With opposing sides squaring off over whether to ban petroleum-based polystyrene foam food containers, a City Council committee has deferred a bill that requires vendors to switch to compostable. Supporters argue that Bill 71 is needed to better protect Oahu’s environmental health. Opponents counter that foam is cheaper, and the state lacks a recycling facility for compostables.

Here’s hoping Honolulu will follow Maui County’s lead to put in place an effective green-minded law. In the meantime, diners can check out the Hawaii Ocean Friendly Restaurant program, which now includes more than 140 foam-free eateries, www.oceanfriendlyrestaurantshawaii.org.

Scrooge visits Island Air employees

Former employees of Island Air, shocked by the airline’s shutdown last week, surely did not need this extra serving of bad news from U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Faris, just before the holidays: They may never see their final paycheck.

The carrier ceased operations on Nov. 10, and it was so deeply behind in its payments to creditors that making good on many of its bills through liquidating assets will be challenging, to say the least.

This week, though, there’s a ray of hope in a series of job fairs hosted by Hawaiian Airlines. Here’s wishing for a happier Christmas.