With the start of the new school year less than two weeks away, Catholic elementary school teachers are not only busy preparing their classrooms, they are engaged in professional development as well.

During the week of August 17, the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools hosted a number of workshops, ranging from brain-based learning to using learning centers in the classroom.

The sessions included:  Brain Based Learning: Procedures and strategies to address all learners; Using Learning Centers in the Primary Classroom; a Practical Guide to Design and Manage Learning Centers.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - Residents in the Villages of Sloan and Williamsville spoke loud and clear in the voting booths Tuesday, voting, by an overwhelming margin, to keep their respective village governments. 

Earlier in the day, government downsizing advocate Kevin Gaughan could not have felt terribly comfortable outside of the polling places in both Williamsville and Sloan Tuesday, as voters in both the villages decided whether to dissolve their local governments.

Outnumbered 15-1 at one point early in the afternoon, Gaughan politely asked voters for their consideration. The referendums are part of Gaughan's movement to reduce the size of local governments by letting the people decide for themselves.

From the moment voting began, the polling places in both villages were extremely busy, as were the parking lots, with plenty of jousting between Gaughan and the villagers.

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. - It's the dawn of a new security era at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The first of five advanced imaging or backscatter technology machines has been installed at the airport.

At first glance it looks like any other screening booth, but the difference is what is being seen behind a closed door.

While the passenger is going through the screener, a T.S.A. worker in another room is viewing the x-ray images. The details are blurred, but it is very noticeable if someone is hiding something.

While the travelers 2 On Your Side spoke with don't seem to mind, the process has drawn quite a bit of controversy. In fact lawsuits have been filed over health and privacy concerns as well as whether the images would be stored. That is something that Rick DePietro of the T.S.A. says can't happen.