any help here?>!?!?!?!

To achieve this will take a a fair amount of effort - reading, reviewing core code, changing/ adding code, etc, etc .. if you're comfortable with that level of hands-on coding - you'll be just fine.

We looked into similar widget functionality and control back with Elgg.1.5 before PlugIns for new members were created - it goes back into the coree code a lot of the time. 

The Widget Manager plugin allows also to reset the profile pages / dashboard of existing accounts, i.e. you can define default pages and the default layout is then set for new and (if desired also for) old member accounts:

http://community.elgg.org/pg/plugins/project/384604/developer/jdalsem/widget-manager

you can view the site to see exactly the problem: www.street706.com

I don't see any problem with your site. I visited from IE 8 and IE 8 Compatibility mode.