Category: Uncategorized

Property Tax Savings in Allegheny County – Homestead/Farmstead (Act 50) Exclusion
March 1st is the last day to submit your Act 50 Application to Allegheny County to be able to receive a deduction on the assessed value for your property tax in Allegheny County.

How much can I save on annual property taxes in Allegheny County? $85.14

If the property is your primary residence, you can apply and see a reduction of $18,000 from the assessed value of your property.

Here is the example from the Allegheny County Real Estate website:

Example 1 (Without Exclusion):

A property is assessed at $100,000. The property tax would be $473.00 year:

Assessed Value multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Owed
$100,000 x 0.00473 = $473.00

Example 2 (With Exclusion):

The same property receives an $18,000 Homestead Exclusion. This same property now has an assessment of $82,000 and the tax owed is $387.86 – a savings of $85.14:

Assessed Value minus the Homestead Exclusion multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Owed
$100,000 – $18,000 = $82,000 x 0.00473 = $387.86

How to Apply for the Homestead & Farmstead Exclusions in Allegheny County
1. Check the Allegheny County Real Estate Website to see if you have already applied. You only need to apply once.
2. Fill out the Act 50 Application and print. You can download a copy of the application here: ACT 50 Homestead Farmstead Exclusion Application.
3. Submit the Act 50 Application to Allegheny County
  1. By MAIL – must be postmarked by March 1
    
    Office of Property Assessments
    542 Forbes Ave., Room 347, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219
  2. By FAX – 412-350-5796 or 412-350-6084
  3. In PERSON – Office of Property Assessments, 542 Forbes Ave., Room 347, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219
For more information, visit the Allegheny County Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion webpage.
April 29, 2025
Guide to Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters
Looking to stay connected with Pittsburgh’s vibrant community of writers, creators, and local experts? Here’s a curated list of Substack newsletters by Pittsburgh writers.

Know of another local Substack that we should add to the list? Please let us know by filling out this form!

Directory of Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters
- A Good Time with Casey Barber – Casey Barber is a food lover who was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She writes about food and fun things and should be on your radar because she wrote the book “Pierogi Love.”
- A More Perfect Region – The Substack newsletter from the Pittsburgh Futures Collaborative, a nonprofit that works on coaching leaders to make Pittsburgh a region where everyone can thrive.
- Breathing Space – Virginia Monantez, aka Jane Pitt, has been tweeting and writing about Pittsburgh since the internet was born. In addition to providing a humorous look at local events, she is a published author and also writes about local history.
- Buried Ledes by Bobby Cherry – Journalist Bobby Cherry curates news stories and other interesting information. He is a super fan of Sheetz and also maintains a website about Christmas.
- Facts Over Fear: Natalie Bencivenga – Natalie Bencivenga is a Pittsburgh journalist and host on KDKA radio.
- Joyful Chaos with Rachel Ekstrom Courage – Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a literary agent and author based in Pittsburgh.
- Pittsburgh Art Book Fair – The Pittsburgh Art Book Fair (PABF) is a free celebration of printed matter featuring over 60 local, national, and international exhibitors. Co-presented by Carnegie Museum of Art and Pittsburgh Art Book Fair.
- Pittsburgh Pizza News – Dan Tallerico is a Pittsburgh pizza expert. Subscribe for the scoop on the best slices in the ‘Burgh.
- Pittsburgh Startup News – Updates, events and news about Pittsburgh startups.
- Pittsburgh Tech Beat – Austin Orth publishes a monthly roundup of Pittsburgh tech news.
- Pittsburgh’s Green and Gray – Laura Zurowski writes about Pittsburgh parks and photography.
- Rootbound – A newsletter exploring gardening, plants, people, culture, history and the way that we’re all connected.
- The Hazards of Love – Katie Oldaker is one of the organizers of Pittsburgh’s Queer Craft Market. The Hazards of Love focuses on writing projects.
- The Latest From Littsburgh – Littsburgh is a website and newsletter celebrating Pittsburgh authors and local literary events.
- The Modern Rabbi – Thoughts from Rabbi Seth Adelson, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh.
- Trumplessness – Journalist Annie Saunders provides a round-up of news stories.
- Weed Church – Casey Taylor writes about religion, art, technology and cannabis.
- Yinz Vote – Yinz Vote is on a mission to empower every Pittsburgher with the information they need to vote on election day.
- You Have Left the Planned Route – Book reviews and recommendations, personal essays, and commentary on politics from Melissa Firman.
Subscribe to the IheartPGH Substack!

Please take a moment to subscribe to the IheartPGH Substack too!
April 23, 2025
And… we are back!

Hello, Pittbsurgh. Nice to see you again.

Thanks to the support team at Pair Networks for getting us back online.

We’ve got a little more sprucing up to do. For now, please visit YinzVote.com for all the election information. Oh, and you can check out the IheartPGH Substack for updates.

October 30, 2024
Thanksgiving Events for a Good Cause – Cycling, Yoga & More
With Thanksgiving just one week away, one of the questions that pops up around this time of year is “where can I volunteer to help serve a holiday meal?” In addition to volunteering, here are some Thanksgiving events around Pittsburgh that support great local causes. Know of other events that should be on the list? Please share in the comments below.

Pedal for the Pantry 2018 – Food drive bike ride/race

Sat. 11/17 – for those who like to bike in the cold

This one caught my eye on Facebook because of the image posted on the Facebook event. Pedal around Pittsburgh picking up items for a Thanksgiving dinner and drop those items off at the Wilkinsburg Food Pantry, earn points and win awesome prizes. Check out the Facebook page for some of the very nice prizes including swag from BikePgh and a bike that was donated by Golden Triangle Bike Rental.
- Saturday, November 17, 2018
- The race starts at 2 pm, afterparty at 5 pm
- Register online here. More details here.
44th Annual Thanksgiving Eve Community Meal – Volunteers & Donations Needed

Wed. 11/21: for anyone who can lend a hand or donate a few dollars

This one is near and dear to my heart. A friend who grew up helping with these dinners asked me to help out a few years ago. I showed up late, which ended up being helpful because they needed someone to take over on the dishwashing. (Life lesson – it is never too late to show up to volunteer). This meal started as an Eagle Scout project – offer up a free, home-cooked Thanksgiving meal. Last year over 100 volunteers showed up and helped to cook and serve dinner for 200 people. It is a beautiful thing when neighbors come together to share a meal. Every little bit helps if you want to volunteer for an hour that is great. If you can donate $10 that is helpful too. Last year 64 people made a donation to the GoFundMe page, I’m hoping we can beat that number this year.
- Wednesday, November 21, 2018
- Volunteer – anytime after 10 am
- Dinner 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
- Location: First United Methodist Church Social Hall, the entrance is on Centre Ave above the Toy Lending Library, across from Panera.
- Volunteer Sign Up here – http://bit.ly/2OHsFHv
- Donations can be made on the GoFundMe page here – http://bit.ly/2OHszQ9
YMCA Turkey Trot

Thur. 11/22: for runners/walkers who want to burn a few calories and support the YMCA
- Thursday, November 22, 2018
- 8:00 am – 1-mile walk
- 8:30 am – 5k and 5-mile race
- The races start at PNC Park
Giving Thanks – Thanksgiving Day Yoga + Live Music to Benefit 412 Food Rescue

Thur 11/22: for anyone who needs some gentle yoga before a big meal

100% of the proceeds from this class will be donated to 412 Food Rescue. This gentle yoga class will be accompanied by live guitar music.
- Thursday, November 22, 2018
- 9:00 am
- BYS Yoga Collective, 1113 E Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
- See the Facebook event for details
November 16, 2018
Pitt-starter: Pittsburgh Alternate Histories Book

Pitt-starter is our occasional series about local crowdfunding projects on websites like Kickstarter. You can see our past Pitt-starter posts here.

Pittsburgh artist and author (and DJ) Matthew Buchholz is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund his new Pittsburgh Alternate Histories Book, “Pittsburgh in Olden Times.” Buchholz published Alternate Histories of The World in 2013; the book is available on the Alternate Histories website and Amazon (pro tip – if you order the book from the Alternate Histories website you will receive a signed or personalized copy from the author).

Photo Credit: Alternate Histories Website.

Not familiar with the book? You may have seen some of the Alternate Histories prints on the walls the Independent Brewing Company in Squirrel Hill. Take a look at this blog post on the Alternate Histories website to learn more about the installation at The Independent Brewing Company. It is great to see that many of the frames are from Pittsburgh Center for Reuse.

(If you are a fan of beer and local food, be sure to sign up for The Independent Brewing Company’s email list, an occasional, humorous look at what’s on tap and on the menu. While writing this post, I was inspired to stop in there on Tuesday for dinner, and the guest at the table next to me had such a good time at The Independent’s Dancing Gnome Beer Dinner on Monday, he was back for more on Tuesday.)

Kickstarter for Alternate Histories of Pittsburgh Book

If you would like to pre-order a copy of the Pittsburgh Alternate Histories book or pick up one of these Monongahela Monster t-shirts, head over to Kickstarter and back this project. The project has already met the initial goal of $4000. There is a new stretch goal and eight days left to contribute.

Follow Alternate Histories on Facebook, Twitter @AltHistories & Instagram for more.

Don’t Miss the next In Bed by Ten Dance Party

Be sure to check out DJMB at the next In Bed By Ten Dance party on October 21, 2018 – $10 donation at the door will benefit RAINN – the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. You can learn more about In Bed by Ten in our post about the July dance party.

October 4, 2018