The Howard County Zoning Board voted 3-2 on Wednesday night to deny New York-based Kimco Realty Corp.’s petition to develop a 230-unit apartment building, retail space and a parking garage in the Hickory Ridge Village Center in Columbia.

Plans are moving ahead to transform what had been Maryland’s last active grain mill into apartments, a $55 million project on the banks of the Patapsco River in Oella that was awarded $3 million in historic revitalization tax credits.

The holiday shopping season kicked off with Small Business Saturday, two days after Thanksgiving. Locally owned shops on the main streets of Sykesville and Ellicott City saw a rush of shoppers, a much-needed economic lift. Through December various events, from tree lightings to cookie strolls to Santa visits, are being held around the region to attract customers to shop at small businesses, where holiday-related year-end sales are vital, according to the nonprofit groups who support and market them.

After closing 14 months for renovations, the Glenwood Branch of the Howard County Library System will open its doors to the public again Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The library includes the system’s only maker space, a teen area, two new studios and an outdoor patio with seating, among other amenities.

This week Howard County residents will celebrate Hanukkah with menorah lightings and family-friendly events featuring latkes and doughnuts, live music, a gelt (chocolate) drop and ice skating.

Gregory J. Der will assume the role of Howard County Police Chief on Jan. 1, replacing current Chief Lisa Myers, who announced her retirement earlier this month. The appointment was announced Monday by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Mary Regina “Jean” McCauley, a retired St. Agnes Hospital hematology lab worker and family matriarch, died of complications of kidney disease Nov. 18 at Gilchrist Hospice in Columbia. The longtime Ellicott City resident was 89.

Trailing host Oakland Mills by a point in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, the Eagles put together a 16-play drive that was punctuated by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Trey Manley to Jaxon Sutton with 16 seconds left for the deciding points in a 22-15 victory.

A Howard County man accused of spraying a fire extinguisher toward police at an entrance to the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot has rejected a plea deal presented by federal prosecutors.

Century High School freshman John Moses and several other Howard and Baltimore county jump rope athletes will be part of a nationally televised performance during the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday in New York City.

A sampling of Howard County police reports from Nov. 12 to 19.

Howard County police identified Shekhar Mandali, 29, of Ellicott City, as the pedestrian who was killed Thursday on U.S. Route 40 in Ellicott City. Following the crash, family and friends have raised about $35,000 in online donations to support Mandali's family in India.