Finback Alehouse Warned: One More Noise Violation Could Silence the Music
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Shops.
BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council renewed the special amusement permits of one of the main establishments that has consistently provided live music to Bar Harbor, but that renewal came with a warning to the Finback Alehouse.
“It’s Bar Harbor. You’re going to have music,” partner Dale Stockburger said. “We’re doing our absolute best.”
It can have only one more verified noise violation through September or it risks losing its ability to play live music.
The special amusement permit for the Finback Alehouse on Cottage Street drew no comments from the public.
“I noticed that there were two confirmed violations and two additional violations,” Councilor Earl Brechlin said.
According to the information given to the town councilors, there were only two violations and two additional complaints that were deemed unsubstantiated by the responding police officers.
“On August 3, 2024, at about 11:35 p.m. a police officer took three decibel readings averaging 84.2 decibels and the applicant was warned for a first violation,” the whereas clause of the motion reads.
“On September 17, 2024, at approximately 11:45 p.m. the average of three readings was 74 decibels and a second violation notice was issued,” it continues. “Complaints were also received September 20, 2024, and May 24, 2025, but were found to be unsubstantiated.”
Establishments are only allowed three violations in a calendar year. It received verified violations on August 3, 2024, and September 17, 2024 and none since then.
Bar Harbor Police Chief David Kerns said. “It’s a rolling 12 months. That was in August and September.”
“The door gets closed at 11 o’clock every night. We stop the music pretty much at 11 o’clock. We’ve addressed it,” owner Dale Stockburger told councilors.
Stockburger and a partnership group purchased the Finback in 2021. He told WABI that year that he had his first legal drink there, back when it was Bubba’s.
”It’s an institution,” Stockburger said. “It was something beyond my wildest dreams that I would ever own this bar. I had my first legal drink here, June 13, 1983. I was standing right there. I had a Beck’s Dark, and then I had a second one. And then I went home and took a nap.”
At the Bar Harbor Town Council meeting, June 17, Council Chair Valerie Peacock advised Stockburger that if they get a third violation, he’ll be in court and it will go to council. That’s the ordinance, she said.
“We’re the location in town where music should be,” he said. They don’t really have neighbors. The neighbors they do have are restaurant employees, he said.
Also at the meeting, the Blue Nose Inn, Bar Harbor Inn, Bar Harbor Regency, and the Harborside Hotel and Marina all received special amusement permits with no substantive discussion or public comment.
In a rare move, during its May 6, 2025 meeting, the Bar Harbor Town Council had denied a special amusement permit for Siam Orchid on Rodick Street after multiple residents on Kennebec Street complained about potential noise if the permit was granted.
The permit would have allowed the restaurant to have acoustic instruments and a singer amplified.
“It’s the noise from amplified music and the thumping bass making the whole house shake that is problematic as a downtown resident,” Donna Gaines of Kennebec Street said, which runs parallel to upper Rodick Street. “It takes away from our tranquility.”
The town’s ordinance doesn’t allow noise levels over 71 dB for musical instruments, sound modification, and amplification devices.
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TOWN’S UPDATE ON ASSESSOR RESIGNATION AND PROPERTY VALUATIONS
The Town of Bar Harbor would like to inform residents that the town assessor has resigned and concluded employment following a two-week notice.
Before departing, the assessor had completed a statistical update to property values and scheduled more than 100 meetings with property owners who requested to review their assessment data. These property owners are receiving direct communication from the Town about next steps.
We want to emphasize that no final property values have been committed at this time. The process remains ongoing, and residents will continue to have opportunities to ensure their information is accurate before valuations are finalized with tax commitment later in August.
To support the Town during this transition, we have contracted with RCS Assessment Services, a Maine-based firm that provides a full range of municipal assessing services across the state. Their work includes full revaluations, quarterly review programs, and municipal consultation for assessment processes.
RCS staff will assist with reviewing property records, answer questions, and make any corrections that may be needed to ensure assessments reflect accurate and up-to-date information.
Residents who have questions or would like to review their property data may contact RCS directly at 207-605-0200 or email info@rcsassessment.com for assistance.
We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation as we continue this important work to maintain fair and consistent property assessments.
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Board Vacancies
Appeals Board
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Two members with terms expiring July 2028
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Parks & Recreation Committee
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Planning Board
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Task Force on the Climate Emergency
Three members with terms expiring July 2028
UPDATED at 8:46. to clarify that the band in the photo is not related to the 2024 violations. We added “This band is not in the violations.” We also added 2023 to the second photo. At 11:29, we added a graph and paragraph and link to the town’s sound ordinance
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Seriously? It’s cottage street.
I guess we’re not allowed to have any fun in this town. All that matters is the tourists get a good nights sleep in their AirBnBs (that used to be someone’s year round home).