image description — Donna Messenger, Dr. Gene Messenger and Mayor Richard Alcombright cut the ribbon to open Messenger's new offices on Curran Highway.

Messenger Opens Practice in Former Jae's Inn

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
03:38PM / Monday, June 28, 2010Print Story | Email Story

The new front office offers more space for staff; Donna Messenger selected the paint and decor.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The former Jae's Inn reopened this morning but its patrons won't be opening their mouths for sushi — though there may be some mouth-watering going on.

Instead they'll be opening wide at one of the area's largest, high-tech dentistry offices. Dr. Eugene "Gene" Messenger opened Monday morning in the new location at 1111 South State St. after being closed for a week to move from the former offices on East Main Street.

Most of those associated with the relocation and its funding, including Adams Co-operative Bank President Joseph F. Truskowski Jr., contractors and representatives from supply company Patterson Dental, along with Mayor Richard Alcombright were on hand for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Patients were already being seen since the practice opened at 7:30 a.m.

Exam and hygienists rooms run along a central corridor. Below, a new system allows 3-D imaging.

Messenger was obviously delighted with the outcome, pointing out the rocking chairs on the porch, the color scheme and decor selected by his wife, Donna, and the spacious layout, which includes two labs in the basement. The familiar fish tanks will be moved in sometime next week.

There are still a "few tweaks" to be made, said the doctor but the practice is up and running. The Patterson folk joked that with more space, he'll need more equipment.

"I can't buy anymore technology," Messenger countered. "You don't have any more. I have it all."

The new location offers a spacious and stylish change from the cramped quarters of the historic Victorian in which Messenger practiced for 18 years. ("We can have a party in the restroom here," quipped one staffer, alluding to the teeny bathroom in the old space.)

The waiting area has plenty of seating and flat-panel televisions; the rocking chairs on the enclosed front porch offer alternative seating. The front desk and support staff have at least triple the space they had before, most of it behind a long reception counter.

The space allowed for three more chairs to be added, upping the number to 11. Each of the dental hygienists have their own rooms; opposite those interior rooms are chairs looking out on onto the property's woods.

Messenger purchased the inn, once known as the Twin Sisters Inn, in March for $700,000 and put about $250,000 into the practice portion, including nearly $100,000 for new technology and equipment. The Messengers also plan to use the rear portion of the building as a residence. Donna Messenger said plans have been drawn up by Westall Architects but the couple will wait until their home on Natural Bridge Road and the Victorian on East Main are sold.

Working behind the bubble wall.

There's still some leftovers from Jae's Inn, particularly the "bubble wall" in what was the dining room. "That wall is why he bought the building," joked Donna Messenger. The Messengers were frequent patrons of Jae's and the doctor's favorite spot was next to the bubble wall.

Now the bubbling water wall acts as a divider between the front office and a large examination room.

It's a bit of the old re-purposed for the new. When Jae's closed, "you kind of wondered what the reuse of the this building would be," said Alcombright. "I think this will be a lasting and good reuse for the community."

For more information, contact Messenger's office at 413-664-6545.

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Your Comments

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Congratulations Doc. How exciting. You have worked hard and I am glad that you have been able to grow into the new building. Enjoy -
from: Mary Smith/Fort Worth Texas	on: 06-28-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

This gives new meaning to the phrases "home office" and "living over the store". My husband practiced dentistry in an office built just for him on the lower level of our home from 1970 to 2000. It was wonderful for the family and the community. Everything old is new again, as they say. Good luck
from: Helene Armet	on: 06-29-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The President of Adams CoOperative Bank is not Michael Trustkowski (first name wrong, Last name spelled wrong) it is Joseph Truskowski You should have the banks president name correct. He not only worked with you but was on hand for the opening. No one proofed this article ! Editor: You are correct. (egg on face).
from: Correction Officer :)	on: 06-29-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I don't think that the Adams Co Operative Banks president would be happy to read this article as printed. The president is Joseph Truskowski not Michael Trustkowski (first name wrong, last name spelled wrong) especially since the bank worked with Dr. Messenger and the president was there for the opening. It is apparent that this was not proofed before printing! Editor: Yes, big oops. It's been fixed. Just FYI: we have a tiny staff, no proofers and we don't print. We try but we err on occasion, so we depend on our faithful readers to point out our mistakes. Thank you.
from: BIG OOPS !	on: 06-29-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Congratulations Doc on your new home. Also, A BIG congratulations---->VOTED BEST DENTIST IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY!!!----How very true.
from: Don	on: 06-30-2010 09:18PM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
04:12PM / Wednesday, June 10, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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