decide the winner, the Orange BAFTA Rising Star Award, I'm going to take a look at Rebecca Hall's career.

Rebecca Hall was born in 1982 and appeared on British television in 1992 and appeared in a few episodes of a couple of series and one television film, the last being in 1994. Then there was a quiet period from her until 2006 when she burst onto our screens in the film Starter for 10 alongside a great cast including James McAvoy. Another television film and she was starring in The Prestige (Filmstalker review) starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine, another huge role for her seemingly out of nowhere, and after Rubberheart she returned to television with a film called Joe's Palace. It was written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and starred Michael Gambon. Then she hit Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Filmstalker review) which she's already running with a nomination for a Golden Globe for, and did well to occupy the screen next to the usually captivating Scarlett Johansson. Frost/Nixon (Filmstalker review) was another high profile film with great actors which allowed her some screen time, but unfortunately she was used as little else other than arm candy and to heighten a few dramatic moments for the character of Frost, but alongside Michael Sheen and Frank Langella she once again showed that she's definitely deserving of being there, even if they didn't use her talents well, never mind, she shares a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award for best cast. An interesting television film called Einstein and Eddington showed that she's still keen to keep up the television work, and starring alongside David Tennant and Andy Serkis as the titular Eddington and Einstein respectively, she played the wife of Eddington. Now we await her four upcoming projects, two of them are the Yorkshire Ripper stories, Nineteen Eighty-Three and Nineteen Seventy-Four, both adapted for the screen by the strong writer Tony Grisoni and Eighty-Three filmed by Anan Tucker with Seventy-Four by Julian Jarrold. Both those films look set to be powerful ones, and once again Hall is in with a powerful role. Then she's up for an untitled comedy from Nicole Holofcener starring next to some great names including Amanda Peet, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt and Kevin Corrigan. Finally, that is openly announced anyway, there's the Dorian Gray film, next to the Ripper films this has to be the one I'm looking forward to the most. Directed by Oliver Parker we just need to forget the recent travesty of St. Trinian's, after all he directed the excellent Othello starring Laurence Fishburne. The film stars Colin Firth, Ben Barnes, Rachel Hurd-Wood and Emilia Fox as well as a few other recognisable names such as Maryam d'Abo and Ben Chaplin. It sounds a strong adaptation. It's amazing to look at that career and realise just how quickly she's raced up through her career, not only that but how quickly she's leapt to the fore of some big profile films. Without a doubt Rebecca Hall is worthy of a nomination for the Orange BAFTA Rising Star Award. Now you can vote for her and ensure she wins by doing one of two things. You can either head to the online voting at the official Orange British Academy Film Awards page and read up on the stars, watch some clips for them to refresh your memory, and then get voting, it's free online. Or you can use the text voting which you can read more about over on the official voting site. Get yourself over there and have your say. You can see the other profiles of the nominees of Michael Cena, Noel Clarke, Michael Fassbender and and Toby Kebbell on Filmstalker.

RisingStar was born in 1991 when I got my first show dog from Gloria Knapp of Chateau Acres fame. Chateau Acres Almond Joy, also known affectionately as "JoJo", was a well bred girl who quite simply decided that she hated the show ring. I learned so much by showing her and finally I realized that she just wasnt meant to be a show dog, however she more than made her mark in the breed in the whelping box and eventually became a Hall of Fame producer with 8 Champions to her credit.

I was blessed to have a great Mentor and a fabulous line to start my own lines with. When I added the most wonderful dog in the world, BISS CH Sunbrook Red Cloud to my very sound Chateau Acres lines, I was able to start RisingStar. And everything else, as they say, is history. Almost 20 years later, I love this breed more than ever. Hope to keep going for many years ahead.

The name Holly Smith may be familiar to Seattle diners, but how about Stuart Lane, her chef de cuisine at Cafe Juanita? John Sundstrom is well-known for Lark, but what about Dana Tough and Brian McCracken at Spur Gastropub? Lane, the Spur team and a host of other Seattle chefs are about to get their moment in the spotlight. They won the title of "Rising Stars" from StarChefs, an online magazine whose board boasts some of the most influential names in the restaurant world. The site is a top draw for working chefs and their fans. the (New York) Daily News likens it to the industry version of Gourmet. And their annual "Rising Star" picks in various cities have proved prescient. StarChefs last spotlighted Seattle in 2003, picking out Smith and Sundstrom, Eric and Sophie Banh of Monsoon, Scott Staples of Restaurant Zoe (and now Quinn's) and other notables. StarChefs editor-in-chief Antoinette Bruno visited Seattle again two years ago but didn't see enough changes to warrant another in-depth look. By September 2007, though, StarChefs found the options here had exploded. "The competition was quite fierce," Bruno, also an "Iron Chef America" judge, said by phone from New York. And what they found, she said, more than puts Seattle on a national map. Her editorial team made five trips to the region, tasting for five to 10 days each time. They ate their way through the menus of 60 potential stars, including a "pre-interview" written form with questions that include the likes of what languages they speak and what their favorite interview question is when hiring staff. The next step is a tasting that the chefs prepare for the judges, and then, for the finalists, a blind tasting. At Spur, "I'm surprised we were on their radar," Tough said. While he had won fans as chef de cuisine at Tilth and McCracken had owned a catering business, their joint venture hadn't been open long when the StarChefs tasters came to town. The Spur team served dishes that had the sort of local ingredients the restaurant likes to spotlight – cape gooseberries and heirloom melons from Kings Gardens, grapes grown at Alm Hill Gardens – and impressed judges with high-tech techniques such as the "deep-fried bearnaise" served with beef carpaccio. The recognition "certainly meant a lot to us, just to be mentioned in the same sentence as the colleagues we were with," McCracken said. Dana Cree, pastry chef at Poppy, made Bruno's radar on her 2005 Seattle trip, when Cree was working at Veil. But Cree got this StarChefs' call when she had been at Poppy just four days, with none of her creations on the menu. She pulled mental ideas out of a hat. She prepared a talk on the Concord grape-rosemary sorbet that reflected some of her talents and interests. But she still didn't feel prepared – and then, 90 minutes before she was scheduled to start plating her dishes, she began feeling nauseated and dizzy. It turned out to be the start of the worst case of food poisoning she has had – and, she said, the luckiest. When she made her way down to the tasting team, they told her, "We'll come back in six weeks." When they did, judges wrote that Cree "impressed the hell out of us" with a bittersweet chocolate terrine paired with five garnishes, her "little black dress" of desserts that she makes to show that chocolate can go with anything, and an herbed-cider sorbet with pine nut "Crackerjacks". "She blew me away. This girl is one of the top five pastry chefs in the country right now, " Bruno said.

The "Rising Star" recognition is meant for chefs who are 40 and younger and are "really making a difference in their culinary community," Bruno said. "Just having great food is not enough" – they must be a leader, whether in technique, ingredients, teaching or in other ways. Seattle particularly stood out, Bruno said, for its broad concern for sustainability. Across the country, "I have not seen people practice it in such a widespread manner, not only using sustainable products 5 but chef after chef composting and concerned about their building materials and their energy efficiency. I think it was incredible." Some on the final list already are known locally -- and some have won more widespread attention. Maria Hines of Tilth, Ethan Stowell of Union and other restaurants and Jason Wilson of Crush were all finalists in the James Beard Awards this year, the Oscars of the industry. But other names are new, and Bruno said the intent of the award is to introduce them to the country and make it clear they are playing on a national field. Hines, for instance, may be well-known in Seattle and known on some level nationally. But "our goal is to make Maria Hines known everywhere for what she's doing, so she can lead others. She's an incredible model of what chefs should be looking to do."

Here are the stars, along with the judges comments on each and the dishes that clinched their places on the list. And if you want to sample those dishes and help them celebrate, there are two upcoming events in Seattle. The Seattle Rising Star chefs will be featured at a "Rising Stars Revue" March 24 at McCaw Hall. It's a "walkaround" event with the winning chefs presenting some of the dishes that impressed the judges. Cost. $75. For information, call us. or go to starchefs. com/risingstars. Cafe Juanita will host a dinner March 2 to celebrate the StarChefs "Chefs to Know" book, which includes Seattle's Rising Stars and other chefs from the region and around the country. Chefs cooking that night include Holly Smith, John Sundstrom, Eric Banh of Monsoon, Joseba Jiminez de Jiminez of Harvest Vine, and Thierry Rautureau of Rover's. Cost. $175, including food, wine, tax, tip and a signed copy of the book. For reservations, call us. 2009 Seattle Rising Stars Why They Shine (judges' comments) CHEF. Mark Fuller, Spring Hill Like so many in Seattle, Mark says his aim is to create his interpretation of Northwest Cuisine, and to him, the Northwest is all about seafood. Mark spent seven years working for Tom Douglas, where he learned a love for and a way with seafood. So the stars of his menu are regional fish and shellfish, and they get the royal treatment at his West Seattle restaurant. King clam is gently cured in lemon and served with salty, savory parmesan, and razor clams are the base of a juicy, delicious sausage served with boldly pickled oysters. Where less fish-focused chefs would turn to bacon, Fuller turns to smoked clams and oysters, as in a dish of halibut topped with a smoky clam panzanella. This devotion and simple innovation pays off, making Spring Hill one of the best spots for creative and delicious seafood. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Razor Clam Sausage with Three Pickled Oysters - Wood Grilled Prawns with Creamy Grits, Poached Egg, Shrimp Gravy, and Chanterelles CHEF. Stuart Lane, Café Juanita Holly Smith is known to make some of the most amazing pasta in Seattle. But after Chef de Cuisine Stuart Lane overhauled the pasta program over the last two years, even Smith says he took it "to a whole new level." Café Juanita's first chef de cuisine worked hard to earn his post. training in Italy, joining the team as an under-sous, and taking increasing responsibility and, finally, the reins. Today Holly remains involved in every facet of her restaurant, but Stuart manages the menu and his exciting, delicious compositions have only made it stronger. We were enamored of a complex, layered dish of rabbit livers with caramelized onions, anchovies, and currants that was hit with a bit of lime juice at the end to add an extra tang. When the delicate, thumbnail-sized rabbit agnolotti arrived, bursting with braised rabbit flavor, and perfectly textured, we were in love. We have great expectations for this young talent who is running one of the country's best Italian restaurants. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Venetian Rabbit Livers with Caramelized Onions, Anchovy, and Currants - Rabbit Agnolotti Dal Plin with Sage Butter CHEF. Vuong Loc, Portage and Pig 'n Whistle Vuong is a mix of the Old World, the Midwest, and the Northwest. It's an unlikely amalgam, but one that works well in his two very different, but equally charming restaurants, Portage and Pig 'n Whistle. His Midwest upbringing is evident in his use of fish from the Great Lakes region (addictive little fried smelts with preserved lemon aioli make an excellent bar snack at Pig 'n Whistle). the Northwest comes through in his use of the area's best ingredients. But part of his heart belongs to Old World, and he executes European techniques with grace and style. Vuong's menu at Portage has been known to feature liver and onions, ballotines, and--when we visited--two dishes that utilized caul fat with impressive success. In one, a lamb chop's flavor was locked in by a coat of rich, juicy parsley-chicken mousse, bound to the chop with caul fat, that added a vibrant color and flavor to the dish. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Pan-Roasted White Fish with Beets, Beet Tops, Black Truffle Vinaigrette, and Salmon Caviar - Lamb Chop stuffed with Parsley Mousse, Brussels Sprouts, and Honey-Glazed Lardons CHEFS. Brian McCracken & Dana Tough, Spur The stylish, comfortable Spur Gastropub is a surprising home to some of Seattle's most exciting food made by two ambitious up-and-comers, Co-Chefs Brian McCracken and Dana Tough. We've heard them affectionately called "those two crazy kids" because they're two of the few in Seattle incorporating the newest cooking techniques into their menu. But they're doing so in an effortless, delicious manner--one that will make a believer of some of the skeptics out there, we think. Like almost everyone else in town, they draw inspiration from their local farmers, but they take that inspiration in a playful direction. A mound of fresh pasta with local mushrooms and herbs is topped with a duck egg cooked sous vide and flavorful parmesan foam. The soft and dense egg becomes a highlight of the dish, instead of simply a sauce. Beef carpaccio comes topped with encapsulated, deep-fried balls of béarnaise sauce. Wrap the carpaccio around the ball and pop it in your mouth for a warm, delicious, amusing bite. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Beef Carpaccio, Encapsulated and Fried Bernaise with Tarragon Vinaigrette - House-Made Tagliatelle with Oyster Mushrooms and Pine Nuts, Sous Vide Duck Egg, and Parmigiano Foam CHEF. Colin Patterson, Sutra To call Colin Patterson's food vegetarian, just doesn't do it justice. To begin with, this bright-eyed chef brings a whole body approach to his culinary philosophy that's rooted in his study and practice of yoga. And his communal-tables-only restaurant quite literally brings the community together to share his four course prix fixe menu. On the outside, Colin's dishes are beautifully presented, wildly eclectic (picking up influences from Japan to India), and utterly scrumptious. on the inside, the chef selects and pairs ingredients to "work with the body" and promote health from the inside out. And this yogi/chef is crafty, too. His forbidden black rice roll was at once crisp and chewy, earthy and smoky, filling and light. his "pasta" of his celeriac ravioli was made from thinly sliced celery root pressed and baked until al dente pasta tender and stuffed with a house-made cashew nut "cheese." It's not often that vegetarian, much less vegan (which many of his dishes are), food reaches such heights. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Shiso, Yellow Beet, Forbidden Black Rice Roll with Smoked Eggplant Mousse, Kaiware Daikon Sprouts - Celeriac Ravioli Stuffed with Chanterelle Mushrooms and Cashew Cheese and Balsamic and Truffle Oil CHEF. Jason Wilson, Crush Jason is serving some of the most elegant, refined food in Seattle. His restaurant, Crush, is what he calls "a from-scratch" restaurant, a phrase that refers not only to the bread, butter, and pasta they make in-house, but to the build-out and design done by him and his wife. Jason has meticulously crafted each element, and makes for a proud, gregarious host. While Crush operates at the highest level, with modern flavors and techniques and the best ingredients from around the world, it simultaneously manages to be a welcoming, friendly space. Beyond his delicate dishes (tendrils of tagliatelle wrapped around tangerine segments and butter-poached lobster was one standout), Jason is an active member of the community who speaks warmly about his fellow Seattle chefs--and reads their blogs! Ambitious by nature, Jason still runs a catering outlet with his wife, and says in five years that he aims to be the Seattle restaurant to check out. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Indian Summer Tomato Salad. Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Ricotta, Berkshire Prosciutto Chip, Nicoise Olive Powder, Basil, and Arugula - White Truffle Taglietelle with Butter Poached Lobster Tail, Garden Sorrel, Lobster Coral, and Tangerines HOTEL CHEF. Adam Stevenson, Earth & Ocean at the W Hotel Adam is a talented chef whose multi-faceted ventures have kept Earth & Ocean at the forefront of Seattle food, and made the W one of the best food hotels in the city. His passion is European, Old World, old-style cooking using classic techniques. think salamis, crepenettes, and more. He focuses on the fundamentals with stocks and broths, what he calls "the backbone ingredients," and builds on them to create dishes that range from rustic to excitingly creative. One tangible--and impressive--contribution to the restaurant and the hotel is his charcuterie work. Adam has anywhere from six to nine varieties of cured meats, patés, sausages, rillettes, and smoked items going at any given time. His various menus in the hotel each have a charcuterie plate on them, from room service to the bar to the restaurant. This penchant for artisan craftsmanship lends itself well to the rest of his menu. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Rabbit and Truffle Gallantine, Frisee, and Pickled Grapes - New Bedford Scallops with Citrus-Braised Endive and Radishes, Smoked Bacon, and Garlic Puree SUSTAINABILITY AWARD. Maria Hines, Tilth In a city serious about sustainability, Maria stands out as walking the walk, talking the talk, and taking it to the next level. We found that in Seattle, eating local isn't a point of pride, it's a given. So to push herself further, when she was finally ready to open her own place, Maria looked to Oregon Tilth (what she considers to be the most rigorous organic certification board in the country). Tilth, a word that references the earth, is one of only two restaurants in the country certified organic by the board, and Maria's commitment extends beyond the plate to kitchen practices, and even the materials from which the tables, chairs, and porch of the restaurant are built. She also keeps a thorough blog with recipes, info, events and links that's not just a great resource for sustainability, but for Seattle dining. Oh, and her food? Delicious, creative, exacting, and without doubt some of the best in town. The Dishes that Clinched It. - Sous Vide Alaskan Wild Halibut, Cranberry Beans, Lacinato Kale, and Preserved Lemon - Mini Duck Burgers, Fingerling Chips, House-Made Ketchup, Spicy Mustard, Onion Jam, and Brioche Buns RESTAURATEUR. Ethan Stowell, Union, Tavolata, and How to Cook a Wolf Since the opening of Union five years ago, Ethan Stowell has arguably done more than anyone to shape the character of Seattle dining. You know a city's dining scene is growing when the middle ground (the upscale-casual spots) expands, and that's just where Ethan has made his mark. Union is a high-quality American bistro in the heart of downtown, near the market, but it's Tavolata (Belltown) and How to Cook a Wolf (Queen Anne) that Ethan says are nearest to his culinary soul. His food philosophy is "keep it simple and make it better than people can make at home." He says he's been aggressive about opening new restaurants so he can keep his talented cooks in Seattle. So he's a good chef and a good boss--two elements crucial to his style of restaurateur. Between the three restaurants he currently has 75 employees. a fourth restaurant is imminent (first quarter of 2009). and a fifth, a prosciutto bar, is planned for later in 2009 (*A prosciutto bar? I'll find out more and post on this later -- RD). Ethan, Seattle thanks you! RESTAURANT CONCEPT AWARD. Joshua Henderson & Danny Sizemore, Skillet Street Food Our Restaurant Concept Award winner isn't actually a restaurant, but you wouldn't know it based on the food. Arborio risotto with local chanterelle mushrooms and crisp fried sage. local pumpkin soup with pancetta and pepitas. a chopped salad of greens from Full Circle Farms topped with a tangle of julienned raw beets and green goddess dressing--these aren't dishes you'd expect to find coming out of an Airstream trailer. But that's the beauty--and the award-winning concept--of Skillet Street Food. It's creative, restaurant-quality food served on-the-go at shockingly affordable prices (the majority of the menu is under $10). Yes, it's ideal for a recession. But beyond that, the Skillet boys are spreading the gospel of top-notch local, seasonal food in an innovative and creative way, and for that, they deserve recognition. They have plans to expand via a walk-up counter and a second truck--so, Seattleites, look for them in a neighborhood near you! PASTRY CHEF. Dana Cree, Poppy We first tried Dana's desserts at the modern fine dining restaurant Veil (now closed). When we re-visited her at Poppy, she had done something that few chefs or pastry chefs have to do (but most would benefit from). gone through a rigorous round of self-editing. In making the jump from fine dining to a less experimental, busier setting, Dana toned down and reconstructed her desserts, but still maintained the highest standards for techniques and flavor combinations that--simply stated--impressed the hell out of us. They may be packaged in more familiar forms, but they still pack a serious punch. The Fall incarnation of her bittersweet chocolate terrine ("the little black dress of my repertoire," she calls it) had dark-toasted sesame seeds lending a bitter nuttiness, spiced gingerbread pudding (a technique adapted from the Alinea kitchen), and candied cashews perked up by cumin and garam masala. Certainly one of the boldest pastry flavor combos we came across in the city, and one of the most delectable. Dana is not only one of the best young pastry chefs in Seattle, but one of the best young pastry chefs in the country. The Desserts that Clinched It. - Herbed Cider Sorbet with Pine Nut CrackerJack - Bittersweet Chocolate Terrine PASTRY CHEF. Matt Kelley, Rover's When we first met Matt Kelley (at Bin 36 in Chicago) we said to ourselves, this guy's got a way with flavor. we're excited to see where he goes. The big steps he's taken since include a series of stages (including two with Will Goldfarb and Pichet Ong) and, of course, his move to Seattle, where he seems to have settled quite nicely into the creative-yet-classic atmosphere of Rover's. Perfect example. his goat cheese Bavarian dessert, in which goat cheese Bavarian cream is rolled in a rosemary-walnut cookie crust and served with quenelles of red beet foam (served cold, to approximate sorbet) and lemon coulis. Matt has always played with sweet and savory (and combining the two flavors in distinctive ways), but here he reached new heights of flavor, texture, and satisfaction--not to mention fun and creative presentation. The dessert perfectly walks the sweet-savory line in the most fulfilling of ways--it's a nod to the cheese course, but substantial enough to make an excellent end to a meal. The Desserts that Clinched It. - Goat Cheese Bavarian with Rosemary-Walnut Cookie Crust, Red Beet Foam, Lemon Coulis, and Candied Walnuts - Chocolate Ganache topped with Coconut Meringue in a Chocolate Tunnel, Spiced Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Sauce, Lime Gelee, and Lime Dust SOMMELIER. Nelson Daquip, Canlis The Canlis website proudly boasts that Nelson has been the most rapidly promoted employee in the restaurant's history, moving from server assistant to wine director in only four years. That about sums up his ambition--oh, he's planning on sitting for his Master Sommelier exam in early 2009, too. In the dining room, he's a gracious, youthful, informative presence, presiding over a 96-page list with 2200 labels. Outside the restaurant, he's active in the winemaking field. He completed Canlis's "Vinternship" program, and in 2006 managed the production of the Peter Canlis Syrah from Walla Walla's Buty Winery. For Seattle's sake, we hope he stays around, but he did mention a future goal of returning to his native Hawaii and working to bring serious wine culture and education to the islands. If we know one thing about Nelson, it's that he reaches his goals. He is certainly a wine force to be reckoned with. MIXOLOGIST. Jim Romdall, Vessel Jim will be the first person to tell you that before two years ago, he barely knew anything about cocktails. But thank goodness for the day this man picked up a shaker because he's born to mix! The drinks he served us at Vessel were all different in character--not to mention exciting and delicious. The Maverick was light and refreshing. the Obama Nation was deeply flavored, fruity with a hint of bitterness and nuts. the Globo Rojo, with tequila that had been macerated with strawberries for three weeks, was subtle, smooth, and delightful. Even a classic Corpse Reviver was given a twist--or rather, a shake in a prototype of the Perlini Carbonation Chamber, which flash-carbonizes small amounts of liquid. After meeting Jim we certainly felt revived…and excited about the future of this dynamic cocktail craftsman. The Drinks that Clinched It. - Obama Nation - Carbonated Corpse Reviver

Posted by BlueShirtMedia at 1/6/09 7.51 p. m.Having worked in the early years with some of these "rising stars," its wonderful to see their successes. That said, when is Seattle going to have too many restaurants? How many is too many? For such a small city, we have so many wonderful places to eat![And Ethan is crazy for opening a 4th and 5th place! Even before he had the skills and experience, there was something about him that seemed natural in a kitchen. He and I came up at the same time in a place that shall remain unnamed, and he always seemed to have a knack for making things work in some pretty awkward settings. I look forward to his continued success. But five?!!!]

Texas State is the rising STAR of Texas. Every day, our faculty, staff and students accomplish great things, from making groundbreaking discoveries to receiving prestigious honors. Whether they achieve success in the research lab, the classroom or on location around the world, it is the people who make Texas State a university that is on the move. Their excellence helps Texas State shine. Select any of the amazing people featured below to meet a Texas State rising star.

Done at other venues or events areNotAssociated with Rising Star Promotions. These shows are not ours unless stated on promotional material or advertisements. If you are in question about any of our shows please contact Rising Star Promotions at

Rising Star Promotions, Tributes To Country Legends and the Legends Band are a registered Service Mark with the Secretary of State.

Magazine, is given annually to a young professional at the beginning of his or her career. The award recognizes excellence and artistic achievement in the areas of scenic, lighting, sound, and projection design, or the convergence of these design disciplines. Recipients must be in the first four years of professional (non-academic) work following the completion of his or her highest degree. Sound designer Elisheba Ittoop, pictured at right, received the fourth annual USITT Rising Star Award during USITT's 2008 Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Houston, Texas.

The 2009 Rising Star Award winner will receive $1,000, a one-year individual membership in USITT, a complimentary registration, and a banquet ticket to the 2009 Annual Conference Stage Expo.

Nominations must be submitted online and received in the USITT office by October 17, 2008. Approved nominees will be able to log in to the online portfolio submission pages through November 30, 2008. Please contact the USITT office if you have any questions about how to submit your portfolio. The Rising Star Award will be presented at the 49th USITT Annual Conference Stage Expo Awards Banquet, March 21, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Michael Cera and Rebecca Hall are among the five nominees for 2009 BAFTA's Orange Rising Star Award.

British Academy of Film and Television Arts have revealed their shortlist for 2009 Orange Rising Star Award. Announced by 2008 winner Shia LaBeouf at Academy Headquarters, the nominees consist of five international actors and actresses, they are Michael Cera, Rebecca Hall, Toby Kebbell, Noel Clarke and Michael Fassbender. Michael Cera is known for his role in "Juno", "Superbad" and "Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist", while Rebecca Hall made her breakthrough in "The Prestige" and has since starred in "Frost/Nixon" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Toby Kebbell was seen in "Control" and "RocknRolla", Noel Clarke is known for "Kidulthood", and Michael Fassbender caught attention with his performance in "Hunger" and "Eden Lake". Unlike other BAFTA winners, the recipient of this award will be determined through public voting via BAFTA. Aside from LaBeouf, previous winners also include Eva Green and James McAvoy, who earned the kudo in 2007 and 2006 respectively. 2009 Orange Rising Star Award winner will be announced at BAFTA Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 8 at the Royal Opera House in London. The complete nominations for 2009 BAFTA will be announced on Thursday, January 15.

2008 Rising Star Joyce Dodson from USAG Schweinfurt Germany was named the militarys top vocalist on stage at the Wallace Theater, Fort Belvoir.

A panel of Army Entertainment and Industry Professionals have viewed all installation winner videos and scored them. These are the 2008 Operation Rising Star twelve semi-finalists.

The 22-year-old is one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga and his free transfer acquisition is a coup for Bayern. Baumjohann said. "I think I will be a success in Munich. I will get my chance and I will have to take it."Bayern are also hoping to lure Anatoly Tymoschuk to southern Germany. The club announced yesterday they had agreed personal terms with the Ukraine midfielder but there was still confusion about when Zenit St Petersburg would release him. Bayern are hoping to have him on board by April 1.

Well, weve counted your votes and would like to say a massive congratulations to Noel Clarke, this years Orange Rising Star.

Please visit our portfolio to see examples of clients that have chosen Rising Star to help them build their Internet presence. Please email us at us if you have any questions or would like to get started today.

It's never too early to get ready for next season. Championship Racing Performance, from northeastern Ohio, came to Rising Star for a quick and creative proposal to give to potential sponsors for the upcoming racing season. In less than a week CRP had their proposal in hand and plenty of time to look for sponsorship. View Project Samples View Full Portfolio

Rising Star Motorsports Development is a full service marketing and PR firm focused on the auto-racing industry. From business cards to website development, Rising Star has the capabilities to bring your audience a professional, creative, and affordable marketing solutions. Learn More

October 7th, 2008 Rising Star Decal Kit to be Introduced at Stars Finale Rising Star Motorsports Development, with the help of DB Motorsports Custom Graphics, have come up with a one-of-a-kind Decal Kit that will be debuted at the Stars of Karting Finale in Las Vegas, NV this October. Read More

.HOME ..SERVICES ..PORTFOLIO ..ABOUT US ..NEWS ..CLIENTS ..CONTACT 2009 Rising Star Motorsports Development, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

TBILISI -- It's only been a year since Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili secured a second term in office in early elections. But as the country's political establishment grows increasingly disenchanted with Saakashvili, speculation is mounting about early presidential elections and possible alternatives to the former architect of the Rose Revolution. Much of the attention has focused on 35-year-old Irakli Alasania, Georgia's former UN ambassador, who recently stepped down after more than two years in the post. At first glance, the boyish and eloquent Irakli Alasania -- who became eligible for the presidency only in December, when he turned 35 -- could be mistaken for any one of the young, high-energy officials Saakashvili has cultivated for his government cadre. Prior to his UN post, Alasania was tapped by Saakashvili to serve as his special aide in Georgian-Abkhaz peace talks, as well as chairman of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government-in-exile. But speaking to RFE/RL in the Georgian capital in late December, Alasania said his decision to leave the United Nations was prompted by a growing disenchantment with the Georgian president and his failure to improve ties with Abkhazia and Georgia's second breakaway region, South Ossetia. One of the key factors in making my decision was the emergence, over the past several years, of a fundamental difference between my vision and that of the president's regarding conflict resolution and other current issues, Alasania said. I was involved in conflict resolution as the presidential representative and negotiator with the Abkhaz side. This perspective, I think, allows me to say that a lot of real opportunities were lost for starting direct and open negotiations with the Abkhaz side. Trusted NegotiatorAlasania is regarded by many as the Georgian official who came closest to resolving Tbilisi's frozen conflicts -- the historic standoff with its breakaway regions. His father, a Georgian general, was killed in 1993 by separatists in the final days of the Abkhaz-Georgian civil war. Despite the personal tragedy, Alasania emerged in subsequent years as one of the few officials to gain the trust of Abkhaz authorities. In May 2008, he traveled to Sukhumi to offer a peace deal that was the product of three years of negotiations. The deal, which guaranteed safe return to Abkhazia of Georgians displaced by the civil war and a mutual disavowal of military force, was said to have the backing of both sides. But it was never signed. Alasania suggests Moscow is partly to blame for scuppering the deal, saying Russian army troop movements into Abkhazia and other provocations ultimately unnerved negotiators on both sides. But he holds others responsible as well, and says the deal had the potential to defuse mounting tensions in the breakaway regions and possibly even prevent the August war over South Ossetia. I think that if this agreement had been signed, the risk of resumed military activities would have been significantly reduced. I can't say it would have prevented it altogether, but it could have helped establish the trust that we needed to see between the two sides, he said. This, though, wasn't the only factor. The militaristic sentiments and rhetoric we've heard from Saakashvili during the past few years have been fundamentally misguided, he said. They didn't help the dialogue. Alasania also cited the lack of a firm and consistent strategy on Moscow. Missed ChancesThis summer's ruinous war with Russia cost Georgia dearly, both in terms of its short-term NATO ambitions as well as with regards to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which quickly declared independence in the war's aftermath. It has also left Georgia facing a precarious security situation. With international monitors blocked from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russian troops and separatist militias have had free reign over the territories. Reports of violence remain frequent, and few Georgians from the regions have risked returning to their villages, sparking a fresh refugee crisis affecting tens of thousands of people. Alasania, who rose through the ranks of the country's national security structures before taking on the Abkhaz and UN posts, cites an abundance of unexplored options in expressing confidence the breakaway republics could still be restored to the Georgian fold. But without foreign monitors on the ground, he says, the threat of resumed military action remains. There's no mechanism for monitoring and supervising the occupation forces, he says. Those security mechanisms are essential. This would allow us to follow the activities of the Russian military and the separatist armed groups, to understand their military capacity and locations. This in turn would help protect the rights of Georgian citizens still left in the occupied territories.'Collective' GovernanceAlasania has joined the chorus of opposition voices calling for early elections. But despite being tapped as a potential presidential replacement, he has been coy about his own political intentions. He has given few interviews and press conferences since returning to Tbilisi, preferring to spend much of his time in consultations with members of the political opposition -- most notably Sozar Subari, Georgia's human rights ombudsman, who himself is an open critic of Saakashvili. (Georgia's GHN news agency has reported that the country's ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Viktor Dolidze, has also left his post with plans of joining a political alliance with Alasania.) When asked whether he harbors presidential ambitions of his own, Alasania prefers to deflect attention away from himself and onto the idea of a national consensus uniting ordinary citizens as well as government officials. He has called for the adoption of a new electoral code and a relaxation of media guidelines that favor the ruling administration. Alasania says that, and a new, consensus-based approach to government, could put Georgia back on the proper democratic tracks, and prevent a future president -- whoever it might be -- from stumbling into a misadventure like the August war. We need to institutionalize the decision-making process. Decisions should not be unilateral -- they should be based on the advice of responsible, competent and professional people, and they should be collective, he said. One of the main reasons the president succumbed to provocation during the crisis was because he didn't have a range of opinions and ideas to choose from. This system doesn't exist in Georgia. it's never been created. Transparency in preparing and carrying out decisions, as well as collective decision making, would reduce the chances of the commander in chief making mistakes or bad decisions.

Rising Star is a church where everyone is welcome. We are one of the friendliest churches in Tucson and we delight in extending to you a warm welcome. At Rising Star, you will hear the Word proclaimed with power, feel genuine love, experience sincere fellowship and be touched by choral and instrumental music, by dance and drama. We are not a perfect church, but we are a healthy church. You are invited to worship with us and be a part of a life-changing experience.

God is blessing Rising Star tremendously! Now that we have relocated to our new 4.3 acre campus, plans are underway for the full development of additional fa

Rising Star Scholarships sponsored by ShillerMath and the Girl Scouts of the USA. Our thanks go out to our volunteers and support of IBM, M. I.T., Deloitte Touche, and our generous donors.

Rising Star Games is a video game publishing company that was formed as a joint business venture between Scandinavian distributor Bergsala and Japanese developer Marvelous Entertainment.

On 14th March 2008, Rising Star Games released Harvest Moon. Magical Melody on Wii. The game was originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in Japan in 2005, and then translated for release in the Americas in 2006, but this version was not released in Europe.

Rising Star Children's Musical Theatre Troupe is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 4937 Auckland Avenue North Hollywood, Ca 91601 (818) us. us Beth Meurer, Director

The Rising Star Scholarship is a full tuition and fee scholarship for academic or vocational classes for the freshman and sophomore years. Applicants must be current high school graduates and have a family taxable income of $75,000 or less. Application deadline is August 1st following high school graduation. First year recipients must maintain full-time status and a minimum GPA of 2.0. Rising Star students who complete their freshman year with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and full-time status are eligible for second year funding.

Rising Stars Camp is designed to give young boys and girls an enjoyable, well-rounded camp experience with a range of activities that excite the imagination and develop new skills and interests. Only for children 4, 5 and 6 years old, the camp offers an entertaining mix of sports, creative arts, swimming and more. It includes instruction and play in soccer, tennis, basketball, T-ball, gaga, kickball and our exciting ropes course. Rising Stars also have two periods each day of art, music, drama or science. Swim lessons and recreational swimming complete the program. The daily program alternates periods of vigorous sports and play with moderate indoor activities in comfortable air-conditioned facilities. Planned breaks for snacks and lunch are also an important part of each Rising Stars day of learning and fun.

Our staff includes carefully screened and qualified school teachers, sports instructors and group counselors who excel in the friendly, caring supervision of young campers. While maintaining continuous guidance, our counselors actively help each Rising Star make friends and feel at home. In every case, our instructors and counselors make learning fun.

Julian Krinsky Day Camps are held at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. The camps have full use of the schools extensive classrooms and athletic facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a large gym, and multiple grass fields. The Creative Performing Arts and Rising Stars camps are held in the middle school building, which features an art studio and a modern auditorium with fully equipped stage. Download brochure Download application

After the successful implementation of a pilot in 2004 the CAMS Rising Star commenced its first full season in 2005. The objectives of the CAMS Rising Star initiative are to facilitate the rapid development of drivers from the junior ranks to national and international competition (Formula 1) and to increase participation in motor sport through clearly defined and supported pathways.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards were created in 1996 to encourage and reward exceptional accomplishments in the production of high school musical theatre. Now in its 13th year, the Rising Star Awards are a statewide competition of New Jersey high school musicals modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, and with Paper Mill's assistance, the program has been replicated in several regions nationwide. Recognition of outstanding achievement by students and educators will be made in the areas of performance, design, direction, choreography, technical production and overall production excellence. The Rising Star Award Corps of Evaluators (comprised of theatre professionals, performing artists and designers, and theatre arts educators) will fan out across New Jersey between January and April to see shows at all 100 entered schools and will make nomination recommendations in various performance and production categories. In June, the Tony Awards-style Rising Star Awards Gala Ceremony is presented on the Paper Mill stage where nominees perform and selected recipients are presented with an engraved crystal award from sponsor, Tiffany Co. The 2009 Rising Star Awards Gala Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Paper Mill Playhouse also awards three $1000 cash scholarships to outstanding individual students participating in entered Rising Star Award productions who plan to continue studying theatre in college. A fourth scholarship for $1000 dedicated to technical theatre and is sponsored by Scaramouche Costumes, LLC. Paper Mill has also partnered with Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ to offer a significant renewable scholarship to a selected student wishing to major in musical theatre who is participating in an entered Rising Star Awards production. Lastly, students receiving final nominations in the lead and supporting acting categories win a full scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse's competitive Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory, a professional training program which along with advanced classes in singing, acting and dance, offers the nominees an opportunity to perform on the Paper Mill stage in our August season finale concert titled, New Voices of 2009.

Special Awards may be given at the discretion of the Nomination Committee for outstanding achievement in areas that do not fall into any of the existing categories. All decisions of the Paper Mill Playhouse Education Department and Rising Star Evaluators are final. IMPORTANT 2009 RISING STAR AWARD DATES. 2009 RSA e-application posted on Paper Mill Playhouse website Monday, Dec 1, 2008 2009 Rising Star Awards application deadline (first 100 schools accepted) Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009 at 5.00 pm 2009 Production Round (entered productions must have at least 2 public performances during this period) Thursday, Jan 22, 2009 to Sunday, April 19, 2009 Rising Star and Westminster Choir College Scholarships deadline Friday, March 27, 2009 Auxiliary Awards deadline (Student Achievement, Educational Impact) Friday, April 10, 2009 REQUIRED Support Material due Friday, April 24, 2009 2009 Nomination Round (Nomination Committee meets to determine the Final Nominations) Monday, April 27, 2009 to Friday, May 8, 2009 2009 Final Nominations announced Monday, May 11, 2009 2009 Rising Star Awards Ceremony Tuesday, June 16, 2009 The S. T.A. R. Program is made possible by Investors Savings Bank Foundation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Wyeth, The Ambrose Ida Fredrickson Foundation, John Burgio and Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio, and The Bloomingdale's Fund of the Federated Department Stores Foundation. Paper Mill's Education Outreach programs are generously supported by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, PNC Bank, Shirley Aidekman-Kaye, and The Mall at Short Hills. Paper Mill Playhouse programming is made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse received funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State.

The Nelsonville Mill is one of the oldest mills in this part of the state and the last of its kind in Portage County. On September 10, 1855, Jerome Nelson purchased land and water rights from Anna and Charles Stoltenberg on which to construct and maintain a mill dam. Nelson, for whom Nelsonville is named, built the dam and sawmill in 1855. The Mill was built in 1868 upon his return from serving in the Civil War. The Mill was operated as a business until 1984. Of particular interest is the Woodward Governor turbine, which was ordered in 1917 for the Jackson Milling Company. An advertisement in the Pinery of 1870 refers to the Rising Star Flouring Mill, Jerome Nelson, proprietor.., all work done. ..warranted to give satisfaction. The advertisement also indicated that he was prepared to do custom grinding or exchange with farmer. Most common was the barter agreement, whereby a farmer with wheat or rye gave a percentage of grain to be ground to the miller in exchange for grinding the balance. Nelson produced various kinds of flour (rye, whole wheat, cracked wheat and white) under the brand names of Gold Coin, Legal Tender, and Climax. In 1883 Jerome went to Milwaukee to purchase metal rollers to replace the original millstones. It was during this time period that Nelson purchased another flour mill, four miles down the Tomorrow River. This mill was named the Eclipse Mill and was run by John Loberg, Jerome and Marillas only son-in-law. It was abandoned in 1942 and razed in 1954. In 1886 the May Stevens Point Journal reported that Jerome was overhauling the Mill, putting in new centrifugal reels, dust collectors, aspirators and other machines of the most approved design. In 1893 Nelson arranged to have the dam on the pond raised another three feet, i. e., to nine feet, which suggests that he needed more power either for the saw mill or flour mill or both. It was during these years that the north and south wing additions were built. After Jerome s death in 1897, his son-in-law, John Loberg, leased the Rising Star Mill to Matthias Wick of Stevens Point, and then in 1898, B. E. Dwinell of Amherst leased the building. Two years later Dwinell and Loberg changed mills. The March 14, 1890, the Portage County Gazette reported that Dwinell had decided to buy the lower mill, 41 acres of land, and two houses for $8,000. Loberg then ran the Rising Star Mill until the spring of 1916, when he sold the business to the Jackson Milling Company of Stevens Point for $6,000. Jackson improved the machinery and confined its operation to grinding only feed, not flour. Amherst Electric Company took over the mill in 1924, and a generating plant was started to provide electricity to the village. Many homes were soon wired and had their first lights. The power was not always consistent. When lights would flicker, a common saying was a carp must be going over the dam. Wisconsin Power and Light took over the mill in 1929. In 1936 they closed down the Nelsonville Mill because it was unable to produce enough electricity and was too costly. A federal tax was being levied and small power plants were unable to function profitably. The Mill was sold to Ben Cycosh, who operated the mill for only 6 months until 1946 when John Koziczkowski purchased it. The Department of Natural Resources purchased the land and the mill in 1984 in order to gain control of the dam. The building was sold to the Portage County Historical Society in January of 1985. The Dept. of Natural Resources removed the spillway in 1988 to restore almost a mile of the Tomorrow River to a Class A trout stream. The Mill hosts several music concerts each year. The biggest event is the Annual Open House Art Show held in July on the same weekend as the Iola Old Car Show. All profits generated are applied to the restoration and maintenance of the Rising Star Mill. The Mill is available to rent for meetings and other activities. See also our Google Map.