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By katharine keane
The Torfs-Leibman family (from left to right): Marijke Torfs, Camille, 17, Antonia, 14, and Dena Leibman
Dena Leibman And Marijke Torfs moved into their 121-year-old home in Silver Spring’s Forest Glen neighborhood 23 years ago. The women have two daughters, Camille, 17, and Antonia, 14, both students at Montgomery Blair High School, and count their dog, Luna, and cats, Dave, Mushy and Tulip, as members of the family.
slowly—a really nice development, trying to maintain the independent character of its restaurants and its stores,” Dena says. They are particularly excited about the new Silver Spring Library, which was scheduled to open on June 20. “The library is going to be fantastic,” Marijke says. “It’s going to draw a whole new crowd to Silver Spring.”
What they do: Dena is the executive director of Future Harvest CASA in Cockeysville, Maryland. Marijke left her job at Friends of the Earth International in 2012 to dedicate herself to the couple’s 100-acre farm in Sabillasville, Maryland, called Zigbone Farm Retreat Center. Set to open later this year, the farm will serve as a special events venue and retreat space for Washington-area nonprofits.
Favorite restaurant: Jackie’s Restaurant on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. “They try to source from local farmers,” Dena says. “I wish more restaurants did more farm-to-table work.”
What they love about Silver Spring: “It’s undergoing—
Raising a Family in Silver Spring: Dena and Marijke say that attending diverse public schools has enhanced their daughters’ education. “It’s made their lives much more wellrounded than our lives were,” Dena says. “That is something we really value.” n
photo by liz lynch
family portrait
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