On Friday, October 27, 2006, L.A. County Sup. Gloria Molina received the Service Award for her successful efforts to revitalize the L.A. River, San Gabriel River, and Rio Hondo at the Amigos de Los Rios Emerald Necklace Gala.  The environmentalist group—headquartered in El Monte and a champion of river revitalization projects along the L.A. River, San Gabriel River, and Rio Hondo—recognized Sup. Gloria Molina for the numerous river-related accomplishments along the San Gabriel Valley’s “Emerald Necklace.”  These include El Bosque del Rio Hondo, Lashbrook Park in El Monte, Thienes Gateway in South El Monte, Arrow Gateway Bike Rest in Irwindale, Lario Park at the Irwindale/Azusa border, the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds, the San Gabriel River Spreading Grounds, El Encanto in Duarte and Azusa, the Woodland Duck Farm in Bassett, and the San Gabriel River Discovery Center in Whittier.