Chandler’s Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary, 700 N. Hartford St., is asking the community to support families in need by bringing in bags of rice. The school needs 900 bags by Friday for Thanksgiving and 900 more for Christmas, due Dec. 10. The efforts are being coordinated by Chandler Unified School District’s Chandler Care Center, 777 E. Galveston St. Donations of toiletry items, such as diapers, baby wipes, toothbrushes, tooth paste, paper towels, and toilet paper, are also needed.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The New York Post on Thursday defended its publication of photos from an illicitly filmed Internet video showing ESPN reporter Erin Andrews naked in a hotel room by accusing the sports network of having outed her.

HARTFORD, Conn. - Martha Kostyra, whose daughter Martha Stewart credits her with teaching her many domestic tricks and techniques, has died at a hospital near her home in Weston. She was 93.

HARTFORD, Conn. - Author Madeleine L'Engle, whose novel "A Wrinkle in Time" has been enjoyed by generations of schoolchildren and adults since the 1960s, has died, her publicist said Friday. She was 88.

Many family members and people whose lives were touched by Sylvia Encinas gathered Sunday at an elementary school in Chandler to see it be rededicated to their friend, who was well-known for her kindness.

Chandler plans to hold two public meetings in the coming weeks for potential participants in a program to turn foreclosed homes into affordable housing.

An orientation session for people interested in buying a foreclosed home through a Chandler land trust is slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, at Hartford Elementary School, 700 N. Hartford St.

Fourth- through sixth-grade students at Chandler’s Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School recently attended a Genre Super Bowl ice cream sundae party. The students qualified by reading books from five different genres during the month of January. This annual event is sponsored by library media teacher Carol Cooper and was funded this year by a mini-grant from the Chandler Education Foundation.