At Midland Beach ceremony, lives of Staten Islanders lost to COVID are remembered Updated 9:06 PM; Today 8:50 PM George Wonica, of Wonica Realty, gathered in Midland Beach, with his family, to honor those who passed from COVID-19, and those who are working on the frontlines, at a Light Up Staten Island event on Saturday, April 10, 2021 (Staten Island Advance/Kayla Simas). Facebook Share STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Residents gathered together Saturday night at the “Light Up Staten Island” event in Midland Beach to honor loved ones lost during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The second annual event, which kicked off at 6:30 p.m., honored those who lost their lives to the coronavirus, as well as those who have been working on the frontlines.