‘Decorate the OC’ initiative to make decorations available to local groups

People working on floats for upcoming lighted parades welcome to check inventory on Sunday

Photo by Tom Rivers: Susan Oschmann, left, and Lynne Menz sort through some of the decorations owned by Menz’s cousin, Bill Goss. Oschmann is chairwoman of the committee planning Albion’s Christmas Parade on Dec. 12. She said there is a bountiful supply of decorations to help people with their floats at upcoming holiday parades. The decorations will be available on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Trolley Building at the fairgrounds.

By Isabella Zasa, staff writer

KNOWLESVILLE – Lynne Menz, a Medina native, Carlton resident, active volunteer and semi-retired creative director with the Orleans County Tourism Office, has found herself busy in a new role as estate administrator for a late family member’s home in the Hudson Valley.

Provided photo: William Joseph Goss or “Cousin Bill” is pictured in 1983 with his dog Brandy.

William Joseph Goss, known as “Cousin Bill” to the Menz family, died Dec. 21, 2025, at the age of 77 from natural causes in his home in Troy, NY. He was laid to rest with full military honors at Saratoga National Cemetery.

Bill was a foster child after his mother died when he was young. He went on to serve as a Vietnam veteran, work as an engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation and become a jazz DJ at an Albany radio station.

Each year, Bill joined the Menz family for its traditional Thanksgiving celebration, staying at Menz’s home and spending time on his arts and crafts projects. She recalled him stitching together leaves and looking forward to attending Medina’s annual Parade of Lights.

“He was a deeply creative and festive soul,” Menz said. “He was a curator and a crafty person. Decorating was his creative outlet after having a rough childhood.”

Bill’s home reflected that creative spirit year-round, with decorations displayed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The building also housed tenants, who nicknamed him “MacGyver,” Menz said. Bill was always searching the property for decorations, many of which were stored in several large bins

According to neighbors, Bill devoted nearly every waking hour to decorating his property, regularly changing displays to reflect the seasons. His home became a local landmark, and he was known for going above and beyond with his elaborate displays. Menz said there is even a photo on Google Earth showing Bill atop his roof, putting up decorations.

“His house was an attraction. People would always stop to take photos year-round,” she said.

As Menz and her family began cleaning out the estate, they discovered what she described as a Pandora’s box: a garage filled with holiday decorations. With the family’s permission, Menz brought the collection home and arranged to donate the decorations Bill had displayed on his property to Orleans County.

“It’s mind-blowing, as some of the items are brand new,” Menz said.

The leaders of the upcoming Christmas parades in Albion and Medina helped organize the items today for a sale on Sunday. Jim Hancock is the chairman of the Parade of Lights in Medina on Nov. 28 and Susan Oschmann is the chairwoman of the Albion parade on Dec. 12.

After making five or six trips between Carlton and Troy, Menz transported hundreds of high-quality decorations back to Orleans County as part of a new initiative she is calling “Decorate the OC.”

To help distribute the collection, Menz consulted with Gregory Hallock, executive director of GO Art!, and Robert Batt, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension. GO Art! has already put some of the decorations to use for its Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations.

Menz, her family and volunteers are organizing the fall and Christmas decorations in the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The collection will include lights, lanterns, ornaments and decorative materials that can be used to enhance parade floats and seasonal displays.

Menz said the decorations will be for sale on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All proceeds from the project will be donated in Bill’s memory toward construction of the GO BARN! GO Art! is working to make the GO BARN! a cultural and agricultural center at the fairgrounds.

“My cousin left behind a legacy, which was to decorate, and I want to carry on his legacy,” Menz said. “I want to give back to my county and community.”

Most items will be available for $1 each or through a freewill offering. Some items may be priced higher, particularly those that are brand new. Menz said the collection includes high-quality decorations originally purchased from retailers such as Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and department stores.

“I hope the community comes and sees all the beautiful decorations my cousin had,” Menz said. “They will get to be the beneficiary of his creative expression.”

This group is shown with items collected by William Joseph Goss. From left include Aeddon Cayea, community programs lead for the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County; Jim Hancock, chairman of Medina’s Parade of Lights; Robert Batt, CCE executive director in Orleans County; Lynne Menz, cousin of William Goss; and Susan Oschmann, leader of the Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade in Albion on Dec. 12.