Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TEA PARTY- Vi Brooks, left, and Peggy Spellman, both of Simi Valley, examine items on the raffle table at Strathearn Park event. Ladies wearing wide-brimmed hats sat around tables adorned with silver trays of finger sandwiches, scones, sweet desserts and the essential ingredient for any English garden party: savory hot tea.

On stage, the Channelaire Chorus' 35-member performance team sang beautiful barbershop harmonies under the direction of Jacquie Fernandez.

"There's a Song in the Air" Friendship Tea, sponsored by the Simi Valley Historical Society, was held Saturday at Strathearn Park.

"It's a fundraiser and a people finder- a friendship finder," said Judy Pepiot, vice president of the historical society. "We need docents and people to get involved in the park. Unfortunately, people who've lived in this city for 20 or 30 years don't even know we are here."

Historical society president Karla Hubbell welcomed more than 130 guests to the event, which began at 1 p.m. and went until about 4.

SERVING FRIENDS- Merry Lynn pours tea for a table of friends at the Friendship Tea on Saturday. Community members were invited to "bring friends and meet new ones" at the tea, which included raffles and entertainment. Proceeds- which are still being tallied- will go to the historical society's many projects including the restoration of the original St. Rose of Lima Church and the old Simi Valley Barbershop, a recent addition at Strathearn.

Simi resident Vincent Pappler and his wife, Donna, attended Saturday's tea. In fact, attendance at the event was Vincent's idea in the first place.

"I saw the tea advertised and I know my wife enjoys teas so I asked her to come," said Pappler, whose mother, a native of England, introduced her daughter-in-law to the tradition.

"My husband surprised me with it. He knows I like to come to tea but I'm fairly new at it," Donna Pappler said. "He was very sweet and offered to bring me."

For just the second time, the Friendship Tea was held at the turnof-the-century barn at Strathearn, although scaled-down tea parties have taken place there in the past, Hubbell said. The barn was festively decorated with flowers and tables were covered in pink satin.

Pat Havens, city historian and the park's museum director, praised members of the historical society for transforming the barn into a perfect place for an upscale tea.

"It looks beautiful the way they (the event committee) decorated it. You can hardly tell it's a barn," Havens said. "We used to do a smaller version of the teas in the visitor's center. Each one is just a little more spectacular than the last."

The park's docents brought their best china from home for the table settings. Valene Williams, a historical society board member, together with other event hosts kept the tea flowing from silver-plated, ceramic animal figure and flower-painted teapots.

"Each hostess brings the china and accessories," Havens said. "The things everyone has at home that never get used."

One of the hosts offering scones and tea was Simi Valley Mayor Paul Miller.

"I'm delivering sandwiches to the tables. I got my arm twisted by Judy Pepiot who doesn't take no for an answer," the mayor joked.

Sandra Christopher, a 26-year resident of Simi, and her three daughters, Sarah, 23; Sharon, 18, and Ruth, 13, attended the tea party.

"I came to spend time with my mom and my sisters and enjoy the park," said Sarah Christopher, whose June wedding ceremony will take place at Strathearn Park.

Harold Dewitz drove the guests from the parking lot to the barn in a golf cart decorated with flowers.

"During these kind of events I get to come along with my wife, who's a docent here," Dewitz said. "This is the best job in the park, driving pretty ladies all day long."

Suzanne Clion, a docent for 17 years, summed up the day.

"It's a great day for everybody and it's a lot of fun," Clion said.

The Channelaire Chorus, a registered chapter of Sweet Adelines International, was organized in Ventura County in 1962 and has more than 100 members.