THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 18, 1995 TAG: 9508180365
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
While Felix, the Hamlet of hurricanes, is trying to make up its mind on where to go, let's talk of recognition on television that is coming to Waverly.
The town on Route 460 will be featured in a new Michael Feldman show Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on WVEC-TV, Channel 13.
Comedian Feldman, host of ``Whad'Ya Know?'' on public radio for 10 years, is trying out a TV venture this summer in eight American cities chosen for the debut in an intriguing way.
Waverly Mayor Bill Hartz explained Friday how the honor came Waverly's way.
``I wish I could say it was a case of excellent leadership provided by the mayor and the council,'' Hartz said, ``but the truth is the city was appointed by a dart thrown at a map of the United States.''
Larry Diehl and Larry Malcolm videotaped views of Waverly. Candy Pedigo, a businesswoman and mother of three girls, ages 7, 9 and 12, was chosen to represent the town at the filming of the program in St. Paul, Minn.
``We thought she would present Waverly very well and hold her own in talk with the witty Feldman,'' Hartz said.
``Michael Feldman was very, very funny, very witty,'' Pedigo said.
``Sometimes it takes about 10 seconds to pick up on what he has said and then, when you do, you laugh. Gosh, he's quick! He often responds to you before you really finish what you're saying.
``He's giving. He doesn't act like he's the only one who can be funny. He's a charmer, that's for sure.''
Among gifts she presented to Feldman were packets of Calvin Adams' peanuts at various stages of production and wooden nickels from Waverly Drug Store, where Al Bradley is pharmacist and owner.
Bradley actually gives away the wooden nickels, which can be swapped for a fountain beverage in little paper cups large enough ``for a couple of good swigs of Coke.''
The nickels go primarily to children and some older people to help them get their medicine down, Pedigo said.
``He even makes real, live milkshakes, free of any artificial stuff,'' she said. ``He's a wonderful fellow. There are so many good things around here, most of them not widely known.''
She gave Feldman two wooden nickels.
``Oh, good!'' he said. ``I can bring a date!''
Among other things, the video, which she narrated, offered a picture of the home where actress Shirley MacLaine lived as a child while her father, Ira Beaty, was principal of the local high school. (Her brother, Warren Beatty, put another ``t'' in the last name.)
Also in the video are glimpses of Lucy Hughes, director of the nation's first peanut museum, and Shirley Yancey, president of the board of the complex of museums grouped around the house and grounds of the late folk artist, Miles Carpenter.
Carpenter's old home is located handily at the intersection of Routes 460 and 40. Some event is always going on in the complex staffed by 100 volunteers, Candy Pedigo among them.
Pedigo is a branch adviser of Longaberger, producer of pottery and handmade baskets, and is active in an array of civic and church causes.
She says she ``tries to help at whatever comes along, but being a mom is my number one job.''
What she does for others, she said, ``is freely given for the grace of God.'' ILLUSTRATION: Map
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