Free chocolate from Mars on Friday

It's free "real chocolate" Friday for candy-bar maker Mars International. Until Sept. 25, the first 250,000 people who register at the Mars' giveaway site every Friday get free candy bar coupons.

Each household can get up to four coupons, though only one per Friday. Coupons mailed as a postcard and are redeemable for one regular-size package of any M&M, Milky Way, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Twix or Dove branded chocolate up to 75 cents. Not a big prize, but a free treat nonetheless.

Meanwhile, registrants also can vote (up to 5 times per IP address) for one of the eligible metropolitan areas in the United States, including Bend, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Medford and Portland in Oregon. (Southwest Washington cities are apparently not eligible.) The city receiving the most votes between now and Aug. 31 will have 50,000 chocolate bars delivered to "a central place." The city winner will be announced on the Mars.com site by Sept. 8.