Lights, Camera, Action in Downtown New Baltimore

New Baltimore got camera ready Tuesday afternoon.

A crew from Discover the 'D' on PBS Public Television zoomed in on the historical downtown. Employees from the show that spotlights Metro Detroit arrived around 1 p.m. at Little Camille's By the Bay, where diners were videotaped on the patio.

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Restaurant owner Mark Miller said he was thrilled with the exposure the city was receiving from the program, highlighting the walkable downtown on the waterfront. Miller said that will help attract visitors near and far.

"Even New Baltimore residents don't know about downtown New Baltimore," he said. "We can let people know there is activity that goes on down here."

That's a message Mayor Larry Smith honed in on during his interview with host Veronica Vance.

"Back in the 1800s, this was the hub of Macomb County," Smith said on camera. "This was the place to be."

He referred to new businesses and improvements to the city, including future boat docks.

"We want this to be the place to come to," he said.

Macomb County's Blue Economy initiative was instrumental in steering the crew to New Baltimore.

"We're highlighting New Baltimore as a destination on the lake with a walkable downtown," said Gerard Santoro with the Department of Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. Santoro worked with the program in organizing the city shoot. "We call New Baltimore the jewel on the lake."

Chesterfield resident and County Chairwoman Kathy Vosburg reiterated the county sentiment that the local waterways can lure visitors to the area. To drive the point home, residents and community leaders, such as Vosburg and County Executive Mark Hackel, brought paddleboards and kayaks to Lake St. Clair for the filming.

New Baltimore business owner Dorothy Stabile, who operates Stahl's Bakery on Washington Street, said the Tuesday filming was exciting for the city.

"If we can come up with the right combination of things, it could be a destination point," she said of the downtown.

Discover the 'D' airs at 5:30 p.m. Mondays. For more information, visit http://www.dptv.org/ondemand/dd/index.shtml