'Treasures In the Harbor' Airs On Channel 13 November 22

New Yorkers know about the great Greek food in Astoria, the bustle of Flushing's streets and the joys of Shea and Arthur Ashe Stadiums, but on Thanksgiving Day, they can learn about the natural wilderness tucked away in Queens.

On Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Day) at 8 p.m., Channel Thirteen/WNET premieres "Treasures In The Harbor", a new, onehour documentary on New York City's National Parks and features the beauty and wonder of the many sites in Queens - from Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Parks to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Breezy Point.

Host Bill Baker, CEO of Thirteen/WNET and WLIW, takes viewers to the wilds of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. With the A train and John F. Kennedy Airport's control tower in the background, Baker talks with Ranger Dave Taft about the refuge's many features. A stop on the Atlantic flyway, the ancient course birds use to travel north and south, Jamaica Bay's 120 acres host 330 species of birds, which draw avid birders from around the world.

Arguably one of the most remote spots in New York City is Breezy Point, a barrier spit (the last piece of land before the ocean) that stretches 270 acres. It is one of the largest spots for breeding colony birds, including common terns, skimmers and pipping clover- and is one of New York's best fishing spots.

Fort Tilden, directly centered between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, provides a startling openness in our dense urban area. Just across the Meridian Park Bridge, it boasts pristine beaches and a wild, natural ecosystem. Volunteers from the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, who are committed to protecting beaches, oceans, and access to oceans, show how they strive to keep the area beautiful.

We also check out Jacob Riis Park, a popular site for beachgoers. The ranger says it has the cleanest water in New York City and is a great place to collect shells.

The program highlights sites across the city and New Jersey. Other stops on the tour include Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, the African Burial Ground in Manhattan and New Jersey's Sandy Hook.

"Treasures In The Harbor" airs as part of "Thirteen Loves New York", the station's all-day, on-air celebration of New York City with programming about the city's epic landmarks and hidden pleasures.

A few days later, Thirteen provides yet another reason to appreciate this diverse and sprawling metropolis. If all you know about Staten Island is the ferry, then you won't want to miss "A Walk Around Staten Island With David Hartman and Barry Lewis", a surprise-filled special premiering Monday, December 3 at 9:30 p.m. In "A Walk Around Staten Island", Hartman and Lewis explore 300 years of history, Asian arts, mansions, beaches, personalities, hidden gems, and the best local pizza.