Thanks - I think that's exactly the approach that John Fields
took in his schematic (see other posting in this thread).

Yes, except for the extra transistors which will allow
much more current for brighter LEDs. If you hook the LEDs
directly to the 4017 with a resistor, you only get 2 or 3
milliamps. The extra transistor will get you 20 mA or more.

-Bill