BPB, Since your starting your website biz I would invest in a program such as FrontPage or a similar website design program. I know HTML pretty well and some java but those programs make it so easy then you can just go in and do some basic touch up.

From what you wrote you want the page Framed right ? so that the area on the left never moves and the right is what scrolls ? if so I can make you a page and email it to you and you can go from there.