For Better Health THE NEWTOWN BEE, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026
Highland Plaza—
A ‘One Stop Shop’ For Health Needs
By Sam Cross Highland Plaza, located at 123-125 South Main Street, is far more than a group of beige buildings with red roof rakes; some would call it a “hidden gem” in town, simply because of the amount of health-based businesses hiding behind modest signs and a 40 mile per hour speed limit that often allows drivers to pass the plaza without recognizing everything it contains. Highland Plaza is far more than a shopping mall located near the Botsford district, it really is a “one stop shop” for health needs. Between health food stores, a medical spa, a Pilates studio, a therapy office, and more, Highland Plaza offers readers a unique experience to shop for a better, healthier lifestyle. World Champion Taekwondo While it may not seem like an obvious “health-based” business, the study of the traditional Korean martial art offered at World Champion Taekwondo offers students an opportunity to connect with the whole body and learn respect and discipline. Master Heny, the owner of the Newtown dojang, or “studio” in English, focuses on teaching these two principles to her students. Students at Master Heny’s dojang not only learn respect, they also focus on three major aspects of martial arts: sparring, breaking skills, and “poomsae,” or a
Master Heny coaches a student on breaking a board at Middle Gate Elementary School’s 2025 Career Day. The owner of World Champion Taekwondo dojang, Master Heni’s is one of many businesses within Highland Plaza on South Main Street that collaboratively offer one stop shopping for health needed. —Bee file photo
do improves the whole body because the movements, control, and discipline transfer well to other sports. “Because we’re using whole bodies … All the parents are saying that [taekwondo] helps [children] be good at other sports, too,” Master Heny said. She shared a quick story about some girls in her classes who are also part of Newtown’s color guard. The girls started taking taekwondo and found that the training helped them improve their movements for the guard. Master Heny, as brief ly mentioned earlier, said she also sees remarkable improvement in the behavior and confidence in children the longer they study taekwondo. She shared a story of a young boy who was very shy when he started. Now that he has his black belt, Master Heny will sometimes ask him to lead stretching and he is loud and proud with the counting. To learn more about World Champion Taekwondo visit the dojang in Highland Plaza or visit newtowntkd. com.
Physical Rehabilitation Newtown, Part Of Northwell Health Highland Plaza is also home to a brand-new outpatient rehabilitation facility that is part of Northwell Health. The outpatient rehab facility, Physical Rehabilitation Newtown, part of Northwell Health, offers occupational and physical therapy for “regular orthopedic injuries” to “neurological rehab.” Clinic Supervisor Jennifer Kaminski said, “There’s not a lot of patient diagnoses that we would say that we can’t treat.” Kaminski and Jenna Arrigo are two physical therapists on site who are trained in concussion and vestibular rehab. The facility also offers the LSVT Big program, a program designed to help patients with Parkinson’s disease reconnect with their body. “We’re more of like a well-rounded facility, we tend to treat even diagnoses such as osteoporosis, things that are more preventative as opposed to just like treating someone when they’re injured,” Kaminski said. Part of the physical and occupational therapy is creating personalized plans for each patient that align with their health goals. The new facility is equipped with a kitchen so that patients can learn to maneuver, with an occupaStaff at Physical Rehabilitation Newtown, Part Of Northwell Health includes, from left, occupational thera- tional therapist’s guidance, pist Alyson Iolin, physical therapist and clinic supervisor Jennifer Kaminski, physical therapist Jenna Arrigo, ( continued on page - 4 ) and physical therapist Bob Strittmatter. —Bee Photo, Cross series of movements performed in a sequence. Master Heny was scouted from Korea to participate in University of Bridgeport’s taekwondo program. After graduating, she started teaching at World Champion Taekwondo in New Haven. “I was working in New Haven for a long time, almost
six years. I started because I wanted to go to … school, but I don’t have money. So I said, ‘Alright, let me work.’ And then while I was working, I was like, ‘Oh, I think I like it.’ ‘Cause I see the kids are changing their [lives], how their mind is changing, how their behavior is changing. Like that was awesome! So I
was like, ‘Alright, I think I should open my own,’” Master Heny said. Championships were held at Newtown Youth Academy, which was how she was introduced to the Newtown area, she explained. When asked what health benefits taekwondo provides, Master Heny said taekwon-