The days of back-to-school shopping consisting of a trip to the drugstore to buy a couple of thick notepads, a bunch of pencils and maybe a snazzy lunchbox are over.

Despite the few items, students in the 1950s and 1960s "learned and went on to (become) taxpayers ... even putting a man on the moon," wrote Michael Johnston of Painesville Township in an email to The News-Herald.

Things have changed.

For example, youngsters entering kindergarten at Bellflower Elementary in Mentor are expected to be equipped with multiple items before the first school bell rings.

Among them are seven glue sticks, Crayola markers and crayons, scissors, folders and a notebook.

Unrelated to educational needs, but nonetheless required are a box of gallon-size Ziploc bags and tissues.

Read more in Jean Bonchak's story Back-to-school shopping is first assignment for students, parents (with video).

It was a relatively quiet Thursday morning for Ronald C. Loos in the C building at Lakeland Community College.

Loos, an adjunct or part-time instructor at Lakeland for 15 years, had just administered the final exam in the sociology class he taught during the summer semester.

The 67-year-old Saybrook Township resident has been teaching sociology and social work classes at Lakeland since shortly after he retired from his job as director of Ashtabula County Children's Services.

"They called and asked me to do it," Loos replied, smiling, when asked how he came to be associated with the two-year college in Kirtland.

Read more on David S. Glasier's story Adjunct professors making the grade at area colleges (with video).