Do We Beach House

Three team members from CROW — the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel — were celebrated among Southwest Florida’s best at the 26th Annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards, held Aug. 20 at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs.

Wildlife First Responder Chloe Manzelli earned an Honorable Mention in the Attractions category, standing out among 78 nominees. The recognition highlighted the night she helped return an osprey chick to its nest with help from the Pine Island/Matlacha Fire Department and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation — the mother osprey was back within five minutes. Fellow team members Amber Strassler, a certified veterinary technician and floor manager, and Pam Stoike, volunteer coordinator, were also nominated for their work caring for wildlife and the visitors who come to meet it.

Presented by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and The News-Press Media Group, the E Awards honored 596 nominees drawn from 984 nominations — a reminder that hospitality on the islands extends well beyond hotels and restaurants. Seeing wildlife rescue professionals take the stage alongside the region’s tourism standouts says something special about the character of Southwest Florida.

For guests, it’s one more reason a visit to the islands feels different: the people who look after the beaches and wildlife here genuinely care about both. CROW’s ospreys, sea turtles and shorebirds are as much a part of the local welcome as the sunsets.

Source: Fort Myers Beach Observer — CROW honored by Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (Aug. 31, 2026)