The Story of a Sweet Business - CV Arts Foundation Speaker Series
Date and Time
Tuesday Nov 17, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST
Location
Center For The Arts
19501 Redwood Road, Castro Valley
Fees/Admission
Tickets are $10 at the door or online: cvartsfoundation.org or call 510-889-8961
Wheel chair accessible
Free parking.
Description
Halloween is over, but we’ll be serving candy treats at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, Tuesday, November 17 at 7:00pm when local philanthropist Erma Smith tells the Story of a Sweet Business. SweeTARTS, Nerds, and granola bars were just a few of the sweet treats invented by Erma’s father, J. Fish Smith.
During the Depression in Salt Lake City, $1000 was the start-up cash for an iconic American candy brand. Erma and her twin sister, along with the other three siblings worked after school and summers, pouring, stirring, and packaging to help with manufacturing. With determination, resilience, vision, and the help of his wife and five children, the candy business flourished. Erma will share slides and tales of what it was like to build a family business.
Please join us for the rest of the story.
This is the fourth event of the Castro Valley Arts Foundation Speaker Series.
