When Legionella bacteria is present, the people who are particularly at risk for becoming sick from it are the elderly and those with compromised immune systems or a history of respiratory problems. 

GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland Garden Club, town of Guilderland, and the Guilderland Historical Society are sponsoring a free educational seminar on Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses on May 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the cafetorium at Farnsworth Middle School at 6072 State Farm Road (Route 155) in Guilderland.

Emma Detlefsen, a third-grader at Berne-Knox-Westerlo, has been afflicted with a chronic disease since she was an infant. She and her family have chosen to face it with fundraising and lobbying.

Walter Cieszynski’s wife and son believe he acquired a tick-borne disease from a blood transfusion, although the Red Cross says he did not. There is no requirement to screen blood donors for the potentially fatal disease.

A 13-month cancer treatment plan calls for a young family to stay strong. And for a community to help.

Ticks can carry diseases besides Lyme, fatal diseases that few of us know about. 

Edie Abrams, an avid gardener, returned home after a week in the hospital — recovering from a tick-borne disease that can be fatal — and looked to see what flowers had bloomed in her absence. She discovered a tick crawling on her.