FINDING SOME DOWN TIME

Catching up with Diane Boland months after she and Richard Boland sold the Coarsegold Historic Village they owned for more than 40 years, it’s good to hear the community visionary is starting to relax a little.

“I’m sitting on the deck watching the water flow by,” Boland said last week. The biggest difference between now and before, she laughed, is in not knowing what day of the week it is.

But in no way has the maven slowed down completely, despite any such aspirations. Boland has continued to assist the new owners of the Village — Chukchansi Sovereign Enterprises, Inc. — in the transition.

While no Peddlers Fair is set for this Memorial Day weekend at the historic village, a dozen vendors will gather as is permissible while plans are made for a more traditional event over Labor Day weekend.

Boland herself is done shepherding these events but is happy to provide her institutional wisdom as needed as the tribe continues to develop its plan for the property.

“They’ve been wonderful and I’m here for them with any consulting they want.”

Leader for America

Meanwhile, Boland has had an opportunity to reflect on her years of local engagement after receiving the CrisCom Company’s 2025 Leader for America award earlier this year.

Established in 1997, The CrisCom Company is a nationwide governmental affairs, business development, grant writing and public relations firm.

CrisCom founded its annual “Leader For America” award to culminate its 10th anniversary in 2007. This award is The CrisCom Company’s highest honor, recognizing “those extraordinary leaders who have made a tremendous impact benefitting our nation in a positive way.”

The award was given to Boland in recognition of her extraordinary civic leadership and commitment to the Coarsegold community, CrisCom said.

Family, friends and community gathered at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Jan. 10 to recognize her volunteerism and elected officials presented several proclamations in her honor.

“To receive the Leader For America Award left me speechless,” Boland said.

“I am so proud to be an American and I am so privileged to live in this country. To live in a community where I have an opportunity to be of service and find creative ways of connecting with people has brought me much more joy than I have ever given.”

Organizers agreed the recognition was well deserved.

“For more than four decades, Diane has been the heart of Coarsegold,” said CrisCom’s CEO Chuck Jelloian.

“Her compassionate leadership and ability to support community institutions continues to make a lasting positive impact on the region. Her volunteerism and tenacity embody the very spirit of the Leader For America Award.”

Boland played a leading role in many of Coarsegold’s most memorable events including:

•Organizing the first parade on Highway 41, the first time the highway ever closed for a community event.

• Helping bring forward the first public powwow with the Chukchansi Tribe.

• Creating the Tarantula Festival, which gained national attention and appeared on the front page of The New York Times.

• Serving as grand marshal of the Coarsegold Rodeo and working behind the scenes for many years.

• Securing the corner of Highway 41 and Road 415 for the veterans memorial.

• Supporting local families through the Coarsegold food banks, which continue to serve the community today.

And for 46 years Boland ran the Coarsegold Peddlers Market, at one time one of the largest markets in Madera County.

She spent four years on the committee that rewrote the Coarsegold General Plan, serving as both president and member at-large. Her advocacy contributed to securing the stoplight at Highway 41 and Road 415, a major safety improvement for the community.

Along with these efforts, Boland helped organize Flag Day ceremonies, National Night Out, Easter celebrations and Coarsegold’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting, which she has kept going for 46 years.

In 2002, Diane founded the Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce and served on the board every year to date. She revived the Angels Among Us Award, helped award student scholarships and was Chamber Woman of the Year.

“I have never been so honored or so appreciative,” said of being named a Leader for America by CrisCom. “They acknowledged my 47 years of struggles and my joys and pointed out things I didn’t even think about that you do because you love your community and it never felt like work.”