I just learned that a friend of mine is turning sixteen years old in November. That got me to thinking about what new things can happen in peoples’ lives when they reach that age. Here are some, but probably not all, of those things — at least as they apply in California:
Get a driver’s license: You can get a learner’s permit when you reach the age of 15, but the driver’s license isn’t available until the age of 16. And, even then, there are some other-than-age requirements: have an instruction permit from California or another state for at least 6 months; prove that you completed both driver education and driver training; practice driving for at least 50 hours with a California-licensed driver who is at least 25 years old (10 hours must be at night). At age 16, the driver’s license will have the word “provisional” on it. That means you cannot drive: between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., during the first 12 months you are licensed; with passengers under 20 years old, unless your parent/guardian or other California-licensed driver (at least 25 years old) rides with you; for pay or operate vehicles that require a commercial Class A, B, or C license. (There are some exceptions to these restrictions; to see them and obtain other relevant information, go to the dmv.ca.gov website.) When you go to get your license (or permit), this is what you’ll need to take with you: proof of identity; two proofs of residency in California; document proving your current full legal name; social security number.
Pre-register to vote: You can pre-register to vote at age 16, and are then automatically registered to vote when you turn the legal voting age of 18. There are a couple of ways that you can pre-register. The most fun one, in my opinion, is to visit the office of the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters in the courthouse in Downieville, and they will help you through the process. Or, you can pre-register online through the California Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/pre-register-16-vote-18. Neither option is onerous, and both help you get involved in our democratic process.
Donate blood: Here is something you can do that definitely benefits your community. The following information is from Vitalant, which is the blood bank in Grass Valley (vitalant.org). Requirements for a 16-year-old to donate are: have parental/guardian consent (there is a consent form on the Vitalant website) and bring the signed consent form to your appointment; weigh at least 110 pounds; be in good general health. And, as a donor, you have some options (with some qualifications) of how you want to donate. They include: whole blood (you can donate every 56 days, up to 6 times a year); double red cell donation (every 112 days, up to 3 times a year); platelets (every 7 days, up to 24 times a year); plasma (every 28 days, up to 13 times a year). No matter which one you choose, you are helping someone else.
We’ve got some new-to-the library books! Here they are:
Fiction
Ripple’s Effect, by Shawn Anchor & Amy Blankson (easy reader)
Warrior Girl Unearthed, by Angeline Boulley (young adult)
Amara’s Farm, by JaNay Brown-Wood (easy reader)
Water Day, by Margarita Engle (easy reader)
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, by Mariana Enriquez (short stories)
Don’t Call Me a Hurricane, by Ellen Hagan (young adult)
Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, by Pedro Martín (juvenile)(2024 Newbery Honor Book)
Your Inner Hedgehog, by Alexander McCall Smith
In Our Garden, by Pat Zietlow Miller (easy reader)
Barely Floating, by Lilliam Rivera (juvenile)
The White Lady, by Jacqueline Winspear
Non-fiction
Plant, Cook, Eat!: A Children’s Cookbook, by Joe Archer & Caroline Craig (juvenile)
The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party, by Daniel James Brown
Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World, by Rachel Ignotofsky (juvenile)
Rebel Girls Celebrate Pride, by Alexis Stratton (juvenile)
What Would Maisie Do?, by Jacqueline Winspear
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