Dennis and Diane Harkoff of Legends restaurant in New Suffolk will be the Grand Marshals for the Cutchogue-New Suffolk St. Patrick’s Day parade that will take place March 10.

Dennis and Diane Harkoff of Legends restaurant in New Suffolk will be the Grand Marshals for the Cutchogue-New Suffolk St. Patrick’s Day parade that will take place March 10. They were selected by the parade committee and contacted by committee member Paul Romanelli, who announced the news.

“The committee looks for a Grand Marshal who is representative of what the North Fork is all about and has made great contributions to the community in business or through volunteerism,” Mr. Romanelli said.

He noted that the Harkoffs invested a lot of time and a considerable sum into rebuilding Legends, which has become “a great community spot.” He added that they’ve also given much time and effort supporting the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, an effort to match preservation with an appropriate commercial use of the community’s last large open waterfront properties.

Ms. Harkoff said she was taken aback when Mr. Romanelli called to tell her the news.

“I’m still in shock,” she said, “I’m going to have to get something to wear.”

The couple will lead the parade in a Cadillac and then view the marchers with other local dignitaries from the grandstand in the center of town.

“I’m glad they’re not doing it on the 16th because we’re going to have a big party here,” Mr. Harkoff said. He’s now looking to secure a traditional Irish blackthorn walking stick, known also as a shillelagh, to carry during the parade.

gvolpe@timesreview.com