Winter Solstice 2009 in the Northern Hemisphere this December 21. During the winter solstice the sun hugs closer to the horizon than at any other time during the year, yielding the least amount of daylight annually. On the bright side, the day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days leading up to the summer solstice.

“Solstice” is derived from the Latin phrase for “sun stands still.”

Today’s Solstice chart shows a tight conjunction of the Sun to Pluto, planet of death and rebirth, suggesting that something will end during this period and something born anew. Because Pluto is still widely challenging Saturn in a square formation this change and transformation will likely not come easily. Something that is already established (Saturn) will have to be surrendered (Pluto) in order for evolution to occur.

Public Schools in Florida are suspended on Monday and Tuesday due to Hurricane Ida. But the closure of schools will extend on Wednesday for the Veterans Day.

BTW here are the lists of Closing Schools:

• 1st Baptist CDC Bay Minette daycare will be cloed Monday.
• Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy (Baldwin County) Closed Monday and Tuesday.
• Baldwin County Catholic Schools will be closed Monday.
• Baldwin County Public Schools will be closed Monday.
• Bayside Academy will be closed Monday.
• Central Christian School of Baldwin will be closed Monday.
• Jubilee Christian Academy will be closed Monday.
• Learning Tree Preschool Fairhope is closed following Baldwin county recommendations.
• Little Ducklings Child Care in Daphne will be closed Monday.
• Mobile County Catholic Schools will let out early at 12:30pm
• Open Door Christian School and Day care- Foley- Closed Monday.

OTHER CLOSURES

• ALL Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System (BRATS) Routes will be
• CANCELLED Monday, November 9, 2009.
• All Baldwin County Judicial Courts and Court Proceedings will be
• CLOSED on Monday, November 9, 2009.

Hurricane Ida has weakened to a Category 1 with 90 mph winds, but warnings remain along 200 miles of the Gulf Coast from Mississippi to Florida.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reports that the hurricane weakened early Monday from a Category 2 storm and now has 90 mph winds.
It could make landfall as early as Tuesday morning, although it was forecast to weaken further. There were no immediate plans Sunday night for mandatory evacuations.

A hurricane warning has extended from Pascagoula, Miss., east to Indian Pass, Fla. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches are in effect across neighboring areas including New Orleans.

Early Monday, Hurricane Ida was located 285 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and moving north-northwest near 16 mph.

{vi AP}