In a 1967 Life magazine story, the late William Stryon was quoted as saying: “Writing is a cruel and wracking pursuit. I hope none of my children follow in my path.”

Alexandra Styron has done just that, and in her book — Reading My Father — she has found a lifeline away from the scar tissue of her upbringing to a deep and compelling portrait of a complex person — father and writer.

Two Vineyard teams, boys’ tennis and girls’ lacrosse, clinched Eastern Athletic Conference titles this week. Both are undefeated in league play this season, and boys’ tennis has not lost at all.

Softball plays three home games this week, taking on Advanced Math and Science Charter School in a double header tomorrow (play begins at 11:30 a.m.), Randolph on Monday at 3:15 p.m., and Chatham on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.

Watchstander

Ron Walsh of Edgartown has been certified as a qualified communications watchstander at the United States Coast Guard Station Menemsha. Watchstanders monitor several Coast Guard radio channels for distress calls and dispatch Coast Guard search and rescue vessels.

Mr. Walsh, a member of the Martha’s Vineyard detachment of the Coast Guard auxiliary, underwent eight months of training to become a watchstander. Mr. Walsh is also qualified as a Coast Guard auxiliary vessel examiner.

Hello Frances

Angie Francis and James Moffatt of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a daughter, Frances Anne Moffatt, born on May 10, 2012 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Frances weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces at birth.

Welcome Leticia

Ariadne Amarins de Oliveira and Wesley de Oliveira of Edgartown announce the birth of a daughter, Leticia Amarins de Oliveira, born on May 11, 2012 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Leticia weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce at birth.

Emily Drazen and Peter Keene of Chilmark announce the birth of a son, Liam Michael Keene, born on May 10, 2012 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Liam weighed 8 pounds, 6.5 ounces at birth.

Committee Appointees

The Edgartown selectmen Monday appointed members to a newly-configured town dredging advisory committee.

Gary Look from the marine advisory committee, Edward W. Vincent Jr. from the conservation commission and Ralph Case from the shellfish committee were appointed to the committee, with selectman Margaret Serpa voting against the appointments.

When the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority ticket office opens Monday for the summer season there will be plenty to see inside and overhead. Margot Datz, a much celebrated Edgartown artist, this winter completed a 70-foot mural that spans three overhead walls. The painting was commissioned by the Steamship Authority last fall and it took her, with other projects, a winter to complete.

The town of Tisbury is struggling to say sayonara to Japanese knotweed at the Tashmoo Overlook. The invasive plant has flourished in the area after being accidentally shipped in by the state Department of Transportation a decade ago.

At the Tisbury selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, board chairman Tristan Israel, who lives in the area, outlined the town’s struggles with the foreign invader. Mr. Israel said that the state built a drainage ditch at the corner of Snake Hollow and State Road about a decade ago.

Citing a near monopoly of the Island’s propane supply, a new player hopes to enter the Vineyard energy market this year.

John Rymes, owner of Rymes Propane & Oil, a family-owned business based in Pembroke, N.H., appeared before the Tisbury selectmen on Tuesday to request a license to store 16,500 gallons of propane on property owned by Goodale Construction off of High Point Lane in Vineyard Haven. The selectmen approved the license, which is still subject to review and approval from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.