WHICH CATCHING FIRE BLU-RAY SET HAS THE BEST BONUS ITEMS? (PHOTOS)

Friday is the big day for Hunger Games fans, as the second film installment hits stores across the country. Catching Fire doesn't have quite the elaborate special edition packages the first movie did, but offers more than the average Hollywood blockbuster release in these days of dwindling bonus gifts. For collectors, it's all about the bonus pack-ins, and exclusive content and artwork.

So, which store has the best Catching Fire Blu-ray/DVD package?

In my opinion, it's Target.

The Target Catching Fire set includes 45 minutes of exclusive bonus content:

Target Exclusive (45 minutes of content): 

• “ONE VISION” (A FAITHFUL ADAPTATION)--translating Suzanne Collins' source material to the big screen 

• “THE ALLIANCE” (RETURNING CAST)—an inside look at the close-knit relationships of the returning actors 

• “FRIEND OR FOE” (NEW CAST)--finding the perfect embodiments of the new characters 

And a booklet.

But, wait, there's more!

Pre-order your copy from Target, and you also get this Target-exclusive fabric poster:

Not to mention that the Target edition appears to have the best cover design. And you get all of this for $22.99, more than you pay for many recent Blu-ray releases that had no collectible bonus items.

Walmart

Walmart is second best, if you live near one that is opening at midnight tonight - the first 50 Catching Fire purchases will come with a Walmart-exclusive poster. Find a Walmart midnight opening event near you.  The poster isn't new; it is said to be the IMAX theater poster from last November's opening.

But that's it for bonus items, and Walmart has no exclusive bonus-disc content. The only other Walmart exclusive is a 2-movie set for the completist. Walmart has an online price of $19.96 for the Blu-ray/DVD.

Best Buy

Best Buy's primary exclusive, is offering Catching Fire in the steelbook format. This is best for those who collect steelbooks in general, or, again, for the completist. If you're not near a midnight opening Walmart, bump up Best Buy to #2 on the list. The other 2 Best Buy bonuses that can bump it up to #2 are A) you can pick up the first Hunger Games Blu-ray steelbook version for only $5 when you buy Catching Fire, and B) you also get $8 in Fandango Cash, payable towards Divergent when it hits theaters on March 21. Best Buy's price is the same as Target.

Amazon.com

Zip, zilch, nada. Just the movie, that's it.

NEW ITALIAN SAUSAGE BURGER AT CHEEBURGER CHEEBURGER IN ROCKVILLE

Cheeburger Cheeburger, located in the Fallsgrove Shopping Center on Shady Grove Road, has added an Italian Sausage Burger to its menu - for a limited time only.

Enjoy 6 ounces of Hatfield-brand Italian sausage, topped with sautéed onions and roasted red peppers for lunch or dinner today, at Cheeburger Cheeburger in Rockville. Then head through the drive-thru at Krispy Kreme for dessert!

NIGHTSWATCH: ROCKVILLE CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Rockville on March 1, according to crime data:

Theft. 5100 block Parklawn Terrace.

Burglary. 11400 block Schuylkill Road (Randolph Hills).

Drug arrest. 5900 block Halpine Road.

FREE PANCAKES IN ROCKVILLE TODAY AT IHOP!

Enjoy a FREE short stack of 3 pancakes at IHOP today, March 4! Today is IHOP National Pancake Day, from 7 AM to 10 PM at participating locations.

All IHOP asks in return, is that you consider making a donation of any amount to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The money you donate will stay in the area, to help children in need at Children's National Medical Center (a.k.a. Children's Hospital) in Washington, D.C., a member of the CMN hospitals.

Get your free pancakes for a good cause today, at the IHOP nearest to you:

775 Rockville Pike
(in the Ritchie Center)

NIGHTSWATCH: ROCKVILLE CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Rockville on Friday, February 28, according to crime data:

Theft. 2300 block Lewis Avenue.

Drug arrest. Wootton Parkway and Fleet Street.

Drug arrest. Avery Road and Norbeck Road.

Drug arrest. Southlawn Lane and E. Gude Drive.

Theft. 400 block Redland Boulevard (King Farm).

Theft. 9600 block Gudelsky Drive (UMD at Shady Grove area).

Vehicle burglary. 1000 block Gaither Road (King Farm).

Burglary. 9400 block Key West Avenue.

Drug arrest. 12100 block Parklawn Drive.

THE 5 CUTEST PETS YOU CAN ADOPT THIS WEEK IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Here are 5 animals in search of a loving home. All are currently residing at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. (Please note: the location and hours of the shelter have changed since last week) You can visit them Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Or on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The shelter is located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road, in Derwood.

Call the shelter at 240.773.5960 to check on the availability of a specific animal. When you call, have the dog, cat or small animal's name or ID number, and the 6 digit AIL number (A######) ready.

Good news - someone appears to have adopted Ollie, who was featured here last week. Congratulations, Ollie! Number 137 and Patches are also off the shelter roster, hopefully to good homes.

DOMINIQUE - ID#A380069

Dominique is an unaltered, black and white female pit bull terrier. She is around 4 years old, and has been at the shelter a long time - since October 4 of last year. Can you end her wait for a home this week? Let's make it happen.

Dominique

CATHY - ID#A383829

and

KIM - ID#A383828

Cathy and Kim are unaltered, black and tan, female mixed Yorkshire terriers. They are both around 8 months old. It seems like they should stay together. Do you have room for two?

Kim and Cathy

KALI - ID#A383649

Kali is a spayed female blue domestic shorthair, approximately 4 years old.

Kali

PETTY - ID#A383746

It's got to be extra tough to be a duck in an animal shelter. Let's help bring Petty's awkward moment to an end this week.

Petty

ROCKVILLE POLICE FORMALLY REQUEST MAYOR AND COUNCIL GRANT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS

Jan Seilhamer, president of the union representing Rockville's city police officers, formally requested the mayor and council grant officers collective bargaining rights, at Monday evening's regular council meeting.

A few weeks ago, Seilhamer testified that the city's continued failure to reinstate salary step increases had left police force morale "at an all-time low." At that time, she presented the report of a forensic accountant, who concluded the city could afford to resume step increases immediately.

With no progress since that Community Forum appearance, Seilhamer returned with a formal petition requesting the mayor and council amend the city's charter to give police officers collective bargaining rights. Seilhamer said the city's public works employees already have such rights, which would include non-binding arbitration.

After outlining many months of delays and poor communication with the city, Seilhamer said the union has recently learned that its previous requests to the mayor and council were never even delivered to those elected officials by city staff. She also cited the city's own employee policy, which states on page 14, that step increases are to be based on "employee performance and availability of funding." Since the former has been outstanding, and the latter proven to be true, Seilhamer said it is clear that "the city is not bargaining in good faith."

The police union, FOP Lodge 117, has retained a lawyer, Pat McAndrew. McAndrew also spoke at Monday night's meeting, and presented a draft charter amendment. "The system in place now is broken," McAndrew concluded. Noting that Bowie, Frederick and Greenbelt are among nearby cities that have granted collective bargaining rights to their police officers, McAndrew asked the mayor and council to  “recognize what the officers in the Rockvile police department contribute to this community.”