Feb 16 2003 12:00AM By

By DAVE BROOKS

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN



Despite heightened security alerts from the White House, most Watsonville residents said they are not worried about terrorism. Many residents polled along Main Street Friday said they didn't take the warnings very seriously and haven't changed their daily routines.

"I lived through World War II and they didn't do anything about it back then," said Watsonville resident Goldie Lewis. "If it happens, it happens. It's all in God's hands."

Isabel Huezo, a hairstylist whose salon runs along Main Street, said, "I've changed nothing about myself and I don't plan to."

Her coworker, Hilario Vega, said that he took the warnings a little more seriously. "I was planning a cruise, but I decided to cancel it because I was concerned about my safety," he said. "I'm feeling a little unsafe at the moment, but I'm trying to remain optimistic.

Miguel Millan, who works at Ace Hardware, said few customers mentioned the terrorist warnings, but those who did mostly purchased duct tape and plastic sheeting. "They're going to try and seal up their homes in case there is a chemical or biological attack," he said.

Rudy Ramirez, who was visiting the store to buy paint, said that he believes the worst thing people can do is to obsess over terrorism. "Worrying too much will make the problem worse," he said.

Ramirez said that he had heard about so many false alarms that he is now unfazed by the warnings. "Now they're saying level orange - how is that different from other colors like green or purple," he said. "The funniest part about all of this is that we're worried about terrorism when we're being a terrorist to Iraq."

Several residents said they believed they were safe because they lived in Watsonville. Robert Rodriguez said, "I'd be worried if I lived in San Jose or San Francisco or New York, but not in Watsonville. Who's going to attack Watsonville?"

Rodriguez added that he usually ignores the terrorism warnings. "How seriously are you going to take the government if they refuse to tell you where they're getting their information from?" he asked.