ARLINGTON — Hubb’s Pizza & Pasta drew a steady stream of customers on Friday, May 10, who wanted to show their support for the Rotary Club of Arlington and the 25th annual Great Stilly Duck Dash through the restaurant’s all-day “Dine & Donate” event.

When local Rotarians approached him about contributing to their campaign to build a new playground at Haller Park, William “Hubb” Hubbell pledged 10 percent of his restaurant’s proceeds for the day toward that cause.

“I’d hoped we would be busier,” Hubbell said. “The construction on 67th Avenue has hurt our business. A lot of folks think we’re closed while they’re tearing up the street, but we’re still open. Even those who know that might not feel like sitting through traffic to get here. It’s going to be fantastic when it’s done, though.”

Hubbell nonetheless praised the city of Arlington for working well with its businesses that are impacted by the ongoing road project, and even deemed their responsiveness indicative of the community’s spirit overall.

“Last year was our first year as a new business here, and we helped support the Duck Dash then too,” Hubbell said. “I can never say enough about this incredible city and its patronage. The good will from everyone comes out every time with events like this. For such a small community, there’s so much great work that goes on here, and raising our kids in the right environment is what it’s all about.”

Although he’s a member of the Marysville Rotary, Loren Van Loo still stopped by Hubb’s Pizza & Pasta that night to buy a medium gluten-free cheese pizza and a large “Hubb’s Special,” because he saw himself as one Rotarian pitching in on behalf of others, while Bruce and Shannon Thomson returned to Arlington for dinner at Hubb’s that evening for similar reasons.

“We used to live in this community,” said Shannon Thomson, whose husband Bruce is now active in the Lynnwood Rotary. “All our own kids are grown now, but this is still a great function.”