@rlsdesigns: Ok I will try to answer your all 3 questions.
1- Would like to reduce spacing in the footer area and below content area. Seems there is a 1/2 above and below the AERA logo that I would like to lessen.
— you can add the following CSS in “Appearance => Theme Options => Custom CSS” box.
#supplementary { padding-top: 10px; }
#supplementary p { margin-bottom: 10px; }
2- Any way to have the ‘No sidebar’ layout option be wider?
— You can widen by adding in the following CSS in “Appearance => Theme Options => Custom CSS” box.
#primary { width: 100%; }
3- Can the banner be a full width image rather than just the logo in the left?
— Yes, you can upload large image of any size yo want from “Appearance => Header” after you upload the image, you will see Crop option. In that time, you have to chick on don’t crop and publish as it is. This will publish your original image size.