Last month 12 talented artists were inducted into the WV Music Hall of Fame. In the first of a series of conversations with new members, 85-year-old Everett Lilly describes his music as "American Folk Country Mountain." Everett Lilly is the last surviving member of The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover trio. He and brother Michael Burt, known as "Bea," began performing professionally in the 1930’s playing local radio, then national radio on Jamboree USA in from Wheeling. Beginning in the 1950’s, The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover spent almost two decades performing in Boston. They were the first to take southern Appalachian music to Japan where they toured as a huge sensation. Everett continues to perform with his sons in their band The Lilly Mountaineers.

We turn our attention to the seriousness of the season and the economy and the struggles many West Virginians are facing in making ends meet. Food banks throughout the state are seeing more and more people in need of their services. An organization called Angel Food Ministries has 46 sites in WV where they provide low cost groceries.

Empowering seniors in their communities and in their homes is the goal of a new health program. The program is called "Taking Charge of Your Health and Safety" and was started by WVU’s Extension Service and the Center for Excellence in Disabilities. The Taking Charge Program just finished its first year and has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue and expand in 2009.

Dr. Leo Fleckenstein of Huntington retired from his denistry practice a few years ago, but he saw the need and helped make things happen to start a free dental clinic serving low-income and uninsured patients. Despite his own severe health problems, Fleckenstein continues to care for patients at the free clinic.

Talented and sexy, Ann Baker from Washington, PA, was on her way up in the 1940’s - singing with the bands of Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and Count Basie. Then a stop in Charleston, WV and the meeting of a local night club owner changed the course of that career. She adopted West Virginia as her new home and continued to sing here into her 80’s. Ann Baker died in 1999 at the age of 84. Her granddaughter, Charmayne Batch, describes her grandmother and the gratitude her family has for the induction honor.