Now, Frankie’s wood working is all about helping others. Right before school this summer, he sold enough wood carvings to donate 25 backpacks full of school supplies to kids in Danbury schools.

Wood carving began as a hobby for Batchik, during the years he worked for Xerox as a graphic artist. He chose in the late1990s, with the birth of his second daughter, to become a stay-at-home dad.

CHESAPEAKE The striped bass stared at the plug across the room. The largemouth gazed at the spinnerbait. The bluegill couldn’t take its eyes off the hand-tied fly. But these fish couldn&#8217… ...