MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Before the ski and snowboard season gets cranking, heres a look at whats new at resorts around the Northeast.---SNOWMAKING, SNOWMAKING AND MORE SNOWMAKINGAfter a dismal snow season last winter with frequent warm-ups, resorts across the Northeast continue to invest in snowmaking to better cover trails, open earlier and stay open longer, and to do it using less energy. The New Hampshire-owned and operated Cannon Mountain, for example, expects to reduce energy consumption by about 30 percent with the addition of new snowmaking guns and upgrades to older ones, for a total of 479 guns. The project plus other maintenance cost more than $5 million.---WORLD CUP SKIING RETURNS TO THE EASTThe World Cup ski circuit is returning to the East Coast, after a 25-year absence. Vermonts Killington Resort will be hosting the womens giant slalom and slalom races on Nov. 26-27. Olympic and slalom world champion Mikaela Shiffrin is among the 90 to 100 racers from about 20 nations expected to compete.To prepare for the race, Killington started snowmaking on Oct. 10.---MORE TERRAINIn its first major expansion in more than 30 years, New Hampshires Waterville Valley Resort has added 45 acres and cut 10 new trails that will be served by a chair lift. The Green Peak expansion includes beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain.---LODGINGBurke Mountain Resort in northern Vermont has its first resort-owned slope-side lodging. The 116-room ski-in ski-out hotel and conference center opened this fall with a pub, restaurant, heated pool and hot tub and fitness center and views of the mountain on one side and Willoughby Gap on the other.---FAMILY FUNResorts continue to add activities for visitors other than skiing and riding.This summer, Vermonts Stowe Mountain Resort opened a roughly $20 million adventure center that includes ski and ride programs for kids, a daycare program, a rock-climbing center, shops, and family friendly dining looking out over the outdoor ice skating rink and the indoor climbing center. The rock-climbing center has 16 climbing stations and a free-standing 40-foot climbing tower.On the other side of Mount Mansfield, Smugglers Notch is also boosting its amenities for families, building a 26,000-square-foot Fun Zone thats expected to open in March 2017. It will include a two-floor laser tag arena, mini-golf, a 30-foot double-sided climbing wall, a slot-car track and a cafe.At Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, the winter season programming includes trails for fat biking (bikes with oversized tires that can handle snow and mud).------AP reporter Kathy McCormack contributed to this report from Concord, New Hampshire. Wholesale Nike Shoes Ireland . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Cheap Shoes Ireland . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. http://www.cheapirelandairjordan.com/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Discount Air Jordan Ireland Online . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Air Jordan Ireland Sale . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Rob Gronkowski understands growing up in Buffalo doesnt make him immune to the cold welcome reserved for visiting teams -- and that especially includes the Bills AFC East rival Patriots.For sure, you get like 50 middle fingers from people in the first three rows, Gronkowski said.On Sunday, Gronk got in the last word during a 41-25 win over the Bills .His 53-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter sparked a surge in which the Patriots scored on five consecutive possessions. And he also broke a pair of franchise records. The touchdown was the 69th of his career and 68th receiving, breaking the previous marks held by Stanley Morgan.That Gronkowski did it in his hometown and in the same stadium he once attended rooting for the Bills made it extra special.I definitely envisioned big things, but nothing on the scale of this, Gronkowski said, reflecting on his childhood. Its just an unbelievable honor.Driving up the right sideline, Gronkowski cut into the middle and caught Tom Bradys pass in stride a couple of steps ahead of cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman. Gronkowski then immediately turned upfield and sauntered into the end zone, where he capped the score with a hard spike.After celebrating with his teammates, Gronkowski turned and bowed in what was a tribute to his mother, Diane.She caught up with her son at the team hotel on Saturday and told him how proud she would be for him to break the record.I was like, Ive got to give her a shoutout for letting me know shes super proud of me, Gronkowski said. Hi mom, and thank you.And his father, Gordie, was enjoying the moment in a stadium suite, surrounded by about 80 family members and friends.We were all on our barstools and had a big celebration for him, Gordie Gronkowski told The Associated Press, noting he anticipated his son would score.When he comes here, he gets all wired up and hyped up and everything to play in front of his fans, he said. It was a fantastic moment for us.dddddddddddd.In finishing with five catches for a team-best 109 yards, Gronkowski continued a trend of running up his numbers against Buffalo. In 11 games, he has 52 catches for 813 yards and 11 touchdowns. Gronkowski has scored at least once against Buffalo in each of his six NFL seasons, with the exception of 2014 when he missed one of two games against the Bills because of a knee injury.Hes pretty dang good, Bills coach Rex Ryan said. That guys a phenomenal player and hes been that way for a long time.What also separates Gronkowski from most NFL players is his larger-than-life personality. Hes just as accustomed to finding the end zone as he is being on stage alongside Paul McCartney, as happened in July.Its a pleasure to get to play with that guy. His attitude toward the game, he has so much fun, Patriots receiver Julian Edelman said. Hes just a flat-out beast that goes and has fun. What a great way for him to go out and beat a record.Even the usually reserved Patriots coach Bill Belichick couldnt resist taking a moment to praise Gronkowski.I love it. I love to see his presence, Belichick said. Theres a lot of great players in this league, and there have been a lot of great players, but obviously, Gronk does a good job.Gronkowski received another surprise following the game, when Morgan called to congratulate him on breaking the record.He was an awesome player, an awesome guy, and he said, `congratulations, and it was pretty cool, Gronkowski said.Gronkowski then acknowledged hes not very familiar with Morgan, who played for the Patriots from 1977-89.It would be a great honor to actually meet him in person and actually study up on his game and see what hes all about, Gronkowski said. Im going to be looking forward to that.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '