Obama gets double the love with a Seaside street and community garden.

President Barack Obama has plenty of critics. But the residents of Seaside are showing him a double dose of respect this week, as both a street and a community garden are named in his honor.

On Wednesday, Sept. 15, the city of Seaside will officially christen Broadway Avenue with a second name: Obama Way. The citizen organizers raised almost $11,400 for the new signs - beating their goal by about $1,000, according to Obama Way Committee member Don Jordan.

The cash pot will fund six large and many small Obama Way signs, which will be placed underneath the existing Broadway Avenue signs along the street's length from Del Monte to General Jim Moore boulevards. The extra money will be used for the celebration, Jordan adds.

The unveiling, featuring Mayor Ralph Rubio and other speakers, happens Sept. 15, 4-7pm at the City Center, Fremont Boulevard and Obama Way (Broadway Avenue). For info, contact Jordan at djordan@mbay.net.

A few days earlier, on Saturday, Sept. 11, residents will break ground on the Obama Way Community Garden at Lowell Street and Broadway Avenue - aka the new Obama Way.

Neighborhood volunteers plan to build 6-foot-long, 3-foot-wide, 1-foot-tall  raised planting beds for community members to sow their own herbs and veggies in. All they need now are neighbors to donate labor, materials and money.

"Bring your hat and gloves…and seeds," writes organizer Norm Yassany. "Kids can make their own stepping stones (have them bring marbles or colored glass). We'll need donations of screws, plywood, 2x2s, 2x4s, 2x12s, old exterior doors…plants, trees, compost or amendment and pots."

The Sept. 11 work session begins at 11am. For more info, contact Yassany at nyassany@aol.com.