Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Glenn M. Zafonte of West Orange, N.J., writes angrily of a frustratingly inconvenient experience he had recently in getting ferry space leaving the Vineyard (Vacation Ruined, Sept. 7). His anger is directed at the SSA, which he believes, “does not seem to care . . . has no heart . . . [and] makes little effort to be friendly or cordial.” I could not disagree more strongly, and our experience with the SSA could not be more different than what Mr. Zafonte describes.

We have lived on the Island year-round for 10 years and have been coming to the Vineyard for more than 45 years. During that time we have made hundreds of trips on the ferries. Without a single exception, we have never experienced problems like those about which Mr. Zafonte complains. On the contrary, we have always found SSA service to be responsive to the needs of its passengers and we have always enjoyed efficient and courteous treatment from SSA employees, at all three terminals and on the telephone. Again and again, over the years, we have remarked how flexible and accommodating the SSA has been when we’ve changed reservations at the last minute or showed up late for a boat . . . even on busy summer weekends.

Mr. Zafonte, too, has been “coming to the Vineyard for 25 years.” Is this unfortunate experience of which he writes typical of the service he’s received for all of those years? I suspect not, and I hope sincerely that he and his family will attempt to put this unpleasantness behind them, and look forward to enjoying future vacations on Martha’s Vineyard.

Leslie J. Stark, Vineyard Haven