The Mission Hill Post 327 sponsored a boat trip last month that departed from Marina Bay to view the awesome Tall Ships.

Our Commander, Col. George Rollins, organized the trip, and it was a nice day on the ocean for Post members, wives, and many guests, including Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan. The three O’Neill brothers, Jim, Kevin, and Jack were on the boat, as was James ‘Rabbit’ Ryan, formerly a Mission Hill track star. I enjoy chatting with these guys, particularly Kevin O’Neill, a prominent basketball referee who has more stories than Walt Disney.

Sitting next to me on the ship was charming Leona Dunphy, a bartender at the Hong Kong Bar in Boston. Leona is so nice that I’ll soon stop by her place for a beer.

The Mission Hill Post 327 will hold their annual Golf Fundraiser Saturday, Sept 19, at Norwood Country Club, starting at about noon.

The price is $125 per person for this terrific event that includes early snacks and dinner after golf and raffles. A hole in one on a few of the par three holes wins $500, and a grand prize of $15,000 will be awarded for a hole in one on the seventh hole.

Checks can be sent to our Commander, Col. George Rollins, 15 Kelley Road, Wilmington, MA 01887. The Colonel can be reached at (703)209-2124.

Some 250 boys and girls, ages 6 to 18, attended the annual Wayne Selden Basketball Clinic last month at Madison Park.

Selden, a former pro basketball player, outshined himself this year, giving away 80 pairs of Reebok sneakers, and everyone received an athletic shirt, including myself.

The Seldens are a wonderful Mission Hill family, and I enjoyed chatting with Wayne’s delightful mother, Lavette Selden. It was a great idea by Wayne to invite two Financial Literacy savants who spoke to the young athletes.

Thanks to Maria from Mike’s Donuts for dropping off boxes of donuts. The smaller kids especially liked the honey dipped munchkins.

Winnie Lyons, a kindhearted woman, who owned the popular Mission Hill tavern, Winnie’s Pub (later Flann O’Brien’s), passed away peacefully at age 90.

Winnie was born in Roxbury, and she lived her adult life in Jamaica Plain. She purchased what was then Larry’s Pub in the ‘70s, and soon a deep connection ensued between Winnie and her customers. I had much fun rollicking at Winnie’s and often Winnie, a terrific singer, would entertain us.

Winnie sponsored our softball team, and after the games, we’d bend our elbows at the tavern and talk about how good we played.

At Winnie’s once a month, we held our ‘Drinking and Discussion Club’ session, organized by Jack Kelley.

Jack was a terrific moderator who picked topics ranging from Plato and Socrates to the Red Sox or to ‘Dating in the ‘70s.’ It was riveting dialogue with Bill Mullin, Frank Dwyer, and others.

Nowadays an enlightened group discussion would be unlikely with the bar patrons glued to their cellphones.

The best thing I’ll remember about Winnie was her kindness to the elderly. Every St. Patrick’s Day and Thanksgiving, she would prepare dozens of great meals in the kitchen free of charge to Mission Hill senior citizens.

Good luck to Richie Curran, who will attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the fall.

Richie, from Mission Hill, played third base for Catholic Memorial and he helped C.M. win the State Baseball Championship. Richie plans on playing baseball at Massachusetts Maritime.

Richie’s late grandfather, also named Richie Curran, was my close friend and lunch companion, and he’d be so proud.

Young Richie’s brother, Noah Curran, will soon start his junior year at Catholic Memorial, and Noah also displays skill on the baseball diamond.

Dan Breen and his younger twin-brothers, John and Dennis, visited me at Mike’s Donuts last week for coffee while reminiscing about the old project days when we were neighbors at 32 Tobin Court.

Dan Breen was a great quarterback with a rocket arm for the Killilea Club beginning in the late ‘60s. When brilliant wide receiver Joe Corsetti, a former star at Villanova, joined the team, he asked his quarterback, “How far can you throw the ball ?”

Breen replied, “How far can you run?”

John Breen and Dennis Breen were also terrific Killilea Club football players .

Last month, I visited PhoRaya Thai Spa at 900 Huntington Ave. in Mission Hill, and I had the pleasure of being treated to an hour massage by Emma, a skilled masseur.

Massage is relaxing and a healthy endeavor that stimulates circulation and eases tired muscles. Mona is the proprietor of the spa, and I recommend this terrific Mission Hill business.

Condolences to the family of Maryanne (Shearns) Norton, who passed away last month.

Maryanne, a 1961 Mission High graduate, worked at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital for many years as an office administrator. She was aptly described by friends as a ‘True Mission Hill Girl,’ and she was a wonderful woman.

Donations in Maryanne’s memory may be made to Mission Church.

The Mission Hill excursion to Jo’s Nautical, a tavern in Hull with a large outdoor patio, was postponed last month until Saturday, Aug. 15, starting at 3 p.m.

The annual festivity is organized by Mike King from Calumet Street who now resides in Hull and is dubbed ‘Mission Hull Day.’

Maurice can be reached at mossymartin2@gmail.com.