What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, Jan. 29

Informational town hall on sex offender housing facility near Tenino: The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has organized this gathering with the Washington State Department of Corrections and Department of Social and Health Services to share information and field questions starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at at Tenino High School, 500 W. Second Ave., Tenino. Supreme Living LLC, a residential care services company, plans to open a supportive housing facility on a 15-acre property at 2813 140th Ave. SW near Tenino on Feb. 1. This facility will house up to five clients of DSHS, including sex offenders released from McNeil Island Special Commitment Center.

Candlelight vigil for those who died in Sherman Valley Ranch fire: A vigil is set for 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at Tumwater High School stadium, 603 Dennis St. SW, Tumwater. Destiny and Steven Cox and three of their children were killed in an early morning fire Jan. 21 at the ranch, a 25-acre horse boarding ranch and wedding venue.

Whiskey and Wiretaps -- The Northwest’s Rumrunning King: On Thanksgiving Day, 1925, Roy Olmstead was trapped by federal prohibition agents and their Tommy guns on a lonely Puget Sound dock. His reign as the Northwest’s most prolific bootlegger had ended. But big questions—political, cultural, and legal—remained. Why did Olmstead, the youngest lieutenant in Seattle Police Department history, form a secret gang to take over Prohibition bootlegging in the Northwest? What can we learn today from “The Good Bootlegger’s” story? Using photographs, documents, newspapers, and court cases, Steve Edmiston — a Des Moines business and entertainment lawyer with Bracepoint Law, an indie film screenwriter and producer, founder of Quadrant45, and co-founder of The Good Bootlegger’s Guild — will breathe life into Olmstead’s story at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Harstine Island Community Club Hall, 3371 E. Harstine Island Road N, Shelton. His Humanities Washington talk is free and open to the public.

OUUC Environmental Action Quarterly Speaker Series: The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation will host Jim Lazar of the Citizen Climate Lobby at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, The church is at 2315 Division St. NW, Olympia. Lazar will discuss carbon fee and dividend federal legislation, which would impose a fee on the emission of carbon dioxide pollution, and rebate 100% of the proceeds to the public in the form of periodic direct payments. The idea is to make products and services that cause carbon pollution more expensive. The presentation also will be available on Zoom and YouTube. For more information, contact Philip Pearson at philip_pearson@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Olympia Indie Music History Scan-athon and Listening Party: Join the Olympia Indie Music History Project team from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Olympia Timberland Library as they continue to collect and document photos, zines, fliers, and other ephemera from Olympia’s independent music scene between 1980 and 2002. DJ D-Phoenix from the Groove Zone music project will play appropriate music, but you also can bring a few records to share. This event will occur after library hours, and no other library services will be available. The library is at 313 Eighth Ave. SE.

Ailey II modern dance performance: Ailey II is renowned for merging the country’s best young dance talent with the creative vision of emerging choreographers. The dance troupe will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $69, $53, $37, $25.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Black History Month Tours at the Governor’s Mansion: The Governor’s Mansion Foundation is presenting Black History Month Tours at the Mansion on Wednesdays, Feb. 1 and 8, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. The 45-minute tours are free, open to the public and will include information about the Mansion and feature biographical information about notable Black Washingtonians, presented by members of the Black community in Thurston County. The tours will end with a short live performance. Exiting tour-goers will receive a special bookmark/flier with information about Black history in Washington. For reservations, complete an online Mansion tour request form. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Adult tour guests must present photo identification and all visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No umbrellas, strollers or food/drink will be allowed on the tour. For more information, contact the State Capitol Tour Office at 360-902-8880 or email tours@des.wa.gov (include “Gov. Mansion Tours” in subject line).

Thursday, Feb. 2

Legally Blonde, the musical: The national touring production of “Legally Blonde — the Musical” will bring Elle Woods and friends to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts for a 7 p.m. performance Thursday, Feb. 2. Based on the beloved movie starring Reese Witherspoon, the story follows the transformation of Elle as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams, and proves that you can be legally blonde and still the smartest person in the room. Tickets are $139, $127, $94 and $74.

Saturday, Feb. 4

Speak for the Trees: Dr. Seuss’ Lorax famously speaks for the trees “for the trees have no tongues.” Join Friends of the Trees at 2 p.m. at the WET Science Center to enjoy a short production of the Lorax, performed by child actors, followed by a presentation on the benefits of trees and how to protect them. Tree activities also will be available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia.

Southwest Washington High School and Middle School Chess Championships: The Southwest Washington high school and middle school chess championships are set for Saturday, Feb. 4, at Centralia College. Middle and high school students of all skill levels — and who live south and west of King County — are invited to participate. The high school championship will include both team and individual chess matches and winning teams will qualify to play in the 57th annual Washington State High School Chess Team Championships March 4 at Stanwood High School. Entry into the tournaments is free, courtesy of the Washington High School Chess Association and the Chess Enrichment Association; register in advance for the high school tournament or the middle school tournament. Once registered, players must show up between 9 and 9:25 a.m. Saturday in rooms 105B and 105C of the TransAlta Commons building at Centralia College, 600 Centralia College Blvd., Centralia, to check in for the tournaments.

Best books of 2022: Looking for a new book to read? Join Olympia Timberland Library staff for a special presentation of 2022’s best books, plus a highlight reel of library staff’s favorite reads from last year. There will be time for attendees to share their own favorite reads of 2022 as well. The gathering will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, Olympia.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event.