Humboldt County has some of the highest pedestrian fatality numbers in the state. Thankfully, a large cultural change is taking over in local transportation planning. Under the banner of “Vision Zero,” transportation planners are imagining how we can manage our road network to reduce road fatalities down to zero. Sounds too lofty? Other jurisdictions have already seen significant improvements in road safety under this model.

What does Vision Zero look like? Addressing issues with investments in road safety, like Caltran’s new Broadway HAWK beacon to large planning efforts, like the Humboldt County Association of Governments’ Safe and Sustainable Transportation Targets. 

Alexis Kelso of Caltrans and Stevie Luther of HCAOG join Gang Green to talk about how their agencies are hard at work to save lives.

Want to learn more? Check out this cool video with safety improvement ideas that are being implemented across the world.

There is never going to be a shortage of makers in Humboldt County. There has always been a lot of value in the arts and crafts community at large.

Jason Lopiccolo, 38, is a full-time biologist and part-time high-end knife maker. At his day job for The Watershed Stewards Program, Lopiccolo is writing, analyzing data and helping onboard young scientists for a 10-and-a-half month program at various California sites.

After clocking a 40-hour work week, he devotes 25-30 hours of his remaining time to knife-making.

“You make time when you like doing something,” Lopiccolo continued. “I don’t know how long I can keep making it work as someone who produces knives.”

There are several ways to get your hands on one of Jason’s knives. You can find his available knives at a local vendor’s markets. You can work through a specialty cutlery shop in Sacramento. Or you can contact him directly through one of his various online avenues — via email, Instagram or his website.

At one point Lopiccolo did make direct sales through his website, but since he cannot keep things in stock regularly he refrains from using it anymore. In any case, roughly 60 percent of his sales are local and the rest are online, throughout the United States.

“It all started because I needed to do something with my hands,” said Lopiccolo.

Ten years ago, before forging with hot metals, Lopiccolo earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. In that time, he always worked and still needed to take out loans. He worked full time as an algal culturist growing microalgae for an oyster hatchery and also taught lab courses in various subjects (Invertebrate Zoology, Phycology, Intertidal Ecology) at Humboldt State while he finished up his master’s degree.

Ever since his arrival in Humboldt County, Lopiccolo hustled at his multiple jobs to pay his bills. Once his knife-making took off, it helped supplement his income enough to stay afloat.

“You’re surviving, but you’re sure as hell not thriving,” Lopiccolo said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Lopiccolo lost all forms of work, leaving him unemployed for six months. In that time, knife-making kept a roof over his head until he was hired for his current gig.

He wasn’t always good at it.

Lopiccolo was introduced to wood-spoon carving by his mother. She wanted all her children to make her wooden spoons for her 50th birthday. Lopiccolo really took to it. So much so that he would hold get-togethers called “Whittling Wednesdays,” where people went over to his house to carve spoons into the evening. He enjoyed it so much that it was the primary activity at his bachelor party.

It became the his gateway to knives.

“One summer I had spare time. On a lark I bought a cheap-o forge online and started hammering away,” Lopiccolo said. “My first knives were intended for spoon carving, and then I started making kitchen knives.”

Lopiccolo describes the first few knives he made as generally terrible. He learned, made mistakes, then made something decent and started selling a few. The very first knife he sold was around $40.

It began with a few posts on his personal Facebook page. People began to talk. Then he was approached by the Bayside Grange to start selling at one of their tables, there. After accepting their invitation, he got some more interest. From there, j.lopiccolo_blades on Instagram picked up the momentum and made him a local talking point.

Typically he makes batches of knives roughly ten at a time. Each one takes about 12 hours total to make. It has not been in any way profitable, but it has sustained itself. It’s obvious that Lopiccolo loves his craft, and most of the cost of each knife is to recoup the cost in materials and the time it took to make.

Sourcing the materials adds to the length of his process, but we live in an area that has plenty of beautiful woods to make handles out of, the most popular being redwood burl. There’s always a story to each piece that Lopiccolo works with.

Whenever he travels, he manages to bring home some new wood to craft with. While in Norway for his honeymoon — he’s married to Supervisor-elect Natalie Arroyo — he was given a block of birch that would not fit in his luggage. Determined, he pulled over at a gas station, bought a saw, and sawed the block of wood into pieces that would fit his luggage.

At the most recent North Country Fair in Arcata, one of his knives sold for $600. The most expensive knife he’s sold so far was just under $1000.

“I eventually made enough money to buy a digitally controlled kiln,” Lopiccolo continued. “It was probably the most important thing I could have done.”

Lopiccolo thinks of himself as a perfectly competent bladesmith, but wishes that he could pay to get some of his first knives back. Mostly because he thinks they are awful, but there is a little nostalgia behind it as well. He also considers offering to make newer, better knives for those people, but they are not interested in giving them back. They either gave them away as gifts or they now have their own sentimental value.

Your average home cook does not need the sharpest, most expensive knife. Those things don’t make it special. A local maker that spends hours crafting a unique, one-of-a-kind daily tool is special.

Lopiccolo knows it, and so do his customers.

“I never want to be a full-time knife maker.” Lopiccolo said. “ I think it would take the joy out of it.”

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Michael Joseph Maschmeier
July 29, 1951 – August 2, 2022

Mike was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Burlingame, California when he was a young boy. Mike was naturally athletic and grew up playing on many sports teams, with basketball being his favorite. Mike would find the best river fishing spots in his youth and fish all day, something that he fully enjoyed and that carried on throughout his life. He also cherished family-time with his parents and his three siblings: Bobby, Gina, and Carol.

Always enjoying adventure, in the early 1970s Mike embarked on a year-long travel and work journey throughout the United States. He visited many mid-west relatives and made many lasting memories. The best was meeting his future wife, Susan, at Mardi Gras.

Mike’s love of the outdoors brought him and Susan to Humboldt County where he studied wildlife at Humboldt State University. He went on to have a career as a California game warden for over 28 years. He had many stories of wild abalone busts, long night stake-outs, and the interesting people he met along the way. He spent many of his days off cheering on his sons at their basketball games and helping at his daughter’s dance productions. He also spent a lot of time hunting, hiking, and rock-picking abalone.

In addition to his career as a warden, he challenged his natural quick wit and pursued stand-up comedy. He advanced on the stage and with audiences quickly. Mike did comedy tours of the Pacific Northwest multiple times and always liked meeting and supporting the other comics.

After Mike retired as a comedian and game warden, he enjoyed the peacefulness of writing, being part of the rose society, volunteering for hospice and spending time on the Mattole River.

Mike even wrote a memoir, “An American Possibility,” that highlighted his many fun adventures and personal reflections.

Mike always treasured time with his friends and family and liked to connect at the holidays by baking and sending his Italian Catellate cookies every year.

Mike is survived by the joys of his life: Susan, his beloved wife of 48 years, children Carrie Badeaux and her husband Daniel, Joseph Maschmeier and his wife Jacqueline, and Michael Maschmeier and his wife Alexis, as well as grandchildren Echolette, Voxelle, and Benjamin. He leaves behind his brother, Robert Maschmeier, sister, Gina Maschmeier and her husband David Jackson, in-laws, John Kinsella, Joan and Richard Grue, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mike was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Helen, sister Carol, and granddaughter Emma.

Mike was fondly known to many as just Masch. His wit, laughter, optimism, intelligence, and loving spirit will be forever missed.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Mike Maschmeier’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Ellis John Rosdahl, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on August 5, 2022 after a short battle with cancer at the age of 82. Dad has joined the love of his life, Pearl Rosdahl, in Heaven. Mom meant everything to dad and he missed her so much after she passed in 2006.

Dad was born on April 5, 1940 in Central, Idaho. Dad was asked where Central, Idaho was, because we had never heard of the city. He said it wasn’t a city; it was just in Central Idaho. Dad attended schools in Nampa, Idaho.

At 17 years old Dad joined the Navy in 1957. Humorously, he would never disclose how he joined at 17 years old. He was on the USS Joyce and USS Larsen. He was a Sonarman and the ships were assigned to the area between Russia and Alaska to chase off the Russian subs. Dad was honorably discharged from the Navy as a Petty Officer 2nd Class and remained a reserve for the Navy until the 1970’s.

Dad and mom knew each other as kids in Idaho. He reconnected with mom in Oregon, and proposed to her after only one date. They were married to each other on July 22, 1961. They soon moved to Humboldt County and raised their four children in Loleta and Fortuna.

In the 1960s, dad worked for the Jacobsen dairy on Cock Robin Island, and the Christensen dairy in Loleta. In the 1970s Dad started working for Fortuna Ambulance and eventually purchased and ran the ambulance for 10 years. Dad was an excellent EMT I/II and even taught the EMT classes at College of Redwoods for three years. During this time frame, mom and dad started another business — Pearl’s Hobby Shop in Fortuna — and owned it for numerous years before selling it to their business partners. Dad then went to Pacific Lumber Company and worked for them for 24 years. He taught most of the employees at PL First Aid and CPR. People to this day mention that dad taught them at PL. Mom and dad then became caretakers for PL and Mendocino Forest at the Yager Creek property. Dad remained on the property after mom’s passing in 2006 and eventually moved to Scotia in 2018. Dad was also a volunteer fireman for Scotia Fire Department.

Dad was a magnificent woodworker and built beautiful furniture over the years. He was also a very good mechanic and loved to rebuild engines. He enjoyed going to the local casinos and was known to be a great poker player. He also enjoyed watching major league baseball games and going to the local horse races at Humboldt County Fair.

Dad leaves behind son, Jeff Rosdahl (Brenda), and grandchildren Derek Rosdahl and Janna Froeming; son, Jerry Rosdahl (Colleen), and grandchildren Nikki Rouzzo, Christopher Rouzzo, Anthony Rouzzo, and great granddaughter Riley Rouzzo; daughter, Deanna Toczyl, and grandchild Shawn Toczyl; son, Andy Rosdahl (Dawn), and grandchildren Harley Kilroy and Skylar Burkett. Dad and mom had numerous friends over the years, but the friends that we all remember the most were Sheri Chambers, and Dan & Chloe Krader.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Humboldt for their loving care. They were very helpful and compassionate for both dad and our family.

Dad was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery. Per Dad’s request, he was placed with mom, which showed how much they loved each other.

A potluck celebration of life for dad will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at the Scotia Fire Hall. Please contact the family if you have any questions.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ellis Rosdahl’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Our mother, Arlene Ruth Morris, passed away after a long illness Friday, October 14, 2022, in Eureka at 87 years old. She was a resident of Eureka for 47 years with her husband of 67 years, George W. Morris Sr.

Mom was born on Sept. 4, 1935 in Portland, Oregon and moved with her mom and dad to Lodi, where she graduated from Lodi High School in 1954. After high school she began her career with Bank of America in Lodi and continued it in Oakdale, Garberville, Eureka and Mckinleyville.

Mom’s interests included reading, crochet, knitting, sewing and RV travel. Her main interest was being a wonderful grandma to her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Thomas and Mary Mayers and her three siblings, Jack Mayers, Margaret Neal, and Ed Mayers. She is survived by her husband George, her sons George Jr. (Kim), Jeffery (Cindy) and her daughter Michelle Steinman (Mitch). She is also survived by her niece (little sister) Linda Barker (Roger) and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial/graveside service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Ct. Eureka CA, 95503.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Arlene Morris’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Leila F. Schnyder
Feb. 6, 1940 - Oct. 12, 2022

She was born to Fletcher and Gladys Franklin in San Francisco.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lynn and great-grandson Jacoby. She is survived by her husband, Ralph; son, Kenneth; grandchildren Kathryn (Shawn), Stephanie (Jose) and Benjamin; great-grandchildren Alexa, Raymond Otis,Ava, Amanda, Zuri and King.

She worked for Eureka City Schools for 37 years (Franklin and Lafayette schools ). She retired in 1999.

I would like to thank all who reached out to give support, especially our niece Laura, who was there full time. Also Claire and Bernie, Colette, Tom and Carrie, who did all-nighters. I also greatly thank Hospice for all their support and kindness.

Leila requested no services. In lieu of flowers we suggest a gift to Hospice of Humboldt.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Leila Schnyder’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Kenneth Eldon Fraser (Kenny) was born October 26, 1945 and passed away in the early morning of October 14, 2022, only 12 days before his 77th birthday.

He was a Humboldt native and lived most of his life in Blue Lake on Liscom Hill on the family’s ranch.

He was preceded in death by his mother Marie Fraser, his father Bruce Fraser, his sister Margorie Burgess, and his brother Robert Fraser. He is survived by his brother (Bill) William Fraser (DaVita), his nephew Darren Moug (Julie), his niece Bobbie Marie Paz and nephew Billy Bob Fraser, and numerous family and friends.

Services will be held at Paul’s Chapel 1070 H Street, Arcata, on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 11 a.m. Viewing from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Interment will be at Arcata Greenwood Cemetery directly after service. Please donate to Hospice of Humboldt or your favorite charity.