By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — The Nanticoke Senior Center plans to celebrate five decades of commitment to western Sussex County with a big bang.

Following Seaford City Council’s approval Tuesday, fireworks are scheduled to explode over the city-owned Hooper’s Landing Golf Course on Oct. 15, marking the center’s 50th anniversary.

The celebration will also commemorate its projected mortgage payoff for the West Locust Street facility, the former Seaford Golf & Country Club.

“They are excited to be celebrating their 50th anniversary in October and want to literally go out with a bang,” said Seaford economic development director Trisha Newcomer.

Council voted 5-0 to permit the request for fireworks from Brandy Widdowson, marketing/outreach coordinator for the facility. The approval was needed because there is a ban on fireworks in city limits.

The show will be staged by Brother’s Pyro of Bridgeville at 9 p.m. Oct. 15, timing that raised concern from Councilman/Vice Mayor Dan Henderson.

“Again, that’s why we are bringing it to council. Council would need to approve this operation because of the noise ordinance,” said city manager Charles Anderson. “Our code actually does not permit anybody to put off fireworks. Our process has always been, whenever we’ve had a request like this, council has to approve it to, in essence, waive the noise ordinance, allow the use of the property. In this case, we own it.”

He added that city staff looped many agencies in on the display, including the fire department, which he said had no objection.

The issue of insurance also has been resolved, Ms. Newcomer said.

The fireworks staging area will be between holes 1 and 14 of the golf course. “This is an area (that) sort of lends itself to not disturbing any play during Saturday. (The fireworks) do have to be set up well in advance,” she said.

Mayor David Genshaw asked about the length of the show, to which Aaron Jackson of Brother’s Pyro replied, “The length of this is going to be based on a budget. So we’ve already agreed on a budget with the senior center. We’re looking to have a show in the range of 10-15 minutes.”

The mayor was pleased with the plan.

“First off, I think people love fireworks. It’s a great way to celebrate. I know we have the stuff we have to work out internally but to celebrate something — what a great accomplishment,” he said. “To do this (in) an offseason is kind of neat and around such a special event.”

There is a rain date of Oct. 16.