Under the default.php for my site I simply added "Global" to the line:
$a = new Area('Sidebar');

to get this:
$a = new GlobalArea('Sidebar');

As the result the sidebar is now global (what I wanted). The problem is that with this simple change the blocks in the sidebar will no longer accept any kind of design customizations (i.e. background color, borders, etc.).

Also, when I create child pages I don't have the same problem. It only occurs on the pages that already come with Greek Yogurt's theme (Home, About, Blog & Search).

Additionally, when I click into the Edit option on the blocks in the sidebar then just click save without changing anything, the blocks will suddenly display the design elements. But if I hit the Preview Page button or any other button that causes the page to reload then the blocks lose their design elements again (keep the customized options chosen, but don't display them).

Could someone please help me understand what I did wrong, or better yet how to make the blocks customizable again?

Thanks for any help.