Today in Venice-Mar Vista: Pot Shop Protest, Online Petitions, Soldiers Speak

Here are five things for your Friday and beyond in Venice-Mar Vista:  

1. Residents opposed to a medical marijuana dispensary slated to move into 3472 S. Centinela Blvd. will hold their first protest Friday from 4-6 p.m. on the sidewalks surrounding the location, according to Jesus Jornacion. Jornacion says his group is "certain" the location is illegal since it is surrounded by residences on three sides. Email him at jjinlosangeles@aol.com.
2. Listen to soldiers distill their thoughts and experiences in prose and poetry Friday at Beyond Baroque. Reading begins at 8 p.m. Book launch at 7 p.m. Suggested donation, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds, according to the event organizer.
3. An online petition to "save" the neighborhood from the proposed mixed-use development at 1414 Main St. is here.
4. A change.org petition asking a medical marijuana business owner not to continue with his plans to move his business to 3472 S. Centinela Blvd. is online. The petition and comments are here.
5. Make sure you're "Patched In" to get alerts on breaking news as it happens in town this week (and after), make sure you are signed up to get our emails. Click on the 'get the daily newsletter' at the top, right corner of this page. (If you see something that says, "hi, username," then you're already registered. In that case, click on "email settings" under the drop-down tab under your name.)