I was introduced to Littlerock by my father in the early 1960's, at about the age of 9 during a series of family weekend trips. The Antelope Valley and its various communities were always very accommodating, close enough for convenience yet very out of the way and offered a plethora of activities that we enjoyed. We'd come to the area from Glendale California for, Camping, Fishing, Hunting, and Drag Racing!

Back in those days the area was very rural and Littlerock was mostly made up of fruit orchards and tiny townships catering to the locals and travelers.

Memories for me include taking Highway 2, Big Tujunga Canyon or the old Sierra Highway as Highway 14 was still unfinished and didn't go all the way through to the Antelope Valley yet!

The route and ride depended on final destination; it could be Littlerock Damn, the Fin and Feather Club, (which we called the reservoir), The Drag Strip (which went by several names through the years) Devils Punch Bowl, Jackson Lake or Wrightwood among others.

It seemed that Littlerock was always a place to take a break, maybe get something to eat or stop at an orchard to buy a little fruit for a snack and take some home for our lunches during the week. Many of the stands allowed us to pick our own if we were inclined.

During that period my father had considered moving out of Glendale, we looked at several communities and Littlerock was one of them. Finally, in 1969, my father remarried and purchased a house in nearby Wrightwood where we started a new life with my stepmother who had her two children of her own.

I spent my adolescent years in Wrightwood and went to Jr. High in Hesperia. During fruit picking season, my step mother would load us up in the family station wagon and we'd head down the back route from Wrightwood to Littlerock to pick fruit. Once we got home she would boil the fruit, while we kids would clean and peal the bounty for pies, jams and jellies.

My new step brother and sister we quite a bit younger and would often stay at home while my father and I still took part in familiar activities in the area on the weekends. These activities had become a tradition between the two of us. Fishing, Hunting and Drag Racing was always on the itinerary and the Antelope Valley was the place to go.

Every other weekend I would go to see my mother who still lived in Glendale and, as always, Littlerock was the place to stop with a visit Charlie Browns for a shake becoming part of the routine.

After Junior High I moved back to Glendale and attended Hoover High School. On the now routine weekend visits to my fathers the trip went in the reverse order, and as always, Littlerock was still a stopping point to see familiar places and friends.

In high school my major educational interests were music, art, video, stage production and business. It was at this stage in life I also developed a knack for street and road racing with VW's and Corvair's that carried over into my interest in organized racing in later years.

Upon graduation I pretty much immediately went into the stage and touring production industry and did some musical instrument repair when offered.

I eventually moved to the Northwest in the late 70's and worked independently in the touring industry. I ran a couple of business of my own, married and went to work as a general manager for a video rental company. I lived in several very rural towns during my time in the Northwest but after several very wet years I ended up moving back to Southern California because, "Californians don't tan in the Northwest, they rust" and I had all that I could take.

My wife and I moved to Pinion Hills and at the time it was very rural, it was close to my father and my immediate family in Wrightwood and for the first couple of years I worked part time and went back to school to become an Emergence Medical Technician and Fire Fighter. I graduated top of my class and ended up as an on-call fire fighter and EMT for the Pinion Hills and the Wrightwood fire departments. Work was slow because the only time you got paid was if the beeper went off so I eventually got a job with the Forest Service on Engine 44 out of Valyermo California. Lay Offs decreed that I continue my search for a full time job as a Fire Fighter or EMT in both San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties.

The search seemed fruitless even though I was very qualified; the economic conditions of the time, the commuting distance for worthwhile opportunities and ineffective and misunderstood application of the new affirmative action policies of the times closed many doors to me that I would have hoped to be open. In response, I made the decision to start up and run my own production business again, the only drawback was that I had to do a lot of commuting to the Los Angeles area. So, we moved our family (one boy and one girl) to Palmdale to be closer to Los Angeles, I eventually got an excellent job working for a production company, was able to save some money and we eventually relocated to Burbank California.

In 1987 I, again, went into being an independent entertainment production specialist and consultant in themed environments and live touring variety shows. In 1988 I started Automated Entertainment which has become very diversified throughout the years. As with so many businesses and ventures, the current economy has had an impact but I still find myself in business!

My wife and I eventually divorced amicably, I found a new partner and purchased a home in Sun Valley, I also owned a large production facility and Art Gallery in North Hollywood. During this time I took on the nick name "Moldy Marvin" I became very active in organized Drag Racing and would spend a lot of time at L.A.C.R. in Palmdale and at the Dry Lakes track in El Mirage. After a few years my children graduated high school and as my business was negatively affected by the carryover effects of 9/11 I decided a change was in order and that I really needed to get out of the city.

Littlerock always was someplace that was familiar. Over the years it had become my de-facto home. I found myself most familiar and comfortable with the area and I loved the idea of rural living, Littlerock was close to the Drag Strip and not too far from El Mirage and so I purchased a home in Littlerock in 2002 and so HERE I AM!

Since 2002, I've become single again, and have become very active with our community, Seeing a great need after the closing of the Drag Strip in Palmdale, I've rallied for a safe racing environment for local kids, taken the lead in the organization and realization of several local fund raisers and special events, and have voiced my opinions for the rights of property owners and community members in regard to the County of Los Angeles concerning various issues that have been addressed over past years.

On multiple occasions and by a variety of individuals and groups I have been asked several times throughout my residence to run for office and have declined until now.

While I have utmost respect for and like to believe I have an excellent rapport with the current members of the Littlerock Town Council, I also believe that many issues facing the community are currently at an unsatisfactory level of conclusion. I am very confident that I can be of assistance and bring a fresh prospective and focus to a wide range of issues and challenges that face our community every day. I can articulate my opinion and confer on issues without "bumping heads" as I truly believe that even though some of us have different ideas we must remember we are all neighbors and need to stick together in order to protect our way of living. Disagreement should not stop progress, differences can open us all too new solutions and new ideas and fresh prospective applied to a common goal is a positive.

The fact that I run my business here in Littlerock means I am here when needed. It means I am heavily vested in he community and its success. The independence of having my own business allows me to schedule my time around the community and its needs.

Littlerock and its future is on our hands, we need to protect our beloved little town, I've learned through the hard knocks of life, I've learned by doing and I believe that someone has to step up to the plate and do their very best to serve this community and the values that it stands for. With that in mind if you vote for me that is just what I will do!

Very truly yours,

Jeffrey W. Hillinger

Want to learn more about me?

Google: Jeffrey Hillinger or Moldy Marvin!