Students in the Elba Central School Class of 2029 have a reason to smile as they accept a check for their can collection and cleanup efforts over the summer at Batavia Downs Gaming. With them in the photo are, at left, Ryan Hasenauer, WROTB vice president of Business Development; Ryan Tenney of McNickel’s Redemption Center in Batavia, and Kate Kelley, class advisor; at right, Byron Brown, WROTB president/CEO, and Heather Dillon, environmental service supervisor at Batavia Downs Gaming and an Elba Central School graduate. Photos by Mike Pettinella/For Video News Service.
BY MIKE PETTINELLA
For Video News Service
Elba Central School’s Class of 2029 and varsity baseball team on Friday morning were rewarded for their hard work over the summer at Batavia Downs Gaming.
With Byron Brown, president/chief executive officer of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., and other officials of the public benefit company on hand at the school, a check for $1,733.20 was presented to the two groups.
That amount is twice what was earned from the students’ effort to collect cans (while also picking up debris) following each of the Rockin’ the Downs Summer Concert Series.
Ryan Hasenauer, WROTB vice president of Business Development, said the corporation doubled the amount raised in recognition of the students assisting in the post-concert cleanup.
The Class of 2029 and the baseball team will split the money, with the latter planning a spring 2026 trip to the Cal Ripken Experience camp in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The Elba Central School varsity baseball team also is sharing in the proceeds from the collection of recyclables. Joining them in the photo are Ryan Tenney, Ryan Hasenauer and Byron Brown.
The team, coached by Andrew Boyce and Jeremy Thompson, is coming off a successful 2025 season – posting a 13-7 record and advancing to the Section V Class D semifinals.
Brown called it “a great feeling” when WROTB, through its events and programs at Batavia Downs Gaming, can play a part in contributing to community and school projects.
“The community is extremely supportive of Batavia Downs Gaming and hotel, and it’s always rewarding to be able to give back to the community,” he said. “And these young people worked with us during the concert series, cleaning up after the concerts, helping to collect recyclables. We are very proud to be here to give back to them for supporting us.”