Commission for Women to Honor 15

Among the 15 women to be honored this year by the Ventura County Commission for Women are a fifth-degree black belt in Kenpo karate, a high-ranking county public defender and Laura Peck of Ventura, who will receive the organization’s lifetime achievement award.

The March 25 awards ceremony, which will recognize women in categories such as arts, business, entrepreneur, legal and science/health, will be the commission’s 14th and last.

Peck worked as a journalist before moving to Ventura County in the 1960s. She has run her own public relations firm, opened an art gallery and was both a founder and board member of the Ventura County Environmental Coalition.

She has also been involved with Planned Parenthood, the Ventura Concert Series, the Ventura County Art and Historical Society and the Ojai Film Society.

Barbara Hale of Oxnard will be honored for her leadership in sports.

A fifth-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, she has both competed and officiated at Karate tournaments throughout the country.

Hale is also president of Rape Awareness and Prevention, a national organization for education on self-defense and prevention of assault and rape.

The commission will also recognize attorney Jean L. Farley of Ventura, a top administrator in the Ventura County public defender’s office.

Farley lectures on legal strategy to public defenders throughout the state.