State Rep. Patricia Widlitz, a key longtime supporter of Roses for Autism, joins other officials Tuesday to celebrate a ribbon-cutting for the organization's expansion of its training center at Pinchbeck's Rose Farm in Guilford.

After more than nine hours of debate, the Connecticut House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to repeal the state’s death penalty, following a similar vote in the State Senate last week. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat, has said he will sign the bill, which would make Connecticut the 17th state — the 5th in five years — to abolish capital punishment for future cases.

Rep. Pat Widlitz, Branford Animal Shelter Director Laura Burban and Rep. Lonnie Reed outside the legislature's Planning and Development Committee' hearing.

State Representative Pat Widlitz with the Governor's Foot Guard on the Branford Green. Photo: Steve Mazzacane, The Branford Seven.

State Representative Pat Widlitz presents a $4,650 Barns Grant to help preserve Sperry's Broad Street cider mill.

Save the Sound Event with Rep. Reed.

Tom Pinchbeck and Rep. Patricia Widlitz showcase a variety of roses as Tom Fanning (second from right) holds an official state citation and Jim Lyman (right) looks on.

Paint Stewardship Bill signing with Governor Malloy.

Branford Shoreline East Commuter Lot opening - Branford 1st Selectman Unk DaRos, CT DOT Cmsr Redeker, Rep. Widlitz, Sen. Meyer, Congresswoman DeLauro, and Rep. Reed.

Comptroller Kevin Lembo, Rep. Widlitz, and Sen. Meyer at the Guilford Fund for Education Spelling Bee.

State Sen. Ed Meyer (D-Guilford), Branford First Selectman Unk DaRos, Guilford First Selectman Joseph Mazza and State Rep. Pat Widlitz gather in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford moments after DaRos and Mazza finished testifying before a special legislative committee about their municipal experiences during Hurricane Irene. The September 19 hearing took input from utility, telephone and cable companies as well as from municipal leaders and first responders on what went right and what went wrong during and following the hurricane and how power restoration and public safety can be improved in the future.

Rep. Widlitz (Right) at the Connecticut Tax Collectors Association Legislative Breakfast with Left to Right: Martin French (Durham Tax Collector), Debi Millano (Assistant Tax Collector, Guilford) and Senator Edward Meyer.

Pat and Rep. Reed walking with Brownie Troop 60096 in the 2010 Veterans Day Parade in Branford.

Pat brings out HB-5122, a bill which provides for safe disposal of paint while saving municipalities money. The bill passed the House of Representatives 141-0.

Rep. Patricia Widlitz and Rep. Lonnie Reed met with the fourth grade class of Tisko Elementary School in the Hall of the House of Representatives at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

Advocating at the State Capitol on Thursday, March 18, in support of legislation that will place restrictions on the siting of new telecommunications towers were (from L to R) Branford Director of Economic Development Terry Elton, local activist Tim Snider, State Rep. Lonnie Reed (D-Branford), Branford First Selectman Anthony "Unk" DaRos, State Rep. Deb Heinrich (D-Madison, Guilford) and State Rep. Patricia Widlitz (D-Guilford, Branford).

Pat and Theresa Younger, Executive Director of the Permanent Commission for the Status of Women, are joined by youth from Guilford in the Legislative Office Building.

Rep. Widlitz speaks at a news conference on July 29, 2009, at Branford Point to advocate for improving the water quality and cleaning the beaches along Long Island Sound.

Rep. Lonnie Reed, Rep. Pat Widlitz, Jennifer Lamb (director, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's office), Guilford Selectman Veronica Wallace, Rep. Deb Heinrich and Sen. Ed Meyers at the Soundview Family YMCA groundbreaking in Branford.

Rep. Widlitz and Guilford First Selectman, Carl Balestracci, participated in Guilford's Veterans' Day ceremony on the Guilford green. Pat read a proclamation in honor of our country's veterans from Governor M. Jodi Rell.

State Rep. Patricia Widlitz, D-Guilford, speaks during a press conference at Hammonasset State Park as state Sen. Ed Meyer, D-Guilford, listens in their presentation about the state of the environment in Connecticut and all the environmental legislative acts in place for 2008. Meyer, Senate chairman of the legislature's Environment Committee, gathered a group of state legislators and environmental advocates to celebrate the legislature's progress toward regulating green house gas emissions, improving waste disposal of electronics and keeping waterways clean. Peter Casolino, New Haven Register, June 30, 2008

Pat honored John and Catherine Crawford for receiving the United Way of Greater New Haven's Alexis De Tocqueville Award, and in further recognition of their years of outstanding service to the community.

DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy, honored Guilford as the first in the state to adopt Aquifer Protection Area Programs that help ensure clean drinking water for generations to come.

Pat and Rep. Panaroni with students in the House Gallery.

Guilford Meals on Wheels celebrates its 20th Anniversary! Thank you to those who have volunteered over the years!

Pat and Guilford resident Everett Barber were thrilled when Governor Rell signed the solar licensing bill.

Pat with constituents Nancy Matthews and Mary Wallace during their visit to the Capitol as Community Ambassadors for the American Cancer Society.

Pat with Rep. Panaroni, Rep. Heinrich and Sen. Meyer. The Shoreline legislators worked hard to secure funding for transportation initatives.

Rep. Widlitz commemorated Veterans Day on the Guilford Green with the Darrow Rebuzzini Post #48 of the American Legion.

Pat presenting a $250,000 check to the Stoney Creek Fife and Drum Corps for the restoration of Seaside Hall.

Happy 90th Birthday Marty Ford!

Pat volunteers at the Guilford Lobsterfest each year to raise money for Meals on Wheels.

Pat welcomes hundreds of students from the district to the Capitol every year.

Pat is joined by Sen. Joe Lieberman and Atty General Richard Blumenthal to promote landmark climate change legislation to reduce green house gas emissions.

DJ John Seville and Janice Ametrano, President of the Guilford Interfaith Ministries, at a Veterans’ Day Dinner.

Sandy Breslin presents the Legislative Recognition Award to Pat from the Connecticut Audobon Society.

Pat was the Connecticut Water Works Association’s Legislator of the Year. Present was Carlene Kulisch of Branford.

Pat rails against the Islander East Pipeline at a rally on the Branford Green. She has been a leading advocate to preserve Long Island Sound.

Pat was honored by the CT Forest and Park Association for legislation requiring ATV operators to carry written permission from property owners.

Pat joins Park and Rec. Director Rick Maynard, Laura Parretta and her children playing on the new playscape at Jacob’s Beach. Pat secured $50,000 for the project.

Pat treats the Guilford High School State Champion Basketball team to a ride on a fuel cell bus.

Opening day at Rentschler Field.

Guilford High School students experimenting on the "Bio Bus." Pat received an award from CURE for promoting the advancement of biotechnology.

Some of Pat’s younger constituents root on the National Champion UConn Husky Women Basketball Team.

Pat chillin’ out at a dog sled camp in Alaska.