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- Issue #330: Tampa Bay Spotlight: Rays’ Montgomery Shines, USF Innovates, & KFC’s Wedges Make a Comeback! ⚾🍟
Issue #330: Tampa Bay Spotlight: Rays’ Montgomery Shines, USF Innovates, & KFC’s Wedges Make a Comeback! ⚾🍟
3/12/2025
Ted Grellner
12 Mar
Keep your finger on the Pulse!
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
Local News
— USF’s Yu Zhang Leading the Way in Advanced Air Mobility Research
— Ryan Quattlebaum Welcomed Back as CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
— KFC Brings Back Fan-Favorite Potato Wedges—But Only in Tampa
Sports
— Rays’ Mason Montgomery Dominates After Move to Bullpen
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USF’s Yu Zhang Leading the Way in Advanced Air Mobility Research
Yu Zhang, Ph.D., a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at USF and Program Director of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), is making significant strides in integrating AAM into multimodal transportation systems. Her pioneering research has positioned USF as a key player in this emerging field.
Prof. Zhang’s work includes urban air mobility network design, demand estimation, and automated pre-departure flight planning for high-density eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) operations. Her system performance simulations have garnered international attention, highlighting USF’s contributions to modern transportation solutions.
In November 2023, Prof. Zhang was invited to join the FDOT AAM Advisory Committee, and in February 2025, she was appointed to the City of St. Petersburg’s AAM Task Force, where she helps guide policy and planning decisions.
For more information, visit CUTR’s Advanced Air Mobility page.
Ryan Quattlebaum Welcomed Back as CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) hosted a meet & greet event on January 29 to welcome back Ryan Quattlebaum as its new president & CEO. Quattlebaum, formerly the CFO at AHWC (2020-22), returns after serving as president & CEO of AdventHealth North Pinellas. He succeeds Erik Wangsness, who has moved to AdventHealth Tampa.
The event, attended by over 100 guests, featured an introduction by Chaplain Danny Sierra, who emphasized the joyous occasion with a Bible passage. Quattlebaum expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the presence of elected officials, hospital staff, and board members.
“I’m beyond blessed to be back,” he said, highlighting his deep roots in AdventHealth and his personal connection, as his youngest daughter was born at AHWC. He pledged to ensure that every patient receives compassionate care, reinforcing his commitment to people-first leadership.
Read More: neighborhoodnewsonline.net — for more info on AdventHealth
KFC Brings Back Fan-Favorite Potato Wedges—But Only in Tampa
KFC’s beloved potato wedges are back—but only for two weeks and only in Tampa. The crispy, golden wedges, discontinued in 2020, have been one of KFC’s most-requested menu items for five years.
Starting March 10, the wedges will be available exclusively at five Tampa-area locations for a limited time. If the test run is successful, KFC may consider a nationwide comeback.
A KFC spokesperson explained that Tampa was chosen as a test market due to its representation of national fast-food trends. Fans can order the hot, crispy wedges in-restaurant only, either à la carte or as a side option—but not through delivery apps.
Participating KFC Locations:
📍 Tampa – 1605 W. Kennedy Blvd & 4402 W. Gandy Blvd
📍 St. Petersburg – 770 34th St. N.
📍 Auburndale – 3105 Havendale Blvd
📍 Bartow – 1492 N. Broadway Ave
Will Tampa bring the legendary wedges back for good? Time will tell!
Rays’ Mason Montgomery Dominates After Move
to Bullpen
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Mason Montgomery has quickly become a force in the bullpen after switching from a starter to a reliever in August 2024. Since the move, he has struck out nearly half of the batters he’s faced, holding opponents to a .169 batting average.
The 24-year-old left-hander saw his fastball velocity jump from 93-94 mph to 97-98 mph, a change that stunned even him. “I honestly didn’t know I could throw that hard,” Montgomery admitted. Rays manager Kevin Cash echoed the surprise, noting how well Montgomery has adapted.
After a rough stint in Triple-A Durham (0-7, 7.04 ERA), Montgomery embraced the transition. He debuted in the majors on Sept. 5, 2024, finishing with a 1.86 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. Now, he is expected to play a key late-inning role for Tampa Bay in 2025, with some even eyeing him as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate.
One astonishing but lesser-known fact about relief pitching is that relievers often perform better in high-leverage situations than starters do—not just because of their skill sets, but due to a physiological advantage known as the "max effort" effect.
Unlike starters, who must pace themselves over multiple innings, relievers can throw each pitch at near-maximum intensity. This often leads to an increase in velocity (sometimes by 3-5 mph), sharper breaking pitches, and a lower likelihood of fatigue-related mistakes.
Additionally, studies have shown that hitters struggle more against relievers they haven’t faced before. This is because batters rely heavily on pitch recognition, and with limited exposure to a reliever’s mechanics, movement, and velocity, their reaction time is reduced—giving relievers a built-in edge.
This explains why some pitchers, like Mason Montgomery, see a dramatic rise in effectiveness when transitioning from a starting role to the bullpen.
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25 Biggest Music & Comedy Acts Coming to Tampa Bay
& Sarasota thru March
Source: heraldtribune.com
Best Live Music in Tampa Bay
3/21 - 3/28
Source: cltampa.com
Top Things to do Around Tampa & WC
3/6 - 3/12
Source
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Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links
The Arts
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series
Theater
-NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre
Misc
For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids
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