An Anthony's popular quadrennial celebration may disappear from next year's calendar - an idea that is making leapers unhappy.
Anthony's Chamber of Commerce has decided to cancel its unique Leap Year Festival for 2012.
Anthony, Texas, Mayor Art Franco said the chamber of commerce has decided not to host the festival again and has asked the Town of Anthony to take over the event, Franco said.
"But the Town of Anthony can't do it itself," he said.
Anthony Texas and Anthony, N.M., were proclaimed as the Leap Year Capital of the World in 1988 and a festival was held every Feb. 29.
The Anthony Chamber of Commerce did not return calls Tuesday seeking comment.
Raenell Dawn, co-founder of the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies, said that the Anthony Chamber of Commerce has not come up with an explanation why the event was canceled.
The idea of the Anthony Chamber of Commerce to use the extra day to have a festival was "awesome" because it helped to promote the town, Dawn said.
"The fact that they are canceling it is causing quite the uproar in all the leapers," she said. "It's not just our birthday; it's everyone's extra day."
Dawn said people contact the honor society every four years about the festival and
this time they have not been able to provide an answer to the reason there is not going to be a festival.
Dawn is also a member of the World Wide Leaper Birthday Club that Mary Ann Brown, from Anthony, N.M., started in the late 1980s.
Brown founded the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club at the time the chamber voted to proclaim Anthony as the Leap Year Capital of the World.
Dawn said she is trying to contact the Texas and New Mexico governor offices in her effort to try to preserve the event. Then Texas Gov. William B. Clements and New Mexico Gov. Garrey Carruthers joined the special proclamation in 1988.
"Somebody needs step up and take over the festival," she said.
Information: www.leapyearday.com
Aileen B. Flores may be reached at aflores@elpasotimes.com; 546-6362.