1) The new page is the defaul home page?
Yes
2) Can you modify the news page? When I click there I see no means.
Under the Admin Menu which should be the first link under your login. Find a link called News at the top of the General Settings section.
3) Are other people using the Picture Gallery to upload thier custom graphics and images for web design such as borders etc...?
Nope head to Admin again and find the Administrative File Uploader again under the General Settings column.
4) Do we have FTP access etc?
Nope but you can upload any file you want in the section I mentioned above. Also depending on what options you subscribed to you might be able to link files to your forum posts as well.
I have managed to learn that to modify just the main page "News" using the layout is obviuosly not the key as it changes the layout of all pages... Any help for a DKPSystem Web Designer Noob would be great.
Unless you want to do really major and specific overhauls to the general look and feel of the site I suggest you go to the Admin menu and familiarize yourself with its features and access. there are a lot of customization options that Chops has been kind enough to build in for us right there.