My Best of 2012 in Photojournalism

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MAY 23, 2012 — Fleet Week 2012 kicks off with a parade of ships. Here, the US Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team performs a flyover with six F/A-18s past the Statue of Liberty. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this event, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MAY 23, 2012 — Fleet Week 2012 kicks off with a parade of ships. Here, the tall ship BAE Guyas (Ecuador) sails past Liberty State Park. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this event, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., APRIL 27, 2012 — People gathered at Liberty State Park to watch the arrival of the space shuttle Enterprise on top of NASA’s 747 shuttle carrier to New York City. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 5, 2012 — A family from Kearny watches from Port Jersey Boulevard as the Space Shuttle Enterprise is moved to a larger barge at Weeks Marine. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 6, 2012 — With the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline in the background, the Space Shuttle Enterprise leaves the Weeks Marine shipyard to continue its journey to the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City by barge. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

BAYONNE, N.J., MARCH 23, 2012 — Funeral at St. Henry’s Church for John “Jack” Santopietro, the 21-year-old Bayonne resident who died from injuries suffered when his Suzuki motorcycle collided with a van. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., MARCH 23, 2012 — Funeral at St. Henry’s Church for John “Jack” Santopietro, the 21-year-old Bayonne resident who died from injuries suffered when his Suzuki motorcycle collided with a van. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., APRIL 9, 2012 — Timothy Levine, right, carries a couch salvaged from his first-floor apartment at 355 Claremont Ave. a day after a six-alarm Easter Sunday fire burned ten buildings on his street. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB. 23, 2012 — Brian Palms with his mother, Twana, and sister, Talisha, hug outside the building on the corner of Monticello and Fairmount avenues in where he lived and which was badly damaged by Sunday’s five-alarm fire. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JULY 25, 2012 — Rose Fitzgerald is battling with Jersey City over access to the personnel records of her late husband, Joseph Brian Fitzgerald, who was a police officer and who she said was working at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB. 7, 2012 — A Day in the Life with JCMC Emergency Medical Services: EMTs Julia Smith, left, and Matt Curasco, right, and paramedic Robert Beddoe, second from right, with help from firefighters, place a man who was hit by a car on Central and Laidlaw avenues, onto a backboard to be carried to the ambulance. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JUNE 28, 2012 — Job seekers line up outside City Hall for the job fair sponsored by the city and the state’s One-Stop Career Center. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., AUG. 16, 2012 — Belinda Faulkner celebrates being the 200th patron to get $20 worth of free gas. 200 patrons waited in line at the Exxon station on the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue to get $20 of free gas. The event was part of the “Take Back Your Banking” campaign sponsored by Kasasa in order to raise awareness about local banks such as City National Bank, First Hope Bank, and Raritan Bay Federal Credit Union. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., JUNE 15, 2012 — Seniors get ready for the Bayonne High School graduation ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOLMDEL, N.J., MAY 21, 2012 — Saint Peter’s College graduation ceremony at the PNC Bank Arts Center. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

HOLMDEL, N.J., MAY 21, 2012 — Graduates celebrate with cigars after the Saint Peter’s College graduation ceremony at the PNC Bank Arts Center. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB. 1, 2012 — A Day in the Life of Gus Breakfast & Lunch food truck: Gus Papathanasis, 58, is the owner of the Gus Breakfast & Lunch food truck for 27 years. He is also the owner of Papa’s Restaurant at 896 Bergen Ave. in Jersey City for 21 years. Here, Gus replenishes the food truck’s bread supply before heading off to New Jersey City University on Kennedy Boulevard where he regulary parks his truck. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MAY 15, 2012 — Mark Hauptman, owner of Aladdin Lamp & Shade Company on Monticello Avenue in Jersey City puts together an antique gas light chandelier for a customer. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 10, 2012 — A Day in the Life at My Way Automotive: Daisy, one of six dogs Henry Cueva rescued from the streets, is his constant companion and often tags along on Henry’s errands, riding shotgun with him on his tow truck. Henry Cueva, 63, is the owner of My Way Automotive at 770 Tonnelle Ave. in Jersey City. His business is towing and reparing cars, but he also operates a gas station. Apart from recovering cars involved in accidents and towing disabled cars, his business also moves heavy machinery such as construction equipment. They also have a government account, which lets them tow broken down FBI cars. Cueva has owned the business since 1980. His first shop was located at 3375 Kennedy Boulevard. He moved his business to the Tonnelle Avenue location in 1987. He started his business after working for Ford Motor Company for three years wanting to be his own boss for a change. Prior to that, he served in the Army where he taught soldiers “how to fix army vehicles and to kill.” He wants to retire this year and is now hoping to sell or rent his business. He considers My Way as the “neighborhood shop” a place customers can take their cars and trust that they are getting good service for a fair price. “Other (big name) shops charge a lot because the workers get a commission.They suggest repairs that customers don’t even need. When a customer comes to my shop, we check everything out because we care for their safety, not because of the money.” He added, “I don’t steal from nobody and I sleep real good.” (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 23, 2012 — Organ restorer John Peragallo III tunes the metal pipes of the organ at St. Michael’s Church on Ninth Street which has been restored. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., JULY 4, 2012 — Lenny G. sells swords and mohawks that light up during the Bayonne Independence Day festival at 16th Street Park. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., JULY 4, 2012 — The crowd watches the fireworks display during the Bayonne Independence Day festival at 16th Street Park. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

New York City, N.Y., JAN.29, 2012 — Chinese New Year Parade celebrating the Year of the Dragon. (Reena Rose Sibayan/Reena Rose Photography) To see more photos from this event, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 3, 2012 — Michael Walker, 43, of Belleville, won the Live Free for a Year contest sponsored by KTU 103.5 FM at Azucar Cuban Cuisine & Cigars in the Newport section of Jersey City. Here, Walker looks out at the view from his 14th-floor apartment at the Newport’s Southampton tower. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, NJ., FEB. 9, 2012 — Senior Gian Zodiaco, left, and art teacher Chris Wolfer with the George Washington painting they restored at Bayonne High School. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., FEB. 29, 2012 — A Day in the Life at Edge Hoboken: Phillipe Nover, 28, of Brooklyn, right, trains with Edge co-owner and coach Brandon Kinney, for a Bellator Fighting Championship in May that will air on Spike TV. Nover also coaches regularly at Edge Hoboken. When Kinney was in high school, he was recruited by Dave Esposito to be part of the wrestling team at Columbia University. Years later, the two teamed up again to open Edge Hoboken. Kinney, 27, recalled how he started off in wrestling, “I was always wrestling with kids in the playground. I didn’t know it was actually a sport. I got a flyer in my school mailbox when I was in third grade.” Kinney, who works for the same real estate company during the day with Esposito, said, “Working at Edge, it’s not the same thing everyday, not just sitting behind the desk.” Kinney is a two-time NCAA Division 1 Qualifier and a two-time Michigan State Champion, among his numerous achievements. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To view more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 16, 2012 — U.S. Marines conducted a leadership seminar and a physical fitness challenge for St. Peter’s Prep football players. Here, Capt. Christopher Simpson, left, and Staff Sgt. Richard Jones motivate St. Peter’s Prep football players as they run back and forth while executing a fireman’s carry. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To view more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 16, 2012 — U.S. Marines conducted a leadership seminar and a physical fitness challenge for St. Peter’s Prep football players. Here, a St. Peter’s Prep football player, right, screams at his teammate to keep going as they execute push-ups. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To view more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JULY 16, 2012 — Kids with the Little Big Summer Camp cool off at Bayside Park on the first day of the fourth heat wave this summer. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MAY 3, 2012 — Students from the River School at The Playport of Newport Green which held its ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., JULY 6, 2012 — Scienceteller Andrew Piccirillo blows dry ice fog (carbon dioxide) at kids during his presentation which helped the Hoboken Public Library officially kick of its summer reading program with a presentation that combined chemical reactions with the imagination. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB. 23, 2012 — Dentists teach dental and oral health to students at Marc Anthony DiNardo School in observance of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Here, second graders react as Dr. Stacey Bock shows them a model of “dirty” teeth. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., AUG. 8, 2012 — Capt. Mark Venice hands Simba, a four-month-old kitten who had been rescued off a tree in front of 62 Stevens Ave., over to his owner, Mr. Bolden (first name withheld) as Bolden’s young neighbors, including an ecstatic Ramel Jackson, 7, second from right, wait to pet him. Mr. Bolden said that he had called on Saturday and animal control arrived but had told him that they are unable to rescue the cat and that he would have to wait for Simba to come down on his own. After two more futile calls to 9-1-1, a frustrated Mr. Bolden called The Jersey Journal, who in turn called the fire department who then responded within 10 minutes. After 15 minutes, Simba was safely back in his owners arms. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., JULY 26, 2012 — Young boys wait for the St. Ann’s Church procession to start. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB. 28, 2012 — Students perform to the Whitney Houston song, “The Greatest Love of All” sang by the Conti Choir during the Black History Month celebration at School 5. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., MARCH 14, 2012 — Joel Fernandez, 16, claps along during The Spirit of Life Ensemble’s music therapy performance at the A. Harry Moore School, a school which offers education to children with special needs. At right is band leader and percussionist David Williams Daoud who said the band performs at A. Harry Moore “as often as we can and at least once a month.” He added, “We think this is good healing power for those in need. The students and faculty really enjoy our presence and the music and we have as much enjoyment coming here. They are an amazing audience that really appreciate the music. Whatever joy and inspiration we can give to their lives is an honor and joy for us.” (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., FEB., 21, 2012 — The baby redfoot tortoise which was born at Liberty Science Center on Jan. 20, rides on top of an adult tortoise. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

HOBOKEN, N.J., FEB. 20, 2012 — Sam, a Samoyed, peeks out from inside his stall at Hoboken Unleashed Dog Day Care, Hotel & Spa. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal) To see more photos from this story, click on this photo.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 18, 2012 — Coin-operated telescopes on the walkway of Liberty State Park. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY, N.J., JAN. 18, 2012 — The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is visible through the doors of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal at Liberty State Park. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

BAYONNE, N.J., SEPT. 11, 2012 — Together with the One World Trade Center still under construction, left, and the Statue of Liberty, the Tribute in Light memorial shines once again from Lower Manhattan on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City. (Reena Rose Sibayan/Reena Rose Photography)