This week, Marblehead residents watched as workers dug out the future basement of a new 38,000-square-foot building on Pleasant Street; learned that a local restaurant will reopen with a new menu and a new name; and took a closer look at some of the most expensive properties in town. Here are the top 5 stories of the week in no particular order: 1. Digging Underway at Warwick Site: A steady stream of local residents stopped by the site of the future Warwick building Monday afternoon, many of whom marveled at a 14-foot hole being dug out by workers with backhoes. The work, being completed by …

Recent years have yielded considerable success for Marblehead High School athletics. The boys hockey program has developed a winning tradition, the football team flipped its reputation as a struggling program with 2009’s Super Bowl appearance, and both basketball teams are exceeding expectations with their 2010-2011 campaigns. However, among all of the good fortune and accomplishments, perhaps the most decorated squad is, ironically, one of the youngest. The Marblehead Alpine Ski Team, in just its fifth year, has already amassed two state championships and is showing no signs of slowing down…

The marquee martchup for the North Shore’s weekend high school sports schedule features the Marblehead Magicians (8-1) boys basketball team traveling to Salem High School Friday night to challenge the Witches (7-2). The Magicians enter the game touting the best record and point differential in the NEC South at +13.3 per game, while Salem trails Lynn English by only one game in the NEC North standings, having handed the Bulldogs their only loss of the season. Fresh off of an overtime thriller against Winchester on Wednesday night, the Witches’ guard play will likely fuel the offense, as it has…