Kimball Medical Center accepted the first Doris Haire Award for demonstrating excellence in maternity practices in New Jersey.

Haire presented the award, named in her honor, on behalf of the International Cesarean Awareness Network and Peri L. Nearon, director, Office on Women's Health, Division of Family Health Ser-vices, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The presentation ceremony was held at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood, on June 8.

In April, Gov. Jon Corzine issued a proclamation designating April as Cesar-ean Awareness Month in New Jersey. While Cesarean rates continue to rise nationally, Kimball Medical Center has maintained the lowest Cesarean rate of all New Jersey hospitals in 2003 (17 percent) and 2004 (17.8 percent), the latest year for which figures are available. New Jersey's average Cesarean rate is 34.9 percent.

The International Cesarean Aware-ness Network (ICAN) and Doulas of New Jersey, in cooperation with Corzine, developed the Doris Haire Award to recognize hospitals in New Jersey for their practices in reducing the number of Cesarean births. Kimball is the first recipient of this award.

ICAN is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982 whose mission is to improve maternal child health by preventing unnecessary Cesarean deliveries through education, support and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).

The award was presented to members of Kimball Medical Center's maternity staff and physicians from the Depart-ment of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The award is named for Doris Haire, founder of the American Foundation for Maternal and Child Health.

Harrogate Inc., 400 Locust St., Lakewood, will host a Lakewood Cham-ber of Commerce Business After Hours networking event July 18 from 5-7:30 p.m. Attendees will be treated to refreshments and door prizes. All guests are encouraged to bring business cards. Nonmembers are welcome. Reservations are required. Fee to attend: $5. Details and registration: (732) 363-0012.

Ocean County College has an-nounced it will offer three new associate degree programs with four options in the areas of digital mass media, interpreter training, and technical studies. The degree programs will become effective with the academic year 2007-08 beginning with the fall semester.

The New Jersey Presidents' Council approved the following new programs: Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Digital Mass Media with a Print Broadcast Option, Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Digital Mass Media with a Journalism Option, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Interpreter Training, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Technical Studies with an Industrial Technical Option, and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Technical Studies with a Computer Technology Option. Details: (732) 255-0400.

Academy Bus Company has an-nounced that a new direct bus departing at 1:15 p.m. from the Port Authority in Manhattan to Jackson Park and Ride has been added to its service schedule. The Jackson Park and Ride, off Cedar Swamp Road at Progress Place, has free parking for 450 vehicles. The nonstop ride takes about 80 minutes each way. Call (732) 901-1933 or visit www.academybus.com for a complete schedule.