Some stray thoughts, while waiting for the summer heat wave to end:

• Whatever happened to those beautiful shade trees the MDC planted along the center strip of Gallivan Blvd.? Last look, they've all mostly vanished;

• What's the real story behind the UMass plan to build student dorms on its Columbia Point campus? And why are so many neighbors so skeptical about the school's motives?

• Sure, the baseball strike threat can be seen in some towns as a major annoyance, but with the Red Sox, it's likely to be met with a sense of relief among their long-suffering fans. Even with the new ownership, it seems our Olde Town Team is destined for the same old disappointments;

• And now we know why John Henry's crew want to serve alcoholic beverages outside the ballpark: now Sox fans can enjoy the baseball experience without ever having to enter that "lyrical little ballpark";

• Is there any local TV program more revealing than Joe Heisler's "Talk of the Neighborhoods" on BNN cable? His phone-in and talk show forum last week with Speaker Tom Finneran was tops;

• Gerard Adomunes has found the secret to great taste with his new menu, and the gourmet pizza at Gerard's is the best;

• And while we're at it, here's a salute to Arthur Donovan, who continues to offer Dot's best take-out food. The lobster salad rolls at Patty's Pantry are simply terrific;

• What's going on at the Boston Globe? Is there anyone left there who can find their way around the city? Last weekend's front page photo showing activities in Southie's Maryellen McCormack project was labeled "Dorchester," and Monday's paper blamed the error on the poor photographer. Another reporter gleefully described "Adams Square" as a hotbed of political activity. What, exactly, is Adams Square? Isn't there an editor left at the Globe who could have spotted these mistakes? Too bad. The Globe people seem to know our city about as well as they know, well, Miami;

• Is here any chance the reconstruction work on the Beades Bridge will be finished anytime soon? It's a puzzle why the contractor seems to take so long in making the repairs;

• The same problem is afflicting Lower Mills, where the long-delayed rebuild of the historic Roper Bridge got underway this year and has caused big problems for many small merchants in the village. Neighbors worry about what traffic will be like there when the new Shaw's Market is ready next spring;

• Great news for mocha soda lovers: Although yet another neighborhood Brigham's ice cream parlor shut down this summer- this one in South Boston- the store in Mattapan Square continues to thrive, and it's open late on weekend nights as well;

• And let's be thankful for David and Robyn Mabel's Ice Creamsmith on Dot Ave, which continues to do great business. The lines on a Sunday summer night are reminiscent of the scenes at the best ice cream parlors at summer resorts on the Cape. Plus the Mabels keep their business open right through Thanksgiving day.

-Ed Forry