BCPS teacher named 

White House champion

FORT LAUDERDALE — Linda Gancitano, physical education teacher at Driftwood Middle School Academy of Health and Wellness, recently was named a White House Climate Education on Literacy Champion of Change. As part of the Champions of Change program, the White House honors people like Gancitano who have made a difference in enhancing climate education.

Gancitano was recognized at a special ceremony and reception at the White House on Monday. She has served as a middle school physical education teacher for 25 years at Driftwood Middle. Prior to this recognition, Gancitano was named Florida Green School Teacher of the Year, Broward County Physical Education Teacher of the Year and Driftwood Middle School Teacher of the Year. She also serves the District on the Wellness Committee and Superintendent’s Environmental Technical Advisory Committee.

Feds: 1.3 million Floridians

signed up for health insurance

MIAMI — More than 1 million Floridians have signed up for health insurance through the federal marketplace so far under the Affordable Care Act.

Federal health officials said Wednesday that about 57 percent are part of the nearly 1 million who are re-enrolling and 43 percent selected a plan for the first time. About 32 percent were under the age of 35.

The second enrollment period started in November and ends Feb. 15. Consumers can sign up in person, call the government hotline or go online. Those who don’t sign up during that time may have to wait until next year.

Federal health officials also noted that 93 percent of Florida consumers have been eligible for financial assistance.

Florida has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country and led the way in enrollment last year among the states using healthcare.gov.

Boynton Beach High School

presents ‘The Piano Lesson’

BOYNTON BEACH — In honor of Black History Month, the Theatre Academy of Boynton Beach High School presents August Wilson’s play The Piano Lesson. Performances begin today and continue through Feb. 20 at the school’s Black Box Theatre, 4975 Park Ridge Blvd. in Boynton Beach.

Part of Wilson’s 10-play series “The Pittsburgh Cycle,” The Piano Lesson is set in the 1930s and is the story of two siblings, Boy Willie and Berniece, and the heirloom piano that comes between them. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano and buy the land where their ancestors were slaves, while Berniece insists that the piano stay with the family.  The play received the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play in 1990.

Performances of The Piano Lesson will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 20, with additional performances at 2 p.m. on Feb. 14 and 3 p.m. on Feb. 20. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased at the door or by calling (561) 752-1502.

Seminars offer tips on 

deciphering credit scores

DAVIE — BrightStar Credit Union is hosting free seminars titled ‘Credit Matters – Understanding Your Credit Score this month at several locations where participants can learn how to manage and understand their score.

The seminars are will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates at three different BrightStar Credit Union locations in Broward: Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Margate location, 3175 North State Rd 7; Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Davie, 2400 Davie Road; and Feb. 25 in Pompano Beach, 1600 South Federal Highway.

RSVP to blaise.dacosta@bscu.org, or call 954-486-2728 ext. 5017. For more information, visit https://www.bscu.org/seminars.

Compiled from staff, wire reports