Randolph Crossing Rite Aid becoming Walgreens

The Rite Aid store at 12222 Veirs Mill Road is being converted into a Walgreens. Walgreens acquired Rite Aid in 2015, and has taken three approaches to its stores: keep the Rite Aid brand, but convert the store's pharmacy into a Walgreens; convert the store into a full-blown Walgreens location; or close the store entirely.

Here we are getting an actual Walgreens. I'm still a Drug Fair man, the chain whose D.C.-area stores were acquired by Rite Aid in 1987. The more things change...

Shady Grove Fertility named "top docs" for infertility by peers

Fourteen physicians at Shady Grove Fertility in Rockville were named the Washington, D.C.-area's Top Docs for infertility by a survey of 13,000 of their peers conducted by Washingtonian magazine. The winners were reproductive endocrinologists, Eric Widra, M.D., Michael Levy, M.D., Arthur Sagoskin, M.D., Anitha Nair, M.D., Andrea Reh, M.D., Kimberly Moon, M.D., Naveed Khan, M.D., Paulette Browne, M.D., Eric Levens, M.D., Jeanne O'Brien, M.D., Frank Chang, M.D., Joseph Doyle, M.D., and reproductive urologists, Paul Shin, M.D., and Cori Tanrikut, M.D.

"I feel privileged to be a part of a practice that is committed to supporting the needs of our patients, and most importantly, helping them to achieve their dream of parenthood," SGF co-founder Arthur Sagoskin, M.D. said Tuesday. "We thank our patients, peers, and Washingtonian for their recognition and continued support." SGF has delivered 85000 babies since it opened in 1991.

Rockville's Lockheed Martin Distributed Energy Solutions acquired by TRC Cos.

TRC Companies, a Northern Virginia-based engineering consulting firm, has acquired Lockheed Martin Distributed Energy Solutions of Rockville. LM-DES provides services to some of the top electric and gas utilities nationwide, TRC said in its announcement this morning.

“This acquisition positions us to capitalize on a fast-evolving energy market and continue to meet the growing needs of our clients," TRC CEO Chris Vincze said this morning. "The move reinforces our strategic growth strategy and advances our ability to deliver innovative, fully integrated solutions for any Advanced Energy project.”

LM-DES' Roger Flanagan will become Senior Vice-President for Advanced Energy at TRC as part of the deal. The former Lockheed division has 400 employees spread across nearly a dozen states.

More Christmas decorations installed at Westfield Montgomery Mall! (Photos)

Westfield wasn't finished decorating for the holidays at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. They've added a bunch of new trees, candy canes, Christmas mints, ornaments and assorted other trimmings around the mall. And I caught Santa Claus on his throne this time, getting ready to take photos with mall patrons. Can the start of Black Friday, which falls on Thanksgiving these days, really only be ten days away? You better believe it! Christmas shopping excitement is in the air.

Historic Wire Building for sale again in Rockville

The Wire Hardware building, subject of one of Rockville's biggest historic preservation battles in the 1990s, is up for sale again. Saved and restored by local historic preservation organization Peerless Rockville, the building was originally constructed for resident William Wallace Welsh in 1895. The asking price is not being publicly listed online, but can be requested. 22 Baltimore Road has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Rockville Mayor & Council winners to be sworn in at inauguration Sunday

The winners of the 2019 election for Mayor and Council of Rockville will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony this Sunday, November 17, at 1:00 PM at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre at 603 Edmonston Drive. Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and councilmembers Monique Ashton, Beryl L. Feinberg, David Myles and Mark Pierzchala will take the oath of office. The Mayor and Council will hold their first meeting of the new term the next evening, Monday, November 18, at 7:00 PM at City Hall.

ICE captures sex abuse suspect MoCo released after 3 days at large

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers located a man accused of sexually abusing a child in Montgomery County hiding in Virginia, three days after Montgomery County released him from jail. ICE found Luis Fredy Hernandez-Morales, 48, in Springfield, Virginia on Friday.

ICE officials blasted Montgomery County for not honoring its detainer on Hernandez-Morales, saying the County had put children in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia at risk while he remained at-large. In a statement, ICE called Hernandez-Morales' release "the latest in a continuing list of public safety threats Montgomery County, MD has released into the community rather than allow a lawful transfer into ICE custody."

"This case shows how the noncooperation policies of one jurisdiction can have serious public safety impacts on its neighbors,” ICE Washington Field Office Director Russell Hott said yesterday. Hernandez-Morales is involved with the youth ministry program at Iglesia de Dios en Cristo, located on W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County police have said. They have expressed concern that there may be additional child victims in this case.