East Middle School music teacher Jimmy Day hugs his son Jimari after being surprised with the announcement that he had won Colorado Teacher of the Year, Oct. 28, 2022, at East Middle School. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Fedoua Bouhamidi, center, along with the a group of friends from the Moroccan immigrant community react to the during a watch party of the Morocco vs. France semi-final World Cup match, Dec. 12 at the home of one of the community members. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Regis Jesuit High School senior Samuel Opherman, left, protests with other students in front the Catholic high school in Aurora Jan. 14, 2022. The protest centers on two teachers fired after the school retracted a student-run magazine over an abortion issue opinion essay that appeared to be pro-choice. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado Regis Jesuit High School students protest in front the Catholic high school in Aurora Jan. 14, 2022. The protest centers on two teachers fired after the school retracted a student-run magazine over an abortion issue opinion essay that appeared to be pro-choice. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado Regis Jesuit High School students protest in front the Catholic high school in Aurora Jan. 14, 2022. The protest centers on two teachers fired after the school retracted a student-run magazine over an abortion issue opinion essay that appeared to be pro-choice. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Former Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson at a rally supporting her after her ouster as chief last week. Philip B. Poston/Sentinel Colorado 
A small alter was constructed outside of the GEO facility, Nov. 23, during a vigil and press conference regarding the death of Melvin Mendoza Calero, who was being detained in the Aurora GEO facility. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Trent Bailey takes a clipping for propogation, March 18 at the city’s greenhouse. Bailey is the Maintenance and Operations Supervisor for the Parks, Recreation and Open Space department for the city of Aurora. Bailey is focused on a push to add more native grasses to current city parksand reduce turf space in new park development putting in native plants instead of the more tropic species that require more water and are counterproductive to the regions climate. The native plants will increase pollinators, bring beneficial insects to the ecosystem and attract native animals. These additions would help create a niche ecosystem that hasn’t been prevolent in past parks. “We need to understand that we are not in a vacuum and we can’t do whatever we want,” Bailey said about lush expanses of turf. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Skye Barker Maa, owner of Factory Fashion, stands for a portrait inside of her studio, October 24. Baker Maa uses the studio as a school and as a workshop, prectically serving as an incubator for budding fashion designers. Portrait by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Frankie Sanchez Jr. takes some reps on the speed bag, Feb. 8, 2022, at A-1 Boxing Gym, located in the Town Center of Aurora. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
From left, Arapahoe County Public Health Department Public Health Director Jennifer Ludwig and Public Health Commissioner Shawn Davis introduce themselves to Rosie’s Diner General Manager Mario Camacho, Nov. 7, 2022. Arapahoe County Public Health Department staff visited a few Aurora restaurants on the afternoon of the seventh. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
A southbound R Line light rail train derailed at the intersection of Sable Boulevard and Exposition Avenue, the afternoon of Sept. 21. 2022. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado. 
Aurora’s newly appointed interim police chief Art Acevedo at a press conference Nov. 15, 2022 SENTINEL COLORADO/Philip B. Poston 
Bella Horonzy, front, and Violet Puga, play with a sensory installation, Dec, 15, in the library of Pine Ridge Elementary School. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Bill Travis has been a percussion teacher at the Colorado Music Institute for more than 20 years. CMI won the National Music School of the year. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Colorado GOP gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl and running mate Danny Moore at the Stampede in Aurora on election day eve. PHOTO BY PHILIP. B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Howdy Hero Ben Kim scoops vanilla ice cream for a classic milkshake, Nov. 2, 2022 at Howdy Handmade Ice Cream. Milkshakes are Ben’s favorite menu item to make for customers. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Josie Johnston, center, lends a hand to sixth-grader Cammi Aguilar during a STEM event in which students used STEM skills to assemble a complete skateboard, Oct. 27, 2022, at East Middle School. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Attendees to the preview of the Dali Alive exhibit at the Hangar at Stanley enjoy the hands-on interactive section of the exhibit, Oct. 20, 2022. The immersive art gallery is now open and can be viewed at Stanley Marketplace. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Riley’s handler Deputy Adam Nardi shows Riley to students at Fox Hollow Fox Elementary during a Sept. 22 visit to the elementary school. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
RTD officials inspect the scene after a southbound R Line light rail train derailed at the intersection of Sable Boulevard and Exposition Avenue, the afternoon of Sept. 21. 2022. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado. 
Alissa Iverson measures the diameter of a newly planted Catalpa tree along the Highline Canal, June 30, checking its growth and health. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
An electric bus charges as it sits in wait to safely and cleanly transport children to their respective schools. The district was able to purchase the buses with the help of a grant program from the state to help replace the older diesel vehicles on the street. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky addresses member of the media and her supporters May 16, 2022, on the steps of the Arapahoe County social services center in Aurora. Jurinsky said she was falsely accused of child sex assault as part of retaliation scheme created by the partner of former Police Chief Vanessa Wilson. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
A homemade sign reading “Save Sable” is taped to a homeowners fence across the street from Sable Elementary. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Ernie Clark is the founder and owner of Second Chance Bicycle Shop. The bike shop is located in the East Bank Shopping Center. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Senitnel Colorado 
Jason McBride is a secondary violence prevention specialist with the Struggle of Love foundation. Portrait by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado
AURORA | As 2022 comes to a close, we revisit some of our most memorable stories and photos from the year.
Among them, the firing of former Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson. Supporters hosted a rally for her in April. Soon after, former chief Dan Oates was tapped to temporarily lead the department. In the final stretch of the year, city leaders said Art Acevedo — who formerly led departments in Texas and Florida — would take the reins and lead the department for at least a year.
The city also saw another train derailment on the R-Line, much talk about youth violence, the winding down of a regional health department, and major change in how the city addresses homelessness.
Aurora also continued to mourn the victims of the 2012 theater shooting. A decade after the event, the anniversary brought horrific memories and still more resilience, community members said.
Other assignments included how researchers are looking after the High Line Canal’s tree canopy, Aurora’s look a the Salvador Dali’s life and art, and what it looks like inside the city’s greenhouse.
These are are just a few of the photo highlights from the year.