(Sayre, PA) – U.S. Congressman Dan Meuser, whose 9th District includes Bradford County, recently participated in a series of events in Sayre, which became a part of the 9th Congressional District at beginning of this year. Meuser met with business and community leaders, toured the Cabinetworks manufacturing plant, and heard from officials and staff of the Guthrie Clinic.
“I am impressed with the vision of those who took the time to meet with my team and me and share their ideas,” Meuser commented. “I met so many people who are incredibly devoted to what they do and are excited to call Sayre their home. I look forward to working on their behalf in Washington on the many suggestions that were offered at these productive meetings.”
At the invitation of Linet McLinko, owner of Kisak Fair Trade, and Melanie Stratton, proprietor of Doggy Doos Boutique and Bakery, a small business listening session was held at Angry Burrito Company Bar and Grill on Lehigh Street. Attendees included Christopher Desrochers, vice president of Community Development; Henry Farley, mayor of Sayre Borough; David Jarrett, manager of Sayre Borough, and Timothy Hickey, South Waverly Borough Mayor. Business leaders joined with the Central Bradford Chamber of Commerce, the Central Bradford Progress Authority, the Sayre Business Association, and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce to discuss the challenges faced during covid, the recent addition of a community-driven trail project to enhance the area’s quality of life, a survey conducted to determine what residents want, and ideas they would like to see Meuser bring to Washington.
Meuser also toured Cabinetworks, a manufacturer that produces 10 million cabinets nationwide each year, with an estimated 550,000 of them installed in the homes of consumers across the country. Included in the tour were Tom Woods, plant manager; Jeff Counts, plant superintendent; Marla Zwas, chief legal officer; David Weathers, vice president of manufacturing, and Erin Smith, human resources manager. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., the company generates $2.2 billion in revenue a year and is the country’s largest independently owned manufacturer and distributor of kitchen and bath cabinetry. The plant in Sayre manufactures high-end components and employs 300 people. The company is the largest purchaser of green lumber in the cabinetry industry. The business manufactures the brands KraftMaid, Medallion, and Merillat.
The tour’s final stop was at the Guthrie Clinic, where Meuser met with Dr. Ed Sabanegh, president and CEO; Attorney Ken Levitsky, chair, and Henry Dunn, broker, Henry Dunn Inc. Representatives from the hospital described its rural comprehensive delivery systems, emphasizing the goal of keeping patients close to home while optimizing resources. The staff discussed teaching the next generation of physicians, their participation in clinical trials, and the use of cutting-edge procedures that allow patients to be treated with shorter hospitalizations, leading to quicker recoveries. Meuser was given a demonstration of the hospital’s DaVinci XI Robot by Dr. Nicholas Serniak. The surgical device shortens hospital stays and helps patients return to a normal routine in a shorter time frame.
“Those who live in Sayre are fortunate enough to have excellent and forward-thinking leaders,” Meuser emphasized. “Their focus on revitalization, education, hospitality, and recreation makes it a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
