My Best of 2011 in Photojournalism

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 28, 2011 — Protesters burned a picture of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a rally at Journal Square. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., JAN. 31, 2011 — Tim Gaydos looked at the mural by artist Richard Haas at the new Eighth Street Light Rail Station. Gaydos said he will also be working on a mural for the 22nd Street station. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB. 11, 2011 — Egyptians demonstrated in Journal Square after President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Emil Sarofidem, a supporter of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who resigned today, got into a scuffle with anti-Mubarak demonstrators in the middle of the street on Journal Square. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

UNION CITY, N.J., MARCH 9, 2011 — Catholics received ash on their foreheads in observance of Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season for Christians around the world, at Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church on New York Avenue. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MARCH 19, 2011 — What NASA says is the biggest full moon in 18 years rises in view of the Statue of Liberty as seen from Liberty State Park. (Reena Rose Sibayan & Max Pasion/Reena Rose Photography)

BAYONNE, N.J., MARCH 23, 2011 — Wet snow sat on a branch of a cherry blossom tree at Stephen R. Gregg Park after a spring snowfall. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MARCH 28, 2011 — The Bergen Arches. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MARCH 31, 2011 — Circus of the Kids performers entertained students at School 25. Here, when teachers were asked to balance peacock feathers on their nose, teacher Jimmy Benedetto took the easy way out and stuck the peacock feather into his clown nose. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., APRIL 5, 2011 — Artist Sam Cintron photographed in his home art studio. Cintron held his second solo art exhibit and released his new CD, both entitled “Standing in Babylon,” at The Hope Center for the Visual and Performing Arts on Cambridge Avenue on April 14. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., APRIL 22, 2011 — At right, Ezekiel Lupianez, 4, dressed as a Roman soldier, broke character, when upon seeing his mother, Maria Lupianez, in the audience taking his picture, he smiled and waved for the camera. Staying true to their roles as Roman soldiers are, from left, Ezekiel’s three older brothers: Seth, Henry and Isaiah, and Francois Rodas. Jack Santopietro plays the role of Jesus. Students and teachers of St. Henry’s Religious Education staged the Living Stations of the Cross — a series of tableaux depicting the last hours of Jesus Christ — at St. Henry’s Roman Catholic Church in observance of the Christian holiday, Good Friday. In this photo, the ninth station: Jesus Christ falls for a third time while carrying the cross on the way to Calvary. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., APRIL 28, 2011 — Patrick Peterson, Louisiana State University football star, attended a pre-NFL Draft luncheon at Michael Anthony’s Restaurant. He is likely to be a top five pick in the NFL Draft. Here, Patrick Peterson makes a toast with his father, Patrick Peterson Sr., left, his mother, Shandra Peterson, second from right, and his girlfriend, Antonique Larry, right. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., MAY 4, 2011 — Giants quarterback Eli Manning and fellow teammates, wide receivers Hakeem Nicks, Duke Calhoun, Samuel Giguere and Michael Clayton, as well as tight end, Kevin Boss, practiced for over an hour in rain at the Hoboken High School field. Here, wide receiver Duke Calhoun made a catch. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., MAY 6, 2011 — Chris, left, and his brother, Albie Manzo Jr., sons of “Real Housewife of New Jersey” star Caroline Manzo, were photographed in the Chandelier Room at the W Hotel. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., MAY 11, 2011 — Evelyn Malzberg, 84, of Jersey City, graduated with the 2011 class of NJCU during the commencement ceremony held at the IZOD Center. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

At the NJCU graduation, from left to right, Narciso Espiritu Jr. of Jersey City, Stephanie Herrera of Union City, and Elias Shamir Jimenez of Bayonne, who all graduated with a BFA in Illustration, displayed caricatures of themselves on their mortar boards. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., MAY 25, 2011 — Hoboken artist Joe Borzotta was photographed at his Monroe Center For the Arts studio. Borzotta hosted the Mixed Bag Variety Show at Maxwell’s on May 30. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

NEWARK, N.J., MAY 26, 2011 — Graduates waved to the their loved ones in the audience before the start of the Hudson County Community College commencement ceremony at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

NORTH BERGEN, N.J., JUNE 1, 2011 — Jean Carlos Alfonso, 13, left, and Ohamy Rosario, 12, waded through a pool of muddied water at the bottom of a giant inflatable slide during the North Bergen Police Department’s annual D.A.R.E. Day at the Stan Newman Sports Complex. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Mickele Perito, 12, rode Betsy the mechanical bull. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 1, 2011 — Elgin Louis Taylor Jr., of Jersey City, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2008 killing of Michael Fuccile of Metuchen, at Hudson County Superior Court. Here, Michael Fuccile’s mother, Joan, read her statement in court, as his wife, Nancy, center, and sister, Christine Dovner, listened. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 3, 2011 — Funeral service for slain U.S. Marine Anthony Chenay Adams, 23, of Jersey City, at Monumental Baptist Church. Here, U.S. Marines placed Adam’s flag-draped casket on a pickup truck hearse after the funeral service. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 6, 2011 — Nimbus Dance Works performed a Taiwanese-inspired number called “Butterfly Dream” choreographed by Xiao-Xiong Zhang at Middle School 4. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

NEW YORK CITY, JUNE 14, 2011 —  A street-level billboard peeked out at visitors on the High Line’s Chelsea Grasslands. The High Line park’s second section opened this year adding ten blocks–from W. 20th Street to W. 30th Street along Tenth Avenue–doubling its length. It’s built on what was an elevated railroad track. The first section–from Gansevoort Street to W. 20th Street–opened in 2009. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 21, 2011 — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman announced at Liberty State Park he is seeking the 2012 Republican nomination for president, the same location Ronald Reagan–his former boss–chose three decades ago to announce his own candidacy. Huntsman is also President Barack Obama’s former ambassador to China. Here, Jon Huntsman sat down for an exclusive interview with a television news station after making his presidential bid announcement. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 23, 2011 — Graduates entered the Margaret Williams Theater during the processional at the start of the County Prep High School graduation at New Jersey City University. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 23, 2011 — Maria Iraheta, 69, and her husband, Jose, 72, renewed their wedding vows during a ceremony at the Advanced Adult Daycare Center on Morton Place which was organized by Director of Recreation Brunella Belfiore. The couple has been married 54 years, but the center threw them a golden anniversary celebration complete with the traditional cake cutting, and bouquet and garter toss. They have seven children, 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. When asked what their secret to a long and happy marriage is, Maria said, “A lot of patience.” Jose’s advice, “Take it easy.” (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 27, 2011 — Graduates, including Terrence Bell, center, gave hugs outside the school after the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School graduation ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., JULY 6, 2011 — Eric Klein (E.S. Klein) makes art with duct tape. He was photographed at his home and studio in the old Wonder Bread factory. Here, the artist with his artwork entitled, “Tangled.” (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Eric Klein (E.S. Klein) with his dog, Gia, sitting at his “Endless Chess” art piece. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JULY 20, 2011 — Ivan Reyes Sr., holding his son, Ivan Jr., lunged at killer Martey J. Williams during Williams’ sentencing hearing in a Hudson County courtroom. Reyes lunged at Williams when the convicted killer grinned as Reyes tearfully showed the court scars left by stab wounds on his young son, who was only nine months old at the time of the attack. Williams had pleaded guilty to stabbing to death Jacqueline Reyes on Dec. 8, 2009, at their Paulus Hook Towers apartment. Reyes was charged with contempt of court but Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan sentenced Reyes to time served and he was reunited with his son that same day. On July 26, Williams was sentenced to 30 years for felony murder of Jacqueline Reyes and 10 years for the attempted murder of Ivan Reyes Jr., the maximum sentence the judge could impose. When asked if he had anything to say before being sentenced, Williams said, “I would do it over and over again.” (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JULY 21, 2011 — Emma Grace, 2, wiped away tears as pallbearers carried the casket of her father, Army Spc. Rafael Nieves Jr., 22, out of St. Aloysius Church after the funeral Mass. A military funeral was later held at Rosehill Cemetery in Linden. Nieves, who grew up in Jersey City and Bayonne, was killed in Afghanistan on July 10. Also in the photo are other family members of Nieves’ including his wife Sarah McKinney, holding their daughter Emma Grace; his mother Tina Roman with stepfather Thomas Priolo; his father Rafael Nieves Sr. who is carrying his four-month-old son, Rafael Nieves III; and his brother, Matthew Nieves. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

U.S. Army Major General Anthony R. Ierardi presents Sarah McKinney, the wife of Army Spc. Rafael Nieves Jr., with the flag that was draped on her husband’s casket. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Jonathan Roa comforts Matthew Nieves, brother of Rafael Nieves Jr. Roa said that it was Rafael who introduced him to his future wife. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JULY 22, 2011 — Lailani Susana, 5, played at an open hydrant at the corner of Belmont and Bergen avenues during a heat wave. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JULY 28, 2011 — Aniyah Royster, 2, ate Italian ice during the 13th annual Chalkfest at Exchange Place Plaza. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., AUG. 2, 2011 — Paul Tofiles, 16, competed in a relay event during the Jersey City Recreation Department’s city-wide swim meet finals for local grammar school students at the Lafayette Aquatic Center. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Lifeguards and a team mate cheered on Brionna Berry, 13, as she competed in the individual medley. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Lifeguards timed competitors during the city-wide swim meet finals. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., AUG. 9, 2011 — Funeral for Kan Mei Chan, 24, of Jersey City, at the Ng Fook Funeral Service on Mulberry Street. Officials said Chan was a student at a medical school in Curacao when she was stabbed to death in the school’s dormitory on July 22, while coming to the aid of a teacher who was being attacked by her classmate, Moustapha Khalesa, 20. Khalesa has been charged with murder, attempted murder and assault. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Kan Mei Chan’s aunts wailed in grief as her casket was placed in the hearse. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., AUG. 9, 2011 — Firefighters and an EMT moved a non-critical patient out of an ambulance that was disabled on a flooded portion of Merseles Street after a torrential downpour. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J. AUG. 28, 2011 — Flooding on Chopin Court near Wayne Street, the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Freddie DeJesus scooped water out of his Jeep after driving through the flooded Chopin Court in Jersey City where he said the water reached up to his chest, after Hurricane Irene passed through. Some Good Samaritans helped him push his car out of the water. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., SEPT. 7, 2011 — Grammy winner Marc Anthony attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for his clothing line at Kohl’s Department Store in Newport Centre Mall. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., SEPT. 10, 2011 — Jersey City Battalion Chief Steven McGill, right, and Firefighter Mike Somma, played the bagpipes at the Empty Sky Memorial in honor of their friend, Joseph Lovero, a JCFD dispatcher who was killed on 9/11 and whose name is one of those etched on the memorial’s walls. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., SEPT. 11, 2011 — Hundreds of people visited Liberty State Park to see the newly-opened Empty Sky Memorial in Jersey City and the Tribute in Lights in the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson River. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

UNION CITY, N.J., SEPT. 11, 2011 — Port Authority Police Officer Kevin Loughmane played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipe during the renaming ceremony of 16th Street between New York and Palisade avenues in Union City as David P. Lemagne Way in honor of the Union City Port Authority police officer killed on 9/11 on Sept. 9, 2011. Loughmane said he and Lemagne were classmates in the police academy in 2000. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., OCT. 6, 2011 — Miguel, left, and Beth, right, (no last names given) led the Occupy New Jersey demonstration–an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street–outside of the Goldman Sachs building. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Mike Primo, of Montclair, with his 9-month-old daughter, Ella, participated in the Occupy New Jersey demonstration. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., OCT. 7, 2011. — Curator Dylan Evans of Mad Mad Media with works by artists PAWN, left, and LNY, at 227 Coles St. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Artist Then One, in silhouette, talked about his installation at 227 Coles St., part of a show curated by Mad Mad Media. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., OCT. 10, 2011 — Marian Roland was the honoree at the annual Columbus Day Italian senior luncheon at the Hoboken Elks Lodge. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., OCT. 20, 2011 — Washington Community School held its second annual Fall Ball with face-painting, a wagon ride and a petting zoo. Here, students giggled as they petted Dottie the sheep. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., OCT. 31, 2011 — As his schoolmates danced, third-grader Isaih Bernardo relaxed on a bale of hay during the Golden Door Charter School’s 11th Annual Fall Festival at their new home on Kennedy Boulevard, formerly St. John’s School. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., NOV. 21, 2011 — Rolando Lavarro was congratulated after being sworn in as Jersey City councilman-at-large. Lavarro, 41, is the first Asian-American and Filipino to be elected to the Jersey City City Council. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

A supporter of Rolando Lavarro held a poster which reads, “We Made History,” during the swearing in ceremony for at-large council seat winners Lavarro and Viola Richardson on Nov. 21, 2011. Lavarro, 41, is the first Asian-American and Filipino to be elected to the Jersey City City Council. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

During the ceremony, 22-month-old Gabriella Lavarro, daughter of newly sworn-in councilman-at-large Rolando Lavarro, seated right, played inside the council chambers. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

SECAUCUS, N.J., NOV. 23, 2011 — With her harness off, a  Seeing Eye registered dog was allowed to be petted by first-graders. Trisha Ebel (not pictured), who is visually-impaired, a graduate of The Seeing Eye, a school based in Morristown which trains dogs to be guides for the blind or visually-impaired, together with her Seeing Eye registered dog, visited Huber Street School along with three Seeing Eye puppy raisers and a Seeing Eye dog trainer plus their dogs, to teach kids about guide dogs. According to Ebel, all four schools are each sponsoring a new puppy and are holding a fundraiser, Pennies for Puppies. If each school raises $5000.00 and come up with a total of $20,000.00, then all 4 schools will be able to each name a puppy. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Seeing-eye dogs Apache, left, and Kola, basked in the attention from the Huber Street School students. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., DEC. 1, 2011 — Patricia Freire, on wheelchair, remembered her friends “John” and “Jose” during the candle lighting ceremony for those who have died from HIV/AIDS during the Jersey City AIDS Task Force observance of the 24th Annual World AIDS Day at City Hall. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., DEC. 5, 2011 — The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad investigated a triple murder-suicide at 96 Avenue A Officials said, Adepso Collado, 28, shot his estranged wife, Kenia Collado, 26, Jose Guzman, 31, and a 14-month-old child before turning the gun on himself. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., DEC. 16, 2011 — Constance Zappella saluted Fire Chief Darren Rivers as she was promoted to the city’s first-ever female captain–a decade after becoming the first female firefighter in Jersey City–during the fire and emergency services promotion ceremony at City Hall. Looking on are Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Fire Director Armando Roman. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., DEC. 22, 2011 — A plane took off from Newark Liberty International Airport as thick black smoke continued to billow from a five-alarm warehouse fire in Elizabeth as seen from Bayonne across Newark Bay. The blaze, which began Dec. 21 at the former Burry Biscuit factory on Newark Avenue and raged for several days, grew to eight alarms and drew more than 250 firefighters at its peak. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

UNION CITY, N.J., DEC. 27, 2011 — Senior William Calderon (Max), right, and junior Danny Milano (Carol), rehearsed a scene in the Union City High School play, “Wild Thing,” an adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s book, “Where the Wild Things Are.” (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)