"Black and white." The phrase might make one think of the various scenes outside our windows in Hudson County this year, or the colors on this page, or a delicious type of cookie, or maybe just Michael Jackson. Locally, it was a year of banding together during blackouts, snowstorms, commemorations of past tragedies, and indictments of local officials.

In August, the first major New York-area blackout since 1977 brought ferries full of passengers to Hoboken's shores after local trains stopped running. The lack of electricity gave Hudson residents moments of quiet, but in some cases, there was a bit too much quiet as we waited for lights and televisions to blink back on. Three months later, it was time for two consecutive snowstorms, whether one preferred to peg them blizzards or nor'easters. Luckily, they arrived near weekends when kids could play in the snow.

Darker than the blackout were the indictments of government officials.

Bribery and extortion probes snagged former County Executive Robert Janiszewski and former Jersey City Freeholder Nidia Davila-Colon. There were indictments of former Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo and of business owners who did business with the county. In North Bergen, four officials pleaded guilty in a different probe, which involved getting money or free work on their homes from a township contractor.

The investigations can only make us wonder how long it will take to eradicate such behavior. U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has pledged, with some zeal, to keep investigating corruption in Hudson County.

On the brighter side, there were sunny festivals in all towns and successful art tours and exhibits in Jersey City, Hoboken, and Union City. There were new train stations, new apartments to raise families in and new office buildings to work in.

There were also people to whom we sadly said goodbye, including one of the last Pearl Harbor veterans in the area, families in Jersey City who were beset by a string of domestic violence cases at the beginning of the year, a beloved councilman in Weehawken, a former county clerk, and local soldiers.

Special year-end edition

This special edition of the Reporter temporarily replaces your regular editions in Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City, Secaucus, North Bergen, Union City, Guttenberg and West New York. Next week's edition will be a "Year Preview" edition and will also replace your regular individual editions. The regular editions of the paper will return on Sunday, Jan. 10.

For questions about our coverage, call (201) 798-7800.