William B. Cashion Senior Center sees big membership growth; city funds senior transportation pilot

Emily Comrade, manager of the William B. Cashion Senior Activity Center, and Elaine Neishow, a deputy at the health department, told commissioners on June 30 that center usage and programming have grown substantially since the Manchester Health Department and the senior center formally joined operations in 2023.

Comrade reported average daily attendance rose from about 96 members in 2023 to about 170 in 2025 — a 77% increase — and that the center now serves roughly 883 members, up from 593 in 2023. "We're serving right now 883 members, and that's a 68% increase from the 593 that we were serving in 2023," Comrade said.

Program volume has increased as well: weekly program sessions rose from about 70 to 83 (an 18% increase), and the center reported 157 new members in the first six months of the year. Comrade credited volunteers and a friends group, a 501(c)(3) that raises money specifically for the center, for subsidizing activities and equipment such as upcoming purchases of a new bingo machine or landscaping.

The meeting also covered the city’s age-friendly planning work. Elaine Neishow summarized a consultant-led process to gather survey and focus-group input and produce an Age-Friendly Action Plan aligned to the World Health Organization and AARP frameworks. The consultant’s draft is due by June 30; the plan will be presented to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for acceptance and the advisory council will transition to an implementation group if accepted.

Transportation was a recurring topic. Staff described a senior transportation project that will address obstacles that keep older residents from using existing bus routes — including misinformation about bag limits and unfamiliarity with routes. The city raised $30,400 in sponsorships from a mayor’s luncheon; staff said those funds are earmarked to support the transportation effort. "We were able to raise and the mayor did confirm earmarking over $30,000 — $30,400 — for the transportation project," Neishow said.

Staff described targeted actions such as bus-buddy guided tours, complimentary trial passes and multilingual education campaigns to increase ridership among older residents. The project will coordinate with Manchester Transit Authority programs such as bus-buddy training and information sessions at hospitals and other high-traffic sites.

Comrade and Neishow said the center’s expansion has increased demand for staff and space; the senior services budget is mostly on track for the fiscal year but overages are expected in utilities. Funding for programs comes from a mix of city allocations and external grants and donations. Neishow said two homeless lead nurse positions and one public-health specialist position were added to the city budget this year to bolster services across the department.

The center invited commissioners and board members to tour the facility after the meeting.