Beginning this Monday Feb. 4, Niche Wine & Art will present a new food series called “New Menu Mondays.” Each Monday, Niche’s newest employee Evan Secan will serve a three course dinner and wine pairing to an intimate crowd of foodies. Secan is currently finishing up the culinary management program at Oregon Culinary Insititute.

“Everywhere on Earth has its own unique food culture and tradition, and in modern day kitchens these traditions can be brought together and applied in infinite ways,” says Secan, “That is a big part of my passion, the exploration of culture through food.” At Niche, he hopes to cook food that will make people happy and entice them to try new things.

The Sleep Country Pajama Drive is asking the community  to donate new pajamas in all sizes, infant to adult, to the nearest Sleep Country location now through March 3. All donations will be distributed to local non-profit foster care agencies who support area foster children and foster families. Thousands of children in the Northwest enter into the foster care system facing uncertainty that few can imagine and making falling asleep especially difficult. Sleep Country USA’s annual Pajama Drive strives to help by ensuring that our local foster children go to bed wearing new, comfortable pajamas. For further details or to locate a Sleep Country, visit www.sleepcountry.com.

Clark County is honoring individuals, businesses, and groups working to improve our environment with the new annual “Making Every Day Earth Day” awards. Nominations are now being accepted and the deadline to submit is next Friday, Feb. 8. Award recipients will be honored for environmental accomplishments in 2012 during an April 12 event at the Heathman Lodge.

Projects and activities eligible for recognition include: Restoring wildlife habitat and streams; increasing recycling and waste reduction; encouraging sustainability and green building; promoting conservation and energy efficiency; conducting public outreach and education; and reducing polluted storm runoff.

For more information and to download a nomination form, visit lwww.clark.wa.gov/environment/EveryDayEarthDay.html. The forms can be submitted by email Leslie.Johnson@clark.wa.gov or mail to Leslie Johnson, Clark County Environmental Services, P.O. Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98660. Interested parties can also call 360-397-2121, ext. 4584

WSU Vancouver will host “Rwanda: The Impacts of Volunteerism” on Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Dengerink Administration building, room 110. The event will feature Rwanda-native Simon Pierre Rwaramba and his harrowing tale of escape from the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.  Following his escape, Rwaramba and his wife formed the Ndengera Foundation, which places Rwandan orphans with Rwandan widows. The foundation has helped rebuild the country and currently supports more than 700 children impacted by the Rwandan Genocide. Debra Anderson, a WSU Vancouver senior studying psychology, created the event in partnership with the Associated Students of Washington State University Vancouver to increase awareness of volunteer efforts. Furthering the theme of volunteerism, WSU Vancouver colleges and departments will be on hand to provide information about ongoing volunteer opportunities available to students and community members. Refreshments will be provided and the event is free and open to the public. For further details, visit www.admin.vancouver.wsu.edu.