Tyrone McLeod has been a builder much of his life, the elaborate ramp he installed at a Morris Street home across from The Slider Café is a prime example.

He has built even more goodwill here over time.

That was much in evidence Friday when La Conner service organizations held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit McLeod and his family, which last winter lost to fire the house he had labored five years to build on Swinomish Reservation.

The event raised several thousand dollars with donations still coming in from those unable to attend.

One of the benefit's corps of volunteers estim...