"It was the first year we decorated the park," Roxanne Stangle, Minden town board member, recalled of the town's annual Christmas event. "When we turned the lights on, we went 'Oh, they're so pretty,' so we decided to make it a bigger deal."Although Stangle has run the event since its inception 25 years ago, Matt Bernard, another Minden town board member, is taking over this year. Santa will be available to visit with children Friday night, after he flips the switch to light up Minden Park at 6 p.m.There will also be carriage rides around Minden and fire pits down …