Out & About: Afternoon tea benefits Ligonier Valley Education Trust

Nothing feels quite as fancy as sitting down to afternoon tea, at a table set with crisp linens, fine china and an array of dainty sweets and savories.

The Ligonier Valley Education Trust provided the elegant tradition at three seatings on April 30 at Connections Cafe in Ligonier.

Guests sipped Earl Grey or strawberry green tea and sampled traditional cucumber, smoked salmon and chicken sandwiches. Tiered trays held scones and dessert breads with lemon curd and honey ricotta.

Adding a sweet finish were tarts, cookies and a berry rosé gelee.

The picture-perfect repast was created by cafe owner Sharon Detar with assistance from her daughter, Baylee Detar.

Proceeds will help fund $500 grants that the trust offers annually to nonprofits located within the Ligonier Valley School District for programs and projects that have an educational component.

The trust is a fund within the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies within the Pittsburgh Foundation.

Grant applications will become available in August, said trust member Patsy Kennedy. Information is available on the group’s Facebook page.

Tea-sippers also had the opportunity to participate in a basket raffle, along with a drawing for a teacup and saucer from the highly collectible Shelley China line, whose pieces were prominently displayed in the historical drama, “Downton Abbey.” The set was an anonymous donation from a local teacup collector.

The tea was organized by trust member Peggy McDonald with assistance from Kennedy, Mary Lind, Pam Hysong, Jennifer Cooper, Madeleine Cooper and Layne Barr.

Seen at the third seating: Nancy Brallier, Theresa Kappel, Carol Cassler, Joyce McIntire, Emily Kiren, Lauren Friscella, Janet Callahan, Ronnie Findley, Phyllis Mrosco, Donna Gagliardo, Betty Karleski, Mary Marcum, Carol Fenton and Janet Smith.