Dap

They make caulk. They make spackling compound. They make adhesives and roof sealants and window glazing. And now they've just finished making their biggest product of all -- a new world headquarters near downtown Baltimore.DAP Inc., a 133-year-old manufacturer and marketer of home improvement and building products, just completed the first phase of its corporate move from Dayton, Ohio, to Baltimore's harborfront.It is the first office tenant of the American Can Co. complex in Canton, now undergoing a $30 million transformation into an office and retail center near the water's edge.

Note: Due to weather, this year's Silopanna Music Festival has been canceled. Judging by the charts in recent years, it seems as though America has rediscovered soul and funk. Cee Lo Green, Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars — even Grace Potter and Fitz and the Tantrums — have found mainstream success with music inspired, occasionally lifted from and mostly in debt to the sounds that dominated the '60s and early '70s. To Sharon Jones, the indefatigable lead singer of the Dap-Kings, it just seems like the world has caught up with her and her band.

In an effort to strengthen its core business, Baltimore-based caulk manufacturer DAP Inc. agreed yesterday to sell its professional ceramic, carpet and vinyl products line to a Massachusetts installation firm for an undisclosed amount of money. DAP, a marketer of home improvement and building products that serves as an operating company of RPM Inc., will transfer all of its assets in the professional tile and flooring business to Bostik Findley Flooring. The sale is expected to close March 30. "Strategically, this is a great move for DAP," said John J. McLaughlin, president and chief executive of DAP. "This positions us for expansion in our businesses and allows us to focus on growing our core product lines, while strengthening relationships with our key customers."

When Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, in his victory moment he didn't merely turn to his wife for a perfunctory, sterile hug. Nor did the two engage, like Al and Tipper Gore, in an awkward make-out session. The Obamas dapped. That is, in a move that has electrified African-Americans and young people nationwide, the couple faced each other, looked into each other's eyes, formed fists and then tapped knuckles. Dap! If the nomination of the first African-American candidate for president is itself a historic moment, that little gesture, for many, punctuated the occasion with ethnic style and inherent coolness.

THE SALE of the IBM tower at a record price for a downtown office building and the headquarters move of adhesive manufacturer DAP Inc. from Ohio to Baltimore bode well for economic growth.IBM Corp.'s distinctive building at 100 E. Pratt St. was just sold for $137 million. The only other city sale of that magnitude happened 13 years ago when the 35-story USF&G Tower at 100 Light St. brought $100 million.Farther east along the waterfront in Canton, DAP Inc. announced plans to move its corporate offices and research facility from the Dayton area.

Seeking to hire more than 100 people for its new Canton headquarters, adhesives manufacturer DAP Inc. kicked off a two-day job fair yesterday in Baltimore.And, as might be expected in a city that has suffered numerous recent job losses, the job fair drew a large crowd. DAP officials estimated that about 100 people were at the Inner Harbor Hyatt Regency by 2: 15 p.m., 45 minutes before the fair's official opening."We've not done this before," DAP Chief Executive Officer John McLaughlin said of the fair.

DAP Inc., a Dayton, Ohio-based adhesive manufacturer, said yesterday that it will move its corporate headquarters and research division to the old American Can Co. plant, a move that will bring more than 110 jobs to the Canton landmark.John McLaughlin, the company's president, said DAP was attracted to Baltimore largely because its airport has far more daily flights than Dayton's.Moreover, the company will have access to Washington's airports."It's an international business," McLaughlin said.

In the above-right photo, sixth-graders Megan Fox (left) and Tiffany Sasaki talk with Joseph Singleton of Columbia. They are among hundreds of Ellicott Mills Middle School pupils who took part last week in a disability-awareness program called "dAp Day." The program featured speakers on physical and cognitive disabilities and was part of a yearlong focus promoting the idea that all children can learn together, said Assistant Principal Debra O'Byrne. Because of a production error, incorrect pictures were published in Sunday's Howard edition about "dAp Day" at Ellicott Mills.

When Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, in his victory moment he didn't merely turn to his wife for a perfunctory, sterile hug. Nor did the two engage, like Al and Tipper Gore, in an awkward make-out session. The Obamas dapped. That is, in a move that has electrified African-Americans and young people nationwide, the couple faced each other, looked into each other's eyes, formed fists and then tapped knuckles. Dap! If the nomination of the first African-American candidate for president is itself a historic moment, that little gesture, for many, punctuated the occasion with ethnic style and inherent coolness.

Outgoing Anne Arundel County Executive Robert R. Neall is known as a technocrat and is often assumed to be indifferent to social issues. The image is not entirely accurate. Mr. Neall has thrown his support behind several innovative social programs, the most recent being a radical alternative to welfare.C-DAP, which stands for Community-Directed Assistance Program, is the first program of its kind in Maryland and an experiment we'd like to see tried in other places. Granted, C-DAP's success has yet to be tested and is by no means assured.

In the above-right photo, sixth-graders Megan Fox (left) and Tiffany Sasaki talk with Joseph Singleton of Columbia. They are among hundreds of Ellicott Mills Middle School pupils who took part last week in a disability-awareness program called "dAp Day." The program featured speakers on physical and cognitive disabilities and was part of a yearlong focus promoting the idea that all children can learn together, said Assistant Principal Debra O'Byrne. Because of a production error, incorrect pictures were published in Sunday's Howard edition about "dAp Day" at Ellicott Mills.

Middle and high school students will participate in the Howard public schools' 10th Technology Education Challenge from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at Reservoir High School. Technology Education students have worked on projects in their home schools. Those who have created mobile projects, such as miniature cars, planes and robots will compete tomorrow. Students used engineering, design and problem-solving processes in creating their projects. An air-powered dragster (10 inches long and made of wood)

THREE EIGHTH-graders from Glenwood Middle School held a Disability Awareness Program (DAP) at the school Friday. The program is designed to help children respect and feel more comfortable around people with disabilities. Ashley Johnston of Woodbine and Paula Henson and Nicole Johnson, both of Glenwood, organized the event as part of the Enrichment Program at the school. The Enrichment Program provides opportunities for schoolchildren to combine their interests, knowledge and creative ideas into a particular area of study.

In an effort to strengthen its core business, Baltimore-based caulk manufacturer DAP Inc. agreed yesterday to sell its professional ceramic, carpet and vinyl products line to a Massachusetts installation firm for an undisclosed amount of money. DAP, a marketer of home improvement and building products that serves as an operating company of RPM Inc., will transfer all of its assets in the professional tile and flooring business to Bostik Findley Flooring. The sale is expected to close March 30. "Strategically, this is a great move for DAP," said John J. McLaughlin, president and chief executive of DAP. "This positions us for expansion in our businesses and allows us to focus on growing our core product lines, while strengthening relationships with our key customers."

"Does anyone ever tease you or make fun of you?" Shelby Kennedy asked the third-graders at Manor Woods Elementary School in Ellicott City. About half of the kids raised their hands. "Well, in middle school I got teased a lot," Kennedy said. Then she explained how learning to play drums helped her gain confidence. Now 17, Kennedy seemed poised beyond her years as she stood in front of a semicircle of cross-legged kids and discussed her life. Kennedy, who was born with no arms below the elbows, speaks to schoolchildren every Friday as part of her work with the disABILITY AWARENESS project (dAp)

Howard County pupils who encounter speakers from the disABILITY AWARENESS project (dAp) receive lessons in tolerance, perseverance and compassion - in addition to reading, writing and math. An awareness program that challenges attitudes and stereotypes, dAp has a bank of speakers - some with visible disabilities, others with hidden ones - who visit county schools and share life experiences. Service dogs trained to assist people with disabilities attend from Fidos for Freedom Inc., a nonprofit organization.

The Florida developer working to construct a Ritz-Carlton hotel south of the Inner Harbor unveiled plans for the $100 million project to the city yesterday, including a newly designed 26-story tower -- significantly taller than previously proposed.The proposal presented yesterday to the city's Design Advisory Panel is an alternative to a two-building plan that would rise 135 feet.As it has in the past, developer Neil Fisher's proposals for the 250-room luxury hotel and 50-unit condominium project drew opposition because they would violate height restrictions in place through 2007 and require a change in city ordinances that govern the land adjacent to the Rusty Scupper restaurant.

Howard County pupils who encounter speakers from the disABILITY AWARENESS project (dAp) receive lessons in tolerance, perseverance and compassion - in addition to reading, writing and math. An awareness program that challenges attitudes and stereotypes, dAp has a bank of speakers - some with visible disabilities, others with hidden ones - who visit county schools and share life experiences. Service dogs trained to assist people with disabilities attend from Fidos for Freedom Inc., a nonprofit organization.