The Arnold Arboretum will host a lecture on Monday, September 19, from 6:30 – 8 in the Hunnewell Building, 125 The Arborway, by Thomas N. Mather, Ph.D., Director of The University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter Resource Center. Occurrences of Lyme disease and related tick-transmitted illnesses (babesiosis, anaplasmosis (formerly human granulocytic ehrlichiosis or HGE) have reached near-epidemic proportions in some areas of New England. In Massachusetts, however, there was a statewide decrease of 35.6% in reported cases of Lyme disease from 2009 to 2010 according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Don’t be fooled though into thinking ticks and disease are going away, because 2011 has been an exceptionally ‘ticky’ year so far. Dr. Thomas Mather will discuss current trends in tick encounter risk as well as his efforts to help individuals and communities prevent tick bites and Lyme disease. Fee: Free for Arnold Arboretum members, $15 nonmembers.  Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.